There’s no denying that Diego Pavia is one of the most electric players Vanderbilt football has seen in recent years. But as much as the “alpha leader in our locker room,” as head coach Clark Lea fondly calls him, shines on the field, he’s just as often in the headlines for his “bulletin board material” edgy attitude. While the fanbase stays divided on his trash talk and swagger, Lea has learned to embrace the duality. During a recent appearance on Bussin’ With The Boys, the Vanderbilt coach opened up about his quarterback’s polarizing personality, admitting that he doesn’t spend much time on social media, but even in his “insulated world,” word of Pavia’s antics always finds its way to him.

On October 28, in a conversation with Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, Clark Lea revealed that he is on the same side as most fans who appreciate Pavia’s fire. “Diego has earned the right to speak for himself, and the world doesn’t need a watered-down Diego Pavia,” Clark Lea said. “This guy has charisma and belief. I think too many people will whisper their beliefs, and like want to kind of walk in the shadows and not actually say what they want and go after what they want. And he’s a guy who does exactly that.”

That unapologetic self-belief has fueled some of Pavia’s most memorable and controversial moments. Before the season, he declared that “Vanderbilt is gonna run Tennessee after this year..They think they’re going to destroy us… f—k every single one of them dudes…We’re gonna win this game at all costs.” Then came his viral pregame against Alabama, where he ran victory formation drills during warmups, only to be criticized after a tough loss. Things escalated when Pavia was caught in a heated exchange with a Crimson Tide fan as he exited the field in Tuscaloosa.

Lea insists that Pavia’s confidence isn’t something he wants to curb and believes these moments are teachable. He sees them as growing pains of a fiercely competitive player learning the boundaries of leadership. “Part of our respect is we’re going to do everything we can to win the game…we’re going to try to bury the opponent,” Lea explained. “That’s our mentality. But we don’t need to be disrespectful in how we represent our program or ourselves. We had a really good conversation about that.”

“I told him, ‘I don’t want you to change who you are, man. I love who you are.’ But I asked him to always carry respect for the opposition. I don’t want this team to be a reflection of me; I want them to bring their own energy and align as one. That’s how we amplify Vanderbilt football.” The collective spirit is what makes them dangerous. In just one season, Pavia has transformed Vanderbilt’s offense and instilled confidence in a program long defined by its underdog identity.

Clark Lea Addresses Vanderbilt’s Future and Coaching Rumors

Clark Lea was forced to address the mid-season coaching changes, as his name was on the buzz. Lea clarifies that he’s not a fan of mid-season coaching changes, as he finds it “brutal”. “Your connection with your team is like a it’s family connection, or at least it is for us.” “I couldn’t imagine not being able to finish out a journey with a group of guys that have poured so much into this.” Lea shut down the speculation outright, confirming, “I’m not in direct conversation with anybody about anything right now.” 

He said that his only focus is on getting the most out of this season for Vanderbilt. He believes that the rumors came after they saw his consistency and routines. “I have not sensed that any of that kind of external noise has penetrated our locker room.” He said that their locker room knew his short-term and long-term intentions. 

He claimed that his only focus is “to position this program at a championship level,” and he believes that he’s done that. Coach claims that Vanderbilt still has ground to cover to be more sustainable, and he’s looking to push the limits to attain the goal. The Commodores are now 7-1 and are ranked 9 in the AP poll, keeping their playoff chances alive. We need to wait and watch whether Lea’s championship dream comes to life this season.