“We’re a Bunch of Misfits!”
Fernando Mendoza and the Power of Value Congruence
From Dr. Tracey C. Jones, T3 Solutions
When Fernando Mendoza stepped to the microphone after Indiana's dominant 56-22 Peach Bowl victory over Oregon, he didn't talk about his five touchdown passes. He didn't mention that he's the Heisman Trophy winner and projected #1 NFL Draft pick. He didn't boast about leading the first 15-0 season in program history.
Instead, this young man of deep faith looked into the camera and said:
"We're a bunch of misfits. There are zero five-stars on our team. We're just a bunch of gritty guys who are glued together and going toward a common goal."
When I heard those words, I nearly spilled my drink. Because that's exactly what I've been writing about.
Where "Misfits" Came From
The quote actually originated with offensive lineman Pat Coogan, a transfer from Notre Dame who gave a pregame speech earlier in the season. As Mendoza told reporters back in November:
"He's like, 'Look at us—a bunch of misfits. Guys from FCS, G5, JMU coming up. Bunch of transfers, bunch of rejects that got replaced at their old school coming to Indiana. Now we have a chance to go 12-0.'"
Coogan himself was one of those "misfits"—a lifelong Notre Dame fan who'd helped the Fighting Irish reach the CFP finals, only to be told he wouldn't start as a senior. So he transferred to Indiana, where Coach Curt Cignetti was assembling a team of players who had been overlooked, underestimated, and counted out.
Sound familiar?
Welcome to The Island
In my book The Island of Misfit Leaders, I tell the story of eight leaders who wash up on an island, each believing they're broken, defective, or "not enough." Through their journey, they discover a profound truth: they were never misfits at all. They were mis-fitted—placed in environments that didn't match their unique wiring.
That's exactly what happened with Indiana football.
Fernando Mendoza? He was at Cal, where he threw 10 interceptions in 2023. The "experts" didn't see a Heisman winner. But when he transferred to Indiana and found the right system, the right culture, the right fit? He became the most efficient quarterback in college football.
Pat Coogan? Notre Dame said he wasn't good enough to start. Indiana said, "Come lead our offensive line."
Player after player on that roster has the same story: passed over, replaced, undervalued—until they found a place where their values aligned with the culture.
The Secret Sauce: Value Congruence
Here's what Curt Cignetti understood that so many leaders miss: talent alone doesn't build championships. Value congruence does.
Value congruence is the alignment between an individual's core values and the organization's culture. When there's a mismatch, even the most talented people struggle. When there's alignment? Magic happens.
Mendoza described it perfectly: "With a strong culture, you can accomplish anything. We have a strong culture in the locker room, our coaching staff, our administration."
This wasn't about recruiting five-star talent. It was about recruiting values-aligned talent. Players who valued grit over glamour. Substance over hype. Team over self.
Faith, Family, and the Fruit of Character
What makes the Mendoza story even more beautiful is who this young man is off the field.
Fernando incorporates daily Mass into his game-day routine. He leads team Bible studies. When he won the Heisman Trophy, he dedicated it to his mother Elsa, who has been battling Multiple Sclerosis for nearly two decades: "Mami, this is your trophy as much as it is mine."
He and his brother Alberto—who backs him up at quarterback—have raised over $125,000 for MS research through partnerships with local restaurants in Bloomington. Their "Mendoza Bros. Burger" at BuffaLouie's and "Mendoza Bros. Cubano" at Gables Bagels don't just feed fans; they fund hope.
This is what happens when you build a culture around character. You don't just win games. You raise up men.
A Note from the Smiliest Misfit of All
Last week, I wrote about Coach Cignetti—the stone-faced leader who never smiles but just keeps winning. (If you missed it, go read "Thank You for Your Smile... Unless You're Curt Cignetti.")
Today I'm writing about Fernando Mendoza—the smiling, faith-filled quarterback who radiates joy while dominating on the field.
Same team. Same culture. Same values. Completely different styles.
That's the beauty of authentic leadership. It doesn't come in one package. Cignetti leads weird—poker-faced and blunt. Mendoza leads weird—joyful and faith-centered. But they're aligned on what matters: character, grit, substance over style.
They found each other. And together, they've built something tremendous.
One Game Away
On January 19th, this "bunch of misfits" will play for the National Championship against Miami—in Mendoza's hometown, where he went to high school with the son of Miami's coach.
If they win, Indiana will become the first 16-0 champion this century. Fernando will join an elite group of Heisman winners who also won national titles. And a team with "zero five-stars" will have proven that culture beats recruiting rankings every single time.
A bunch of misfits. A bunch of rejects. A bunch of guys who were told they weren't enough.
They weren't misfits at all. They were mis-fitted—until they found their island.
Is Your Team Mis-Fitted?
Here's the question for you: Do you have talented people who seem to be underperforming? Leaders who look like "misfits" in your organization?
Before you write them off, consider this: maybe they're not the problem. Maybe they're mis-fitted—talented people in the wrong environment, waiting for a culture that aligns with their values.
Value congruence isn't just a nice-to-have. It's the difference between a team that goes through the motions and a team that goes 15-0.
I'd love to help you build that kind of culture in your organization.
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BRING TRACEY TO YOUR ORGANIZATION
Keynotes • Workshops • Leadership Training
Whether it's a keynote on Leading Weird, a workshop on Value Congruence in Teams, or a deep-dive training on Building High-Character Cultures, I bring real-world leadership insights that stick.
Contact: tracey@traceycjones.com
Book: The Island of Misfit Leaders — available at TremendousLeadership.com
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Lead Weird, friends. And remember: you're not a misfit. You might just be mis-fitted.
Go Hoosiers. 🏈
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Tracey C. Jones, PhD, is the President and CEO of Tremendous Leadership and T3 Solutions Inc. She is the author of 14 books, including The Island of Misfit Leaders, and the daughter of legendary motivational speaker Charlie "Tremendous" Jones. A former Air Force officer and executive coach, she helps organizations build high-character cultures through value congruence. Learn more at T3Solutions.com.