NEW YORK — Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti had a good feeling that quarterback Fernando Mendoza would be headed to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist long before the announcement was made. He had the best view in the house of Mendoza building a Heisman-worthy résumé throughout the fall.

Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti called Fernando Mendoza into his office in late October to discuss Heisman Trophy buzz. Here's what the message contained.