NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
One Heisman Trophy voter won’t stay quiet after seeing Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s message about finishing second over the weekend behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
Chase Goodbread of The Tuscaloosa News, who has a Heisman vote, wrote a piece this week about Pavia saying “Fuck all the voters” after finishing a distant second behind Mendoza. Pavia wrote it in the caption of an Instagram Story post with a photo of his Commodores teammates.
While Pavia apologized for his initial response to the loss in New York City, Goodbread was not impressed by what Pavia had to say.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores poses with the Heisman Memorial Trophy prior to the presentation of the 2025 Heisman Trophy at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on December 13, 2025 in New York City. (Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
“He’s a big boy now,” Goodbread wrote in his column. “Old enough to have more than one college degree. Old enough to beat the NCAA in court to gain additional eligibility, and old enough to earn the boatload of NIL money that came with it. Old enough to know better. And old enough to withstand some criticism.
“It was a punk move, Diego. This voter wasn’t sitting next to Mendoza on Saturday night, but my congratulations to him are at least genuine.”
Goodbread added that Pavia’s behavior was “nonsense,” saying, “After 6 years at university, you would think Pavia would have enrolled in at least one humility course by now.”
DIEGO PAVIA KNOWS THAT EXPLICIT OUTLAW AGAINST HEISMAN VOTERS WAS ‘UNACCEPTABLE,’ VANDERBILT AD SAYS
Mendoza finished with 643 first-place votes compared to 189 for Pavia.
Vanderbilt’s athletic director issued a statement Monday after Pavia’s comment.
“Diego knows his actions were unacceptable and he apologized,” athletic director Candice Lee said in a statement to The Tennessean on Monday. “I know he is remorseful and regrets the harm he caused. He is a passionate and authentic competitor, and while his authenticity has been encouraged and celebrated here, that does not change the responsibility that comes with representing Vanderbilt University.
“We believe in growth and responsibility, and we will continue to support Diego as he learns from this moment.”
Pavia later apologized for his comments about X.
Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores warms up before a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
“I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and I didn’t represent myself the way I wanted,” he wrote in a statement. “I have a lot of love and respect for the Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake and I’m sorry.
“Fernando Mendoza is an elite competitor and a deserving award winner. I have nothing but respect for his accomplishments as well as Jeremiyah’s success. [Love] and julian [Sayin] had this season. “They have doubted me my whole life,” he wrote.
“Every step of my journey, I had to kick down doors and fight for myself, because I learned that nothing would be handed to me. My family has always been on my side, and my teammates, coaches and staff have my six. I love them, I’m grateful for them, and I wouldn’t want anything to distract me from that. I look forward to competing in front of my family and with my team once again in the ReliaQuest Bowl.”
Pavia, playing in his second season at Vanderbilt after starting at New Mexico State, led the SEC with a 71.2% completion rate with 27 touchdowns, 3,192 passing yards and nine rushing scores. He rushed for 826 yards on 152 attempts.
However, Pavia’s reaction to the voting results was not a big surprise. He has always been confident in himself to the point of telling voters to send him to New York City because he felt he deserved the Heisman.
Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia throws to an open teammate against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Nov. 9, 2024. (Image)
“The Heisman Trophy winner goes to the best player in college football,” Pavia said on OutKick’s “Hot Mic.” “I think it’s me. You check the numbers, and especially there are two things that don’t lie to you: the numbers and the tape. I’ve been taught that since I was young. Go check it out. I feel like I’m hands down the best player in college football.”
Vanderbilt went 10-2 that year, ranking 14th nationally at the end of the regular season.
