Ron Winslow

Freelance medical + science writer after 33+ yrs at #WSJ; @onepeloton, hiker, skier, #redsox. [email protected]

[DK🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸 @1Nicdar]

130 schools said no.
He led the losingest program in college football history to a national championship anyway.
Fernando Mendoza was a 2-star recruit from Miami.

He tried to walk on at his hometown school. They passed.
So did FIU.
So did FAU.
So did everyone else.

At 17, he was sitting in his bedroom, crying over a silent recruiting inbox—after driving to 18 camps with his dad and sending highlights to more than 100 programs.
Not one FBS offer.
His only option? Yale. No scholarship. No NFL path.

Everyone told him to be “realistic.”
“Know your place.”
“Be grateful.”
He didn’t listen.
Because Mendoza understood something most people miss:
The worst outcome isn’t failing.
It’s never getting the chance to try.

Two weeks before signing day in 2022, his phone rang.
Cal needed a body. One offer. Out of 134 schools.
He took it.
He arrived as the third-string quarterback.
Spent a year on the scout team.
Lost his first four starts.
Got sacked 41 times behind a broken offensive line.

Still got up. Every time.
Then Cal brought in a transfer instead of building around him.
So Mendoza left the only school that had ever said yes.
He transferred to Indiana—the losingest program in college football history.

People laughed.
“Career suicide.”
“Graveyard program.”
“Nobody wins there.”
One coach told him something different:
“I’m going to make you the best Fernando Mendoza possible.”
That was enough.
Mendoza wasn’t just playing for football.
His mother has battled multiple sclerosis for 18 years.

Before every snap, he thought of her.
“My mother is my why.”
Indiana went 16–0.
Beat six Top-10 teams.
Won their first Big Ten title since 1945.
Mendoza threw 41 touchdowns.
Won the Heisman—first in school history.
First Cuban-American to ever do it.

Then came the title game.
Miami. Near his hometown.
Fourth-and-4. Season on the line.
Quarterback draw.
The kid 134 schools rejected spun through defenders and dove into the end zone.

Game over.
Indiana—national champions.
The losingest program became the best team in America.
All because a 17-year-old refused to believe “no” was the end.

Rankings don’t decide your ceiling.
Gatekeepers don’t write your ending.
Being overlooked isn’t a verdict—it’s a starting point.

Sometimes all you need is one shot…
and the courage to bet on yourself when nobody else will.
Don’t quit.

Credit: Barclay Mullins

[James Lucas @JamesLucasIT]

In 1977, Bing Crosby and David Bowie delivered one of the most beautiful duets of all time. It was Crosby’s final Christmas special.

Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy.

[Ron Winslow @ronwinslow]

Definitely worth your eight minutes.

[Ethan J. Weiss @ethanjweiss]

I’ve been on this site for almost 16 years and for many, if not most of them, I’ve posted quite a bit about Ruthie and what it’s been like to raise a kid with a disability. I’ve been pretty quiet lately, but yesterday, she graduated from high school and was selected to give one of 3 student speeches. Here is hers (sorry it's 8 min). I keep learning so much from this young woman. I don’t expect that will change…

[Fred Guttenberg @fred_guttenberg]

America is broken. My daughter Jaime was murdered in the Parkland school shooting. Many of her friends who were lucky enough to survive that shooting went on to attend FSU. Incredibly, some of them were just a part of their 2nd school shooting and some were in the student union today. As a father, all I ever wanted after the Parkland shooting was to help our children be safe. Sadly, because of the many people who refuse to do the right things about reducing gun violence, I am not surprised by what happened today.

[Matt McDermott @mattmfm]

This is not ok, America.

[Lynne Lamberg @LambergLyn68946]

Essays on evaluating ideas before you pitch, writing a great lede, and self-editing are among 42 articles in The Craft of Science Writing: Selections from The Open Notebook, expanded ed., Siri Carpenter, ed. https://t.co/UuD1bmck1G @SiriCarpenter @ScienceWriters #SciWriBooks

[✭ 🅑🅤🅑🅑🅐 ✭ @BubbatheOG]

All great questions.

[Ron Winslow @ronwinslow]

@Jasonmmast Belated congrats, Jason.

[Neal Katyal @neal_katyal]

Should someone tell her?

[Ron Winslow @ronwinslow]

@JohnCendpts Whatever it is, hope it's one of the readily treatable problems. Wishing you the best best, John.

[Ron Winslow @ronwinslow]

Buddy got a green treat for his morning walk. 🍀 #Celtics

[Standing Eight Films @SEFilms]

THE JONESTOWN DEFENSE • PROMO CLIP #19 • SIX
Now On Demand. See Profile For Details.
@indierights @sidarthurnyc @LarkinWarren @ronwinslow @FilmThreat @AskDebruge @elazic @tnyfrontrow
#thejonestowndefense #standingeightfilms #indiefilm #dennisostermaier #michaelessi

[Standing Eight Films @SEFilms]

THE JONESTOWN DEFENSE • PROMO CLIP #27 • SOMEPLACE ELSE
Now On Demand! See Profile For Details!
@indierights @LarkinWarren @ronwinslow @TyBurr
@aoscott @FilmThreat @LAFilmCritics @NatSocFilmCrix
#thejonestowndefense #dennisostermaier #amyseimetz #sarasota #lidobeach #magic

[M.A. Columbia Journ @ColumbiaJournMA]

On @NewBooksNetwork's Off the Page podcast, @ColumbiaJournMA alum @Elaine_NYC (MA Science '09) talks to @ronwinslow about her @ColumbiaUP book "From Whispers to Shouts: The Ways We Talk about Cancer." Listen here: https://t.co/fXsZiJba2R

[Standing Eight Films @SEFilms]

THE JONESTOWN DEFENSE • PROMO CLIP #23 • WALK IT BACK

@indierights @sidarthurnyc @LarkinWarren @ronwinslow @davidcinema @FilmThreat @LAFilmCritics @NatSocFilmCrix

#thejonestowndefense #indiefilmmaking #indiefilm #dennisostermaier #robertstevens #sarasota #starmandscircle

[Angus Rohan Chen @angRchen]

GLP-1 drugs are a revolution in obesity medicine - but Thomas Robinson warns that it won't do anything for a broken food system, policies, lack of exercise - the true causes of obesity. @elaineywchen at #STATSummit steering a great talk right now @statnews

[Larkin Warren @LarkinWarren]

@SEFilms @AFMOFFICIAL @indierights @IndieRightsNews @SidArthurNYC @ronwinslow Dear Twitter friends--Beginning in '08, this indie has been a work of love for families, writers, actors, production crew, and a gorgeous music score. Plus beautiful Sarasota. Many twists and turns led us all here. If you have a chance, in these complex days, take a look. 😍📽️

[Standing Eight Films @SEFilms]

THE JONESTOWN DEFENSE • Promo Clip #20 • STOP THE CAR

@indierights @sidarthurnyc @LarkinWarren @ronwinslow @davidcinema @FilmThreat @LAFilmCritics @NatSocFilmCrix

#thejonestowndefense #indiefilmmaking #indiefilm #robertstevens #dennisostermaier #sarasota #starmandscircle