Mark Ingram II Fires Back at Diego Pavia’s Heisman Outburst: “My Trophy’s Sitting Right There”
Mark Ingram II may have been out of the NFL for a few years, but the former Heisman winner still knows how to lower the shoulder-this time with words, not pads.
Earlier this week, Ingram delivered a verbal stiff-arm to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting and didn’t take the result particularly well. Instead of brushing off the loss, Pavia went on a tirade-on social media and reportedly at a New York City nightclub-aimed squarely at the Heisman voters and even the state of Indiana.
His message? Unfiltered and unapologetic: “[Expletive] all the (Heisman) voters …” and “[Expletive] Indiana.”
It wasn’t exactly the kind of post-ceremony grace you’d expect from a finalist. And it didn’t take long for Ingram-who knows a thing or two about winning the award-to respond.
Speaking on The Triple Option podcast, which he co-hosts with Urban Meyer and Rob Stone, Ingram didn’t hold back.
“‘[Expletive] all the voters’ is crazy when 186 … 189 people voted you first on the ballot,” Ingram said. “So maybe you should’ve said, ‘[Expletive] 643 voters,’” referencing the number of voters who didn’t put Pavia at the top.
That’s the kind of math that hits harder than a safety in the open field.
Urban Meyer, never one to shy away from stirring the pot, jokingly added that Pavia had “F’d” both Ingram and Stone-setting the stage for Ingram to take the gloves off completely.
“He F’d me and that’s fine. That’s fine,” Ingram said, before motioning to the gleaming hardware behind him.
“Cause guess what? My trophy’s sitting right there.”
And there it was-Ingram didn’t need to say much more. The camera panned to his own Heisman Trophy, a reminder that talk is cheap, but legacy is forever.
As for Pavia, this latest outburst adds another chapter to what’s been a polarizing season. Since taking over as Vandy’s starting quarterback in 2024, he’s drawn comparisons to Johnny Manziel-not just for his playmaking ability, but for his off-field antics. The swagger, the bravado, the volatility-it’s all been part of the package.
But while Manziel had moments of brilliance that kept critics at bay (at least for a while), Pavia’s resume doesn’t quite carry the same weight. And when you finish second in the Heisman race, lashing out at voters isn’t exactly the best way to win over the public-or your peers.
Ingram’s response was sharp, but it also came from a place of experience. He’s been through the process.
He knows what it takes to win the Heisman. And more importantly, he understands what it means to represent the award.
Pavia’s talent is undeniable. But if he wants to wear the crown one day, he might want to take a page from Ingram’s book-both in performance and in poise.
For now, though, it’s another L for Pavia. And this one came without even stepping on the field.