Trump Says He’s ‘Not Happy’ Fernando Mendoza Skipped National Championship Celebration at the White House

President Donald Trump, Indiana Hoosiers football team
Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty

Mendoza, 22, was not the only former Hoosiers player to opt out of the visit. Center Pat Coogan and D’Angelo Ponds were among those who did not attend due to NFL obligations, according to The Athletic.

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The NFL rookie previously shared that it was unlikely that he would attend the gathering.

“If it is on the first day of OTAs [organized team activities], like I said, I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here. I gotta prove myself,” Mendoza said on Saturday, May 2. “I can’t miss practice.”

He added, “As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look. I want to try to best serve my teammates and I don't know if that'd be accomplishing that goal.”

At the ceremony, Becker, Cignetti and Jamari Sharpe — whose interception during the championship was a game-changer — spoke on behalf of the school.

At one point, Trump asked Cignetti if the Hoosiers could run it back.

"We've got a chance if we commit, have great discipline, and if we can handle success, and we can handle failure, and we’re consistent, day in, day out, we may have a chance," Cignetti said.

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