Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia Responds to Heisman Fallout: “A Learning Moment” for a Star QB and His Program
Diego Pavia’s season was one for the books. The Vanderbilt quarterback put up video game numbers-over 3,100 passing yards, 27 touchdowns through the air, and nearly 900 more on the ground with nine rushing scores.
He led the Commodores to a 10-2 record, a massive leap forward for a program that’s spent more time in the SEC basement than the spotlight. But after finishing second in the Heisman Trophy race to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, emotions boiled over-and Pavia’s response lit up social media for all the wrong reasons.
Shortly after the ceremony, Pavia posted a now-deleted Instagram story that read “F- all the voters,” and was seen celebrating with someone holding a sign that said “F- Indiana.” The backlash was swift. Heisman voters and fans alike criticized the outburst, with some questioning his apology and others openly regretting their support.
On Thursday, Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea addressed the situation for the first time-and his message struck a balance between accountability and support.
“Obviously, I regretted the fact that he put that out and I appreciated his apology,” Lea said. “This kid has had an unbelievable career.
It’s an amazing story-he got to the point where he was reaching a childhood dream and he fell just short. There’s so much goodness in that.”
Clark Lea responded to Diego Pavia’s actions after the Heisman Trophy ceremony
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Lea didn’t excuse the behavior, but he contextualized it. In his eyes, this was an emotional moment from a player who’s spent his career fighting through doubt and proving people wrong.
“In a moment of emotion, he posted something… and we’re responsible for our perception in the world. That’s just the reality,” Lea said. “That’s something we talk about in this program.”
And he’s right. Pavia’s journey hasn’t been a straight line.
He’s had to battle for respect every step of the way-from overlooked recruit to one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in college football. That chip on his shoulder, that fire, is part of what’s made him so special.
But in this case, it crossed a line.
“What’s always true about Diego is the people in his corner, the people he’s closest with-they have his heart,” Lea added. “In a moment where I think he was trying to communicate that, he used words that sent the wrong message and don’t align with our program and don’t align with who he is. And we make mistakes.”
The reaction from the college football world has been mixed. Former Heisman winner and current voter Mark Ingram said Pavia should’ve shown more humility and wasn’t buying the apology. ESPN’s Rece Davis went a step further, saying the moment made him regret his vote.
But Lea offered a more grounded take-one that reflects the reality of college athletics in the social media era.
“Certainly, I’m glad I didn’t have social media access when I was 23,” Lea said. “I’m sure I would have had to apologize for a number of things in my emotional state too. I think we need to give him a lot of grace and allow this to be a growth moment for him.”
That’s the key word here: growth. Pavia crossed a line, owned it, and apologized. Now, it’s about how he responds moving forward-both as a player and as a leader in the Vanderbilt locker room.
“What we love about Diego is his passion, his belief, his competitive edge,” Lea said. “We’ve celebrated that for two years here.
It went past the line coming out of that Heisman ceremony and he apologized for it. We’re going to allow him to move on from it, and I’m going to move on from it.
I think it’s a great learning moment, and we totally support him and believe in him.”
Now, the focus shifts to football again. Vanderbilt is preparing to take on Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl on December 31. And while the Heisman drama may linger in headlines for a bit longer, Pavia and the Commodores have their eyes on finishing this historic season with a statement win.
For a quarterback who’s built his career proving people wrong, this next game is another chance to remind the college football world what he’s really about-on the field, where it matters most.