{"id":238065,"date":"2026-05-03T04:10:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T04:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/03\/why-heisman-winner-and-new-raiders-qb-fernando-mendoza-is-skipping-white-house-visit\/"},"modified":"2026-05-03T04:10:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T04:10:28","slug":"why-heisman-winner-and-new-raiders-qb-fernando-mendoza-is-skipping-white-house-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/03\/why-heisman-winner-and-new-raiders-qb-fernando-mendoza-is-skipping-white-house-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Heisman Winner and New Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza is Skipping White House Visit"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza<\/strong><\/a> seemingly will not be joining his former Indiana University Hoosiers teammates<\/a> at an upcoming White House visit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe May 11th [the day of the Hoosiers\u2019 White House visit] is the first day of OTAs (organized team activities) \u2026 if it is on the first day of OTAs, like I say, I\u2019m at the bottom of the totem pole here [in Las Vegas], I\u2019ve got to prove myself,\u201d Mendoza, 22, told reporters<\/a> on Saturday, May 2.<\/p>\n

He went on, \u201cI can\u2019t miss practice. Yeah, I can\u2019t miss practice. \u2026 I\u2019m a rookie. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a good look. I want to try to serve my teammates and I don\u2019t know whether that would be achieving my goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was reported<\/a> earlier this week that the White House scheduled a visit from the Hoosiers for May 11, after the college football team went 16-0 last season and clinched their first College Football Playoff National Championship on January 19.<\/p>\n

Since that historic championship win, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Mendoza with the No.1 overall pick in the NFL draft on April 23. The athlete did not attend the draft<\/a> in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in person, choosing instead to celebrate his career milestone at home with his parents in Miami.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy \u200b\u200bmom really wanted to do it at home and so did [both of] my parents,\u201d he told ESPN\u2019s The Rich Eisen Show<\/em> last month. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot easier for us, especially with the family situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fernando pointed to practical concerns, since his mom, Elsa<\/strong>, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis<\/a> in 2007 and now uses a wheelchair.<\/p>\n

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\n Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza in December 2025.<\/span> Adam Hunger\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d have to hop on a plane the next morning anyway,\u201d Mendoza explained on The Rich Eisen Show<\/em>. \u201cFor that travel, it would be a lot easier to stay at home. I wanted to stay and make the memory with everybody who poured into my football journey. Mentors, coaches, family, friends. Being able to share that moment with all of them is going to be the best memory that I can make, rather than limiting it to 10 or 12 people in Pittsburgh.\u201d<\/p>\n

The athlete celebrated being drafted<\/a> by the Raiders with an update on his personal favorite social media platform, LinkedIn.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s official. Grateful for the opportunity and ready to get to work,\u201d he wrote<\/a>, with the NFL replying: \u201cWelcome to the League!\u201d<\/p>\n

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