Hannah Fridrich

Centre College Soccer ‘30 Commit @CentreWSoccer

@ecnlgirls @tnsoccerclub

[ESPN @espn]

HISTORY FOR 18-YEAR-OLD BLADES BROWN‼️

Brown breaks the course record and shoots the lowest round in PGA Tour history by an 18-year-old since 1983 🤯

[Brentwood Academy Athletics (ESBN) @ESBN_BA]

Congratulations to all of our top performers from today’s regional swim meet!

200 medley relay - 3rd McClain Hardin, Campbell Hardin, Faith Gorey, Linnea Woolbert SCHOOL RECORD, 1:48.01

200 IM - 1st Faith Gorey, 14th Elaina Massey

50 free - 2nd Linnea Woolbert, 14th McClain Hardin

100 fly - 1st Faith Gorey SCHOOL RECORD 53.55

100 free - 5th Linnea Woolbert

500 free - 10th Elaina Massey

200 free relay - 1st Gorey, C. Hardin, M. Hardin, Woolbert SCHOOL RECORD 1:36.14 Lead off leg of relay SCHOOL RECORD 50 free Faith Gorey 23.12

100 breast - 12th Campbell Hardin

[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

[Brentwood Academy Football @theBAFootball]

Nothing sweeter than a Chattanooga bound Alma Mater!

[Hannah Fridrich @hannah_fridrich]

@ESBN_BA

[Hannah Fridrich @hannah_fridrich]

COMMITTED!! All glory to GOD! 💛🖤 @CentreWSoccer @tnag76 @TNSoccerClub @TSCECNL @ImYouthSoccer @TheSoccerWire #ecnl #Committed #ROLLKERNS @chipfridrich

[Hannah Fridrich @hannah_fridrich]

#NewProfilePic

[Hannah Fridrich @hannah_fridrich]

@Chip_Fridrich

[Hank Richards @BlueCollarHank]

@on3 @petenakos Lifelong Auburn fan here, I feel bad for Hugh. He was so close to bringing Auburn to the playoffs but the fake fans didn’t give him enough time. Firing a Christian man with cancer on a Sunday is not the Auburn way to do things. Do better @AuburnFootball @AuburnU

[Marty Smith @MartySmithESPN]

Perspective on Diego Pavia:
I was with Diego for the entire day Tuesday. At lunch, he stood up from the table and hugged a cafeteria staff member, thanked that person by name for cooking Diego some extra food. I watched him address teammates by name and many with an embrace. He has a nickname for everybody. I watched him take copious notes in meetings and encourage and demand the standard throughout practice. Before the season he had a party for the entire team to bond.
Everything I saw was a man who makes people feel seen, and feel belonging. That’s special and it’s not required. It takes genuine effort.
I saw supreme self confidence.
But arrogance? I didn’t see that.

[College GameDay @CollegeGameDay]

"I'd do whatever for these kids. And as long as my mom's proud of everything I'm doing, that's a win for me as well."

Michigan State’s Armorion Smith's life changed in an instant when his mother Gala Gilliam died in 2024. He honors her by being a D-I athlete, a student and by caring for his siblings ❤️

(via @JenLada)

[Josh Pate @JoshPateCFB]

Vanderbilt has done an immaculate job with this place. Unbelievable transformation.

[Hannah Fridrich @hannah_fridrich]

crossbar goals are now a tradition i guess 🤞🏻🤣 @ECNLgirls

[Hannah Fridrich @hannah_fridrich]

State tournament here we come!! @ESBN_BA @ECNLgirls @TNSoccerClub #soccer @soccer

[Barstool Vandy @BarstoolVandy]

Build it and they will come

[Charlie Kirk @charliekirk11]

Jesus defeated death so you can live.

[VT Grounds Crew @VT_groundscrew]

From the custodian crew at Lane Stadium, thank you Vanderbilt for leaving the locker room clean.
#hokies

[Brentwood Academy Athletics (ESBN) @ESBN_BA]

Our football team in the Word together during tonight’s rain delay - the heart of this team is incredibly special ♥️🦅 #BAfamily

[My moms caregiver @mymomcare]

Body recovered of Texas camp director, Richard “Dick” Eastland,who died heroically trying to save kids.

He purchased the Christian Camp in 1974 - god rest his soul 🙏