Diego Pavia made history Saturday night, becoming the first finalist for the Heisman Trophy in the history of the Vanderbilt football program.
He finished just shy of college football’s most storied individual award, coming in second place to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, but he didn’t leave New York City without making a statement.
The Commodores’ star quarterback reposted a picture on Instagram of himself with his offensive line at the Heisman ceremony, along with a caption that read “(Expletive)-ALL THE VOTERS, BUT…..FAMILY FOR LIFE.”
What was expected to be a tight race between Mendoza and Pavia was a little more lopsided than previously envisioned. Mendoza finished in first place, with 2,362 points and 643 first-place votes while Pavia was second with 1,435 points and 189 first-place votes.
So, despite what he posted on social media, maybe at least 189 voters were spared from Pavia’s ire.
In his second season at Vanderbilt, Pavia threw for 3,192 yards, 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions, along with 826 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Pavia was second among all FBS players in total yards per game, with 334.8, behind only South Florida’s Byrum Brown.
While racking up those yards, he led the Commodores to a program-record 10 wins. In two seasons, he helped guide Vanderbilt to a 17-9 mark. The Commodores had a combined record of 12-45 in the four seasons before Pavia transferred in from New Mexico State.
Vanderbilt will wrap up its record-setting season against Missouri in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31.
