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Zach Schiffman

Max Mendoza makes an appearance as a broadcaster on the Today show alongside Fernando, his football phenom brother. “It was all because of my brother,” Mendoza said of his daytime television appearance. “He told me if I wanted to go to New York with him, I was like sure, that would be great. We got a little tour of all the little studios: Tonight Show, Today Show and everything like that. It was fun, and then of course, I got to actually be on camera and it was just great. I got to show the world what I was made of. It was just great being able to represent Gulliver in that way on a national scale. I really got to show the world like what I was made of, like I really showed them that I could do this. And it was a cold read, that meant I had no idea what was going to be on there. I just read it like that on live TV.” https://www.today.com/

From the stands, eighth grader Maximo Mendoza stood up and cheered as the Indiana Hoosiers won the National College Championship on Jan. 19. The band started playing their fight song, the players dumped Gatorade on their coach, and the quarterback–Max’s brother–smiled as the crowd sang to him: “Fernando”.
“It was for sure exciting, emotional, just great overall,” said Mendoza. “It was his [Fernando’s] dream, and he achieved it. [When the crowd sang “Fernando” to him] It was pretty funny, just a fun time after winning.”
Not every eighth grader watches their sibling become a Heisman winner and a college football legend. Growing up, the Mendoza household has always been raised upon encouragement and community.
“I would say my family dynamic has always been enforcing three basic rules. Faith first of all, try your hardest, and if you are gonna start something you need to finish it, and just be there for one another and do your best,” Mendoza said.
Max Mendoza has been swept up in the media tour alongside his brother, from games to TV appearances to interviews. This has taken him out of his daily life for something more exciting, but he has maintained his humble attitude. He has been able to juggle the spotlight attention and keep up with work in the classroom.
“It has been pretty cool [being in the spotlight] because I have been able to meet some pretty cool people, and I get to support my brother so it is really nice,” Mendoza said. “Academics-wise, I’ve been able to keep up, and the teachers have really helped me.”
While for years Max played football like his brothers, he has now carved a path entirely his own.
“I used to play football, and now I play water polo,” Mendoza said. “When I did play, it definitely changed my view because I realized being a football player isn’t a crazy dream, so that helped. I have done stuff that none of my family has done, like playing guitar for four or five years. I also broadcast.”