Fernando Mendoza's Heisman Speech: Why the Indiana Winner Spoke in Spanish and What He Said
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Indiana's Fernando Mendoza delivered part of his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech in Spanish. Here's why he made the switch and what he said to his family.
During his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech, Fernando Mendoza made a point of thanking his family, coaches, and the entire Indiana team. A particularly touching moment came when Mendoza switched from English to Spanish.
Many have wondered why he chose to speak in Spanish and what he said. Here's the explanation:
Mendoza, who is of Cuban descent, addressed his grandparents, Alberto and Alicia Espinoza, in Spanish. Given that Spanish is likely their primary language, the 22-year-old wanted to connect with them directly in a language they were most comfortable with.
ESPN shared a portion of the speech, noting that “Fernando Mendoza spoke in Spanish for his grandparents in his Heisman winning speech.”
Our Esquina, an organization dedicated to amplifying Latino voices in sports, provided a translation on X, stating that Mendoza said: “For the love and sacrifice of my parents and grandparents, I love you a lot. From all my heart, I thank you.”
Mendoza also expressed gratitude to other members of his family. He thanked his mother for her resilience, which he said has shaped his mentality, his brother for his candor, and his father for keeping him grounded.
Earlier in the speech, Mendoza said, “I'm at a loss for words. Thank you to everybody. I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to chase a dream.”
