ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – When Vanderbilt defeated then-number one Alabama last week, it probably exceeded the expectations of many. For quarterback Diego Pavia, the victory was expected. “Me being completely honest, we expected it,” said Pavia. “Like one of our players said, a lot of people are going to be surprised of the outcome. He said that on Wednesday. It happened on Saturday, but its just self belief, belief within the team. You know, we got all the players we need to go win a national championship and that’s our goal.”
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While others have doubted him, Pavia has always had a healthy relationship with believing in himself. It didn’t matter to him that some thought he was undersized for his position, Pavia just kept grinding. Coming out of high school at Volcano Vista in Albuquerque, Pavia didn’t receive a single offer for college. He walked on at New Mexico Military Institute and led the Broncos to a junior college national championship in 2021. “I feel like one of the greatest moments ever was winning a national championship at NMMI, just like the bond at NMMI,” said Pavia. “There will never be football like that again, especially with NIL. It’s a business now. Just having fun at NMMI and just hanging with those guys, brothers next door, you guys are all going through it the same. That experience was just so fun for me.”
Last season at New Mexico State Pavia helped lead the New Mexico State University Aggies to a 10 win season and a bowl game. When it was all over, he followed former NMSU head coach Jerry Kill, who is now an analyst at Vanderbilt, and former NMSU offensive coordinator Tim Beck out of the door. Beck is the current offensive coordinator at Vanderbilt.
The party of three seems to have carried the magic they made in Las Cruces at NMSU to Nashville where the Commodores are no longer a pushover in the SEC. Even before playing a down of football in the SEC, Pavia felt like he belonged. “I mean it’s something I dreamed of since I was a kid. To make it reality, like literal dreams of playing in the SEC,” said Pavia. “I don’t want to be the starter at Vanderbilt. I want to be the best quarterback in the SEC. So, that’s the platform I’m putting out there for myself and I just got to go out there and do it.”
Pavia vowed to help change the culture at Vanderbilt to one of winning. “I know the SEC, those guys are 6’7 and run as fast as me, but I feel like there is something that I have that they don’t, and it’s heart,” said Pavia. “So, I am going to do it regardless and God willing. So it’s going to happen.”
At six feet tall and 200 pounds, Pavia believes his big heart will help serve up more big moments in college football and beyond. “I think I got a lot of football left ahead of me,” said Pavia. “You know, my end goal is to play in the NFL. You know, win the Super Bowl, win some Super Bowls. I want to be the greatest person to ever play football. And, so, that’s just my dream.”
