Fernando Mendoza Has a Funny Way to Describe the Las Vegas Strip

The Las Vegas Raiders picked Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. Mendoza had just won the Heisman Trophy, which is the top award for college football players. Moving to Las Vegas was a big change, but Mendoza is making it work — on his own terms.

Mendoza spoke with reporter Michael Silver of The Athletic about life in his new city. He said he has not really explored the famous Las Vegas Strip, the stretch of hotels, casinos, and clubs that millions of tourists visit every year. Instead, he compared the Strip to something most kids can relate to — a haunted house on Halloween.

"It's like when you're a kid; you're trick-or-treating, and there's the haunted house. You're not trying to go over there," Mendoza said. He called the Strip "a boogeyman," because so many people warn him to stay away from it. That kind of careful thinking is very typical of Mendoza.

Mendoza is known for being calm, focused, and clean-cut — which means he has a very neat and polished image. He avoids swear words, even in the heat of a big game. After Indiana won the Big Ten championship, his celebration showed exactly who he is: "The Hoosiers are flippin' champs! Let's go!"

Even as an NFL rookie, Mendoza keeps his unique personality. Learning a pro playbook is tough, and seeing a veteran like Kirk Cousins in the room reminded him how much he still had to learn. "Holy shuck! I'm how far behind? I've got to study this to feel confident in my preparation and in myself," he said.

Mendoza says Las Vegas does have a lot to offer, but his main focus stays on football. On days off, he might catch a movie like "Spider-Man" or "The Odyssey," but he is not planning to stay up late playing blackjack in a casino. In a city full of distractions, Mendoza seems determined to stay exactly who he is.