Vanderbilt coach addresses Diego Pavia's Heisman controversy: 'Sent the wrong message'

Vanderbilt shot manager Clark Lea defended backmost Diego Pavia aft his arguable behaviour pursuing the Heisman Trophy ceremony, but noted that Pavia’s actions "sent the incorrect message." 

Pavia, 23, finished 2nd down Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who led the Hoosiers to a cleanable 13-0 grounds and a Big Ten Championship anterior to the College Football Playoff (CFP). The effect prompted a less-than-gracious effect from Pavia, who posted connected societal media,  "F-ALL THE VOTERS, BUT.....FAMILY FOR LIFE."

Vanderbilt backmost Diego Pavia (2) throws to a receiver during warmups beforean NCAA assemblage shot crippled against Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, successful Knoxville, Tennessee. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)

He was besides aboriginal pictured astatine a nightclub with a motion that read, "F--- Indiana. 

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Pavia aboriginal apologized successful a lengthy station connected societal media, but not earlier being met with wide backlash.

Speaking to the media connected Thursday, Lea addressed the concern and attempted to explicate Pavia’s thought process.

"I regretted the information that helium enactment that retired there, and I appreciated his apology. This is specified an illustration of the mode – I mean, this kid has had an unbelievable career. It’s an astonishing story, and helium got up until the constituent wherever helium was reaching a puerility dream, and helium fell conscionable abbreviated and there’s truthful overmuch goodness successful that. 

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

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"But the thought that he’s been battling against doubters and feels similar he’s perpetually having to beryllium himself, that’s not caller to him. But what is ever existent to Diego is the radical successful his corner, those that he’s closest with, they person his heart. That’s our program," Lea continued. 

"In a infinitesimal wherever I deliberation helium was trying to pass that, helium utilized words that sent the incorrect message, that don’t align with our program, that don’t align with who helium is. And we marque mistakes."

Lea’s remarks echoed those of Vanderbilt diversion manager Candice Lee, who said Monday, "We judge successful maturation and accountability, and we volition proceed to enactment Diego arsenic helium learns from this moment."

Heisman Trophy finalist Vanderbilt backmost Diego Pavia speaks during an NCAA assemblage shot quality league earlier the grant ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, successful New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

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Pavia volition wrapper up his collegiate vocation astatine the ReliaQuest Bowl wherever Vanderbilt volition look Iowa connected Dec. 31.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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