Clark Lea calls out fake competitive players as immature ones while praising Diego Pavia

The Vanderbilt Commodores got to a bowl game last season for the first time since 2018. That was, in no small part, thanks to the connection that head coach Clark Lea was able to develop with starting quarterback Diego Pavia.

At SEC Media Days, Lea praised Pavia for his process and, in particular, how competitive he is as a player. While doing so, he called out the way some players traditionally seen as acting competitively are actually immature.

“I love the fact that you never know quite what he’s gonna say,” Lea said. “But we want him to be himself. We want him to bring it, and his teammates expect that of him. That is complemented with this guy who is totally process-driven, who is totally focused on what he wants.”

There are times when Pavia has been noted for talking off the field and playing with a certain swagger. That has the ability to rub some people the wrong way. In part, Lea believes, because it’s not the way that players who are celebrated as great competitors typically demonstrate that competitive fire.

“You know, we celebrate competitors when they want to win more than they want to lose. Fill in any cliché you want,” Lea said. “We excuse them when they’re throwing a tantrum because they don’t get their way. They have a tough outing or a bad snap, and they’re throwing a fit. We say, ‘Oh, he’s just competitive.’ Well, that’s not being competitive to me. That’s being immature. Diego Pavia is a competitor. He knows he’s not entitled to winning. So, his best moments are our worst moments, where he is steady on the sideline and able to look people in the eye and say, ‘Count on me. Here we go.’ When we had adversity last season, it wasn’t like he was pointing the finger anywhere else. He was focused on the work. That’s a coach’s dream.”

One thing that Pavia has clearly had in his career is a profound impact on the Vanderbilt program. Last season, as a transfer into the program, he completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 2,293 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed for 801 yards and eight touchdowns. Along the way, he helped upset Alabama in one of the biggest wins the program has had in recent memory.

“So, when people watch him play and you enjoy that swagger. Look, my kids have a little more street cred at school because of him. I appreciate that too,” Lea said. “But, behind all of that, is a process-driven, curious, respectful person who is going to be able to sustain a career as long as he wants. That’s what I want people to know about Diego Pavia.”

It took a preliminary injunction that was approved by the U.S. District Court of Middle Tennessee for Pavia to be eligible for the 2025 season. He fought for that opportunity, though, and earned it. Now, he’s hoping to take another leap forward while at Vanderbilt.