The College Football National Championship turns into the Columbus Bowl
- Oscar Pinto
- Jan 16
- 5 min read
by Oscar Pinto
Under the bright lights of Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night, the spotlight will not just shines on both teams, but on Christopher Columbus High School as alumni Alberto Mendoza, Fernando Mendoza, Bryce Fitzgerald, Vinny Gonzalez, Ryan Rodriguez, and coaches Alex Mirabal and Mario Cristobal participate in the College Football National Championship, showcasing the school's strong football legacy and inspiring current students and supporters.
Inside the classrooms, students wear their Columbus uniforms, sharing highlights on their phones and debating plays as the championship approached, knowing that their brothers would take the field on both sides of the biggest game in college football.
Brotherhood for Good
Columbus is more than just a high school; it's a brotherhood, and now it's more united than ever, with students supporting one another from both sides, fostering a strong sense of belonging and shared pride in the school and its alums.
Principal David Pugh has a message for the alumni playing in the game. He says, "Congratulations on your accomplishments, and thank you for representing us with pride and integrity."
Now, while some argue that the brotherhood is divided into two, the reality is that Columbus is more united than ever.
Junior Rocco Bevilacqua said, "I feel that Columbus is more united because we have Explorers on both sides of the ball, and I think it's something that we should be proud of and wish them nothing but success."
Some students might have a preferred side that they are personally rooting for but there is no bad blood in the brotherhood.
Junior Ricky Hernandez says, "Even though I do have a side I am rooting for, I do not have anything against people who support the other side, and I will be happy no matter the result because I am supporting the brotherhood."
University of Miami
Alex Mirabal OL Coach
Mirabal graduated back in 1988 and has built his reputation as one of the nation's top offensive line coaches, contributing to many bowl wins and elevating Columbus High School's reputation through his coaching success and leadership in college football.
Mario Cristobal, Head Coach
Cristobal, as a former offensive lineman for Miami, won two national championships as a player in 89 and 91 before beginning a long and successful coaching career. He coached at universities such as Rutgers, Florida International University, Alabama, Oregon, and finally Miami.
He was an assistant at Alabama with the infamous Nick Saban, helping the Tide win a national championship, and developed multiple dominant offensive lines. He later became the head coach at Oregon, leading the Ducks to multiple Pac-12 titles.
Since his return to Miami, Cristobal built the Hurricanes into a national contender. He led the Canes to a winning record of 13-2, beating top teams such as number 2 Ohio State and Ole Miss in the last 24 seconds, sending them to the final.
Bryce Fitzgerald
Bryce graduated from the class of 25 in Columbus as a dual threat. He is a lightning-fast safety, and he is a defensive back at the Hurricanes. He is a college freshman standout.
As a junior at Christopher Columbus High School, Bryce Fitzgerald set the school record with 11 interceptions and helped his team win a state football title.
Now a college freshman at Miami, Bryce's success, including two interceptions in Miami's College Football Playoff win over Texas A&M, continues the school's tradition of developing top-tier athletes and boosts school pride.
Ryan Rodriguez
Graduated from the Columbus class of 21 and is now an offensive lineman for Miami. He played center/guard during his time at Columbus. Rodriguez has earned significant playing time on the Miami offensive line, helping run a high-tempo offense.
Coach Hill says, "Ryan, this is a moment we have talked about for years! I made Ryan a special pair of cleats in 2021, telling him he could wear them only in the National Championship game."
Vinny Gonzalez
Graduated as a member of the class of 25, a Columbus QB and Miami freshman, Vinny is part of Miami's 2025 roster as a walk-on who brought some local talent to the power 5 program.
Indiana University
Heismendoza - Fernando Mendoza
Graduated from the class of 22, 107 completions on 169 attempts,63.3% completion rate,1,169 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and led Columbus to the FHSAA Class 8A State Championship game as a senior.
In the 2025 season at Indian, Fernando Mendoza made school history by becoming the first player to win the Heisman Trophy. He led the Hoosiers to a 13-0 record and became the number 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
"Watching Fernando Mendoza reach the pinnacle of college football and earn the Heisman is a moment of immense pride for our school, our alums, and our entire community…We are proud not only of his achievements on the field, but of the man he has become," said Columbus President Mr. Thomas Kruczek.
Fernando has thrown over 33 touchdown passes, the most in the nation, and 6 rushing touchdowns, for a total of over 39 touchdowns. He has completed over 70% of his passes and is leading the country.
Fernando has been given the Associated Press Player of the Year award and was also named the Heisman for his 2025 season.
"He represents the legacy of excellence our alumni carry into the world. If I were speaking to him, I would tell Fernando how incredibly proud the entire Columbus family is of his achievements on the football field, but even more proud of the man he has become. He is an excellent example of what it truly means to be a Columbus Explorer," said Mr. Kruczek.
Alberto Mendoza
As a red-shirt freshman QB at Indiana, joining his brother Fernando, he threw his first touchdown pass in 2025 and became part of the first pair of brothers in a decade to throw a touchdown pass in the same game, against Kennesaw State.
A Message from the Principal
Columbus Principal Pugh said, "Having so many Explorers represent us in the Championship game highlights the rich history and tradition of Columbus Football in South Florida. It reflects our school's legacy of preparing young men to compete at the highest level and fosters a sense of pride among students, alums, and the community."
Tradition
No matter the final result, one thing is sure: the Columbus brotherhood is now more united on college football's biggest stage.
The presence of so many Columbus alums at one of the country's most significant sporting events reinforces the school's tradition of excellence, inspires younger athletes, strengthens alum pride, and proves that the Columbus brotherhood extends far beyond graduation.
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