Mendoza hopes for a fresh beginning in his last year at ASU
As he stepped onto the field during the season opener against Northern Arizona at Sun Devil Stadium, linebacker Carlos Mendoza’s tumultuous journey at ASU flashed back through his head.
He thought: Wow, look how far I’ve come and how many people have sacrificed for me to be here.
Although Mendoza is a redshirt senior, it was a moment that perhaps symbolized somewhat of a fresh beginning for a player whose promising college career has been derailed by injuries.
Mendoza did not start the game, but senior Salamo Fiso’s suspension and junior Christian Sam’s early game right ankle injury gave way for an opportunity.
“I was really anxious,” he said. “I was really anxious to make plays so I missed a couple tackles just because of that anxiety. It wasn’t anything of fear; I just wanted to make a play so bad because I finally got my chance.”
Mendoza’s injury issues started when he dislocated his shoulder and tore his labrum during his senior year of high school. After healing, he played two games as a true freshman at ASU. He had seven tackles in those two games and even intercepted two passes in the second game against Illinois that year.
Then, injury struck later in that Illinois game as he re-dislocated his shoulder and tore his labrum again. But this time, a piece of bone chipped off, only making it worse. He was eventually forced to redshirt that year.
Mendoza recorded five tackles as a redshirt freshman in 2013, but a broken foot and torn meniscus cut his 2014 season short. He was expected to participate in fall camp last year, but never did, and missed the entire season due to injury.
The injuries suffered through his first four collegiate years were just as debilitating mentally as they were physically, Mendoza said.
“Personally, the things I went through were just feelings of doubt,” he said. “Never discouragement or anything like that. But just doubt and fear. Mostly I feel like I fed off those things so much that it kind of pushed me back into a whole and didn’t allow me to have full confidence in my capabilities knowing that I could come out healthy.”
Mendoza admitted he acted a bit selfishly through that difficult period, often being negative and asking, ‘Why is this happening to me?’
That soon changed as he embraced a new mindset.
“Be that same person that you were,” Mendoza said. “Don’t ever change. Be happy. Tell yourself that you’re going to get better. Be able to tell yourself that ‘This is going to work. The therapy is going to work. When I get better I’m going to be 100 percent.’”
Whether it be fielding visitors in the hospital after surgeries or working out on ‘muscle beach’ at practice with the other injured players, Mendoza said he felt embarrassed.
Feelings of embarrassment largely stemmed from Mendoza’s upbringing, he said. His father worked two jobs and he never witnessed his mother miss a day because she was sick.
“I grew up in a time where I was taught to never show weakness to anyone,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how hurt you are… I was embarrassed because I knew I was almost in a sense giving up by not being out there helping my teammates.”
Mendoza’s greatest achievement throughout his recovery process did not have anything to do with football. Instead, it was getting Baptized through the Church, he said. He had always proclaimed his religious beliefs, but Baptism brought them full circle.
The process also taught him to be open-minded, he said.
“Never think you know things because you’ve been through certain struggles in your life,” Mendoza said. “Everyone has a story to tell… If I feel like I know more than you, you still have something to tell me that I could understand and use in my life to better other people.”
Mendoza made five tackles — four solo — in the 44-13 win over NAU where he received ample playing time. He said he feels confident in his body once again.
“It just feels really encouraging and empowering to know that I can be at 100 percent and be able to give myself to the team and do anything they need me to do,” Mendoza said. “It’s a great feeling overall to have to because it allows you to play free and feel like you used to when you were a kid being healthy.”
As someone who has always been critical of himself, Mendoza said he proceeded as usual after the game — he looked at what he did wrong before he credited himself for doing something correctly.
Defensive coordinator Keith Patterson credited Mendoza’s flexibility as he practiced at middle linebacker all week, but played weak-side linebacker during the game.
“Carlos is one of those guys who comes in and studies the game so he’s prepared,” Patterson said. “I was just addressing that with our linebackers. The kid goes into the game as a backup. He could’ve easily not taken care of his responsibilities to the team, but he answered the call so I was really proud of him. He had a missed tackle or two, but I thought he played great.”
It may have been Mendoza’s first game in over a year, but junior D.J. Calhoun said he and Mendoza communicated seamlessly.
“I think it’s a blessing for him as a fifth-year senior to finally get back on the field,” Calhoun said. “I think he did a wonderful job taking over.”
As a matchup with Texas Tech looms, Mendoza said ASU is not underestimating its opponent, noting the challenge involved in slowing down the Red Raiders’ up-tempo, Air Raid offense.
But regardless of his role, he said he remains forever grateful that head coach Todd Graham and staff showed continued belief in him throughout a four-year battle with injuries that kept him from displaying his true potential and abilities.
The lesson he learned from the ordeal is perhaps more powerful than any he could have learned on an actual football field.
“Never give up,” Mendoza said. “Remember the people that have sacrificed to put you here. Not only will you be giving up on yourself, you’ll be giving up on them.”
