Mendoza played high school football at Bishop Montgomery High School and was named the offensive player of the year in the Angelus League in 1981.[1]
College career
Mendoza played his first two seasons of college football for the Los Angeles Harbor Seahawks of Los Angeles Harbor College.[2] He led the Seahawks to two Southern California Athletic Conference titles and a pair of post-season bowl berths.[1] He then transferred to Northern Arizona University in 1983 to play for the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks and was named the Big Sky Conference's Newcomer of the Year.[2] Mendoza completed 453 of 769 passes for 4,882 yards and 29 touchdowns during his two seasons as a starter at Northern Arizona.[2][1] While attending NAU he was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity.[3]
Professional career
Mendoza spent time with the Oakland Raiders during training camp in 1985 after passing up an offer to play for the Denver Gold of the USFL.[3] However, he was released before appearing in any preseason games.[2]
Mendoza was a member of the Ottawa Rough Riders for a week before being released by the team on May 20, 1986.[4]
Mendoza signed with the Los Angeles Cobras on June 9, 1988. He was placed on the team's taxi squad for his first game as a member of the Cobras on June 10 against the Detroit Drive.[2] He was promoted to the active roster on June 23, 1988.[5] Mendoza passed for 269 yards and four touchdowns in relief of starting quarterback Matt Stevens in a 37–37 tie against the Chicago Bruisers on July 14, 1988.[6][1] Michael threw a 15-yard touchdown to Joe Kelly with 11 seconds left in regulation to tie the game. The Cobras' Nick Mike-Mayer then missed a 31-yard field goal with 46 seconds remaining in overtime.[6] Mendoza appeared in the 1989 movie Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects as the movie contains a scene that is filmed during a live game between the Cobras and Bruisers. His name is audibly mentioned by the game's public address announcer.[7] Michael worked as a loan representative prior to signing with the Cobras.[1]
