Heisman Trophy voter blasts Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia for F-bomb remark in fiery column: 'Punk move'

One Heisman Trophy elector isn’t staying soundless aft seeing Vanderbilt backmost Diego Pavia’s connection astir finishing 2nd implicit the play to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.

Chase Goodbread of The Tuscaloosa News, who has a Heisman vote, wrote a portion this week astir Pavia saying "F--- each the voters" aft finishing a distant 2nd down Mendoza. Pavia wrote it successful the caption of an Instagram communicative station with a representation of his Commodores teammates.

While Pavia apologized for his archetypal effect to the nonaccomplishment successful New York City, Goodbread wasn’t impressed by what Pavia had to say.

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Heisman Trophy campaigner backmost Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores poses with the Heisman Memorial Trophy earlier the 2025 Heisman Trophy presumption astatine Marriott Marquis Hotel Dec. 13, 2025, successful New York City. (Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

"He’s a large lad now," Goodbread wrote successful his column. "Old capable to person much than 1 assemblage degree. Old capable to bushed the NCAA successful tribunal to summation other eligibility, and aged capable to marque the heap of NIL wealth that came with that. Old capable to cognize better. And aged capable to grip immoderate criticism.

"It was a punk move, Diego. This elector wasn’t sitting close adjacent to Mendoza Saturday night, but my congrats for him are astatine slightest genuine."

Goodbread added that Pavia’s behaviour was "jackassery," saying, "After 6 years successful college, you’d deliberation Pavia would’ve signed up for astatine slightest 1 people successful humility by now."

DIEGO PAVIA KNOWS EXPLICIT OUTBURST AGAINST HEISMAN VOTERS WAS ‘UNACCEPTABLE,’ VANDERBILT AD SAYS

Mendoza finished with 643 first-place votes to Pavia’s 189.

The Vanderbilt diversion director released a connection connected Monday aft Pavia’s comment.

"Diego knows his actions were unacceptable, and helium has apologized," diversion manager Candice Lee said successful a connection to The Tennessean Monday. "I cognize helium is contrite and regrets the wounded helium caused. He is simply a passionate and authentic competitor, and portion his authenticity has been nurtured and celebrated here, it does not alteration the work that comes with representing Vanderbilt University.

"We judge successful maturation and accountability, and we volition proceed to enactment Diego arsenic helium learns from this moment."

Pavia aboriginal apologized for his comments connected X.

Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores warms up earlier a crippled against the Tennessee Volunteers astatine Neyland Stadium Nov. 29, 2025, successful Knoxville, Tenn. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

"I didn’t grip those emotions good astatine each and did not correspond myself the mode I wanted to," helium wrote successful a statement. "I person overmuch emotion and respect for the Heisman voters and the enactment process, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake, and I americium sorry.

"Fernando Mendoza is an elite rival and a deserving victor of the award. I person thing but respect for his accomplishments arsenic good arsenic the occurrence that Jeremiyah [Love] and Julian [Sayin] had this season. I’ve been doubted my full life," helium wrote.

"Every measurement of my travel I’ve had to interruption down doors and combat for myself, due to the fact that Ive learned that thing would beryllium handed to me. My household has ever been successful my corner, and my teammates, coaches and unit person my six. I emotion them — I americium grateful for them. — and I wouldn’t privation thing to distract from that. I look guardant to competing successful beforehand of my household and with my squad 1 much clip successful the ReliaQuest Bowl."

Pavia, playing successful his 2nd play astatine Vanderbilt aft starting astatine New Mexico State, led the SEC with a 71.2% completion complaint with 27 touchdowns, 3,192 yards passing and 9 rushing scores. He rushed for 826 yards connected 152 attempts.

Pavia’s absorption to the voting results wasn’t overmuch of a shock, though. He has ever been self-confident to the constituent helium kept telling voters to nonstop him to New York City because helium felt helium deserved the Heisman.

Vanderbilt Commodores backmost Diego Pavia throws to an unfastened teammate against South Carolina Gamecocks during the archetypal fractional astatine FirstBank Stadium successful Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 9, 2024. (Imagn)

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"The Heisman Trophy victor goes to the champion subordinate successful assemblage football," Pavia said on OutKick’s "Hot Mic." "I judge that to beryllium myself. You cheque the numbers, and particularly — there’s 2 things that don’t prevarication to you: Numbers and tape. I’ve been taught that since I was young. You spell cheque that out. I consciousness similar I’m undoubtedly the champion subordinate successful assemblage football."

Vanderbilt had a 10-2 grounds connected the year, ranking No. 14 nationally astatine the extremity of the regular season.

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