There are moments in sports that go far beyond the scoreboard. As a father and a lacrosse coach, those are the moments I live for — the ones that remind me why games matter, why we gather around screens, and why sports still hold such a powerful place in our culture.

Watching the College Football National Championship was one of those moments.

Yes, the stage was massive. Yes, the stakes were high. But what stayed with me wasn’t just the execution on the field — it was the humanity around it. The emotion. The resilience. The families. The culture.

That’s the greatness of sports.

More Than a Game

I watched the game with the same appreciation I bring to the sidelines every spring. Sports, at their best, are a classroom for life. They teach accountability, toughness, humility, and belief. They expose preparation. They reward discipline. And they reveal character when things don’t go perfectly.

College football, especially on championship night, compresses all of that into a few intense hours. Every rep matters. Every mistake is magnified. Every response is remembered.

That’s where greatness shows up.

Fernando Mendoza: Tough, Positive, and Classy

One of the most powerful moments of the night didn’t come from a highlight reel — it came from watching Fernando Mendoza and, just as importantly, his family in the stands.

As a dad, I couldn’t take my eyes off them.

You could see it on their faces — pride, nerves, belief, and unconditional support. Win or lose, they were there. Locked in. Standing tall and representing everything that’s right about sports and family.

Fernando played tough. He stayed positive. He stayed classy.

That matters.

Anyone can carry themselves well when things are easy. The real test comes under pressure, in adversity, when the world is watching. That’s when character shows up, and Fernando showed it all night. As a coach, that’s the kind of athlete you respect. As a father, that’s the kind of young man you hope your kids grow up to be.

Culture Isn’t a Buzzword — It’s the Difference

This is where Coach Curt Cignetti’s impact stood out to me.

Culture isn’t something you talk about when you’re winning. It’s what shows when things get hard. It’s how players respond to setbacks. It’s how they treat teammates, opponents, and officials. It’s the standard when no one is prompting you.

Coach Cignetti has clearly built something real. You could see it in their body language, composure, and belief. His teams play with an edge, but also with discipline. Confidence without arrogance. Toughness without excuses.

As a lacrosse coach, I know how hard it is to build — and how easy it is to lose if you’re not intentional every single day.

Culture doesn’t happen on game day. It’s earned in offseason lifts, film sessions, accountability conversations, and daily habits. When the lights come on, culture either shows up — or it doesn’t.

On that stage, it did.

Why Sports Still Matter

Watching the national championship reminded me why I love sports — not just as a fan, but as a coach and a father.

Sports give us shared moments.
They give young people a platform to grow.
They give families memories they’ll carry forever.
They give coaches a chance to shape lives, not just records.

I thought about my own kids while watching that game. I thought about the lessons I try to teach my players. Compete. Respond. Respect the game. Represent your family. Be someone people are proud to cheer for.

That’s the win.

Final Whistle

Long after the confetti settles and the final score fades, what remains is how the game was played and who people became in the process.

Fernando Mendoza showed toughness, positivity, and class.
His family showed pride and unwavering support.
Coach Cignetti showed that culture still wins.

And once again, sports reminded us why they matter.

That’s a championship worth celebrating.