In a post-game interview that quickly went viral, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza captured the hearts of football fans nationwide with his passionate and endearing praise for his offensive line - even if he wasn't quite sure how to pronounce their nickname.

During the ESPN interview with Holly Rowe following Indiana's impressive Rose Bowl performance, Mendoza couldn't stop gushing about his team's historic achievement. His genuine enthusiasm shone through as he described the legendary venue: "What a historic venue, the Rose Bowl. One of the best venues in all of sports."

Mendoza didn't just praise the stadium - he also gave a respectful nod to their formidable opponents. "Alabama is one of the most prestigious programs in the SEC, shout out to them. They did a fantastic job, however..." his voice trailing off with a hint of competitive spirit.

The real highlight of the interview came when Mendoza turned his attention to the offensive line, whom he adorably referred to as the "hoggies". With unbridled enthusiasm, he proclaimed: "Shout out to the hoggies. The hoggies did fantastic today. Without them we wouldn't be 38-3. I believe our hoggies are the best hoggies in the nation. Not only a great group of guys but a great group of football players."

Center Pat Coogan, one of those celebrated "hoggies", was named the Rose Bowl's most valuable player. The team's performance was nothing short of spectacular, racking up 407 yards of offense and running the ball 50 times for 215 yards. When Coogan was announced as MVP, his teammates mobbed him on stage in a display of pure team spirit.

Mendoza's heartfelt and slightly comedic interview captured the true essence of collegiate sports - teamwork, respect, and genuine joy in achievement. His mispronunciation of "hogs" only endeared him more to fans, proving that authentic emotion trumps perfect delivery every time.