Pavia’s desire to win makes him perfect leader for vanderbilt football

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - December 28, 2024

The statement from Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia wasn’t meant to sound cocky.

“Those who know me, know I hate losing more than I like winning,” Pavia said about 20 minutes after leading Vanderbilt to a 35-27 victory over Georgia Tech on a rainy Friday night in the 18th Birmingham Bowl. “I just hate to lose. I don't want this to sound cocky, but it just comes down to I would never have a losing season. I told Coach Kill that walking into (Protective Stadium), like I'm not losing today.”

Those words were certainly important but his actions once he stepped in between the white lines were more important than words. Pavia did what he did best. He willed his Vanderbilt team to their seventh victory of the season, giving them the program’s first winning season since 2013 and the first bowl trophy since the BBVA Compass Bowl win at Legion Field on Jan. 4, 2014.

For Pavia, this season was another step – albeit the biggest one – in a college career that began at New Mexico Military Institute and continued at New Mexico State. He led NMMI to a junior college national championship in 2021 and was part of two bowl seasons at New Mexico State. In 2023, he led New Mexico State to just its second 10-win season in school history with the other coming in 1960.

He concluded this season with a bang, contributing five touchdowns and 224 yards in total offense, and was named the game’s most valuable player. At times, he was part magician, part football player, which is pretty much what he’s done all season. The SEC Newcomer of the Year finished the season with 2, 293 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, four interceptions, 800 yards on the ground and eight rushing touchdowns.

“I don't know that there was a more perfect person to quarterback this team and to quarterback this program moving forward,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said. “We're a chip on the shoulder program. I mean, you know, I feel like I've talked to the team today about redemption stories and how the best parts of humanity are the stories where we are knocked down and we get back up and we fight for it. That's what this team is and that's what Diego is. I mean his background, you know, all the things that make him the person, the competitor he is, he's perfect for that position. He inspired so much in our team.”

Lea then recalled his first conversation with Pavia.

“At the end of it, he said I can't wait to come to Vanderbilt and help you win championships,” Lea said. “He said that to me and it was the first time that I was on the phone with someone where I wasn't trying to convince them. You know, I do a lot of convincing in my job. He saw it too and he had a belief too and I think we you know when you cut us open we bleed out the same he and I do.”

Perhaps the biggest victory during this entire bowl process for Vanderbilt was the news that Pavia was granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA. He was asked on Friday night if that year will definitely come at Vanderbilt.

“As long as the food chain is how it is, you know, Coach Lea, Coach (Jerry) Kill and everyone stays, I'll be here too,” Pavia said.

Not long after that, he turned into a Vanderbilt recruiter.

“I mean, if you want to win, come to Vandy,” Pavia said. “This is a new Vanderbilt team. You know, we're hard hat, lunch pail. And so, you know, if you want to work, you want to win championships, and want to go in and have a chance at the big dog, you know what I mean, come to Vandy, let’s see what you got.”