Best of the Bus: Diego Pavia Says Vanderbilt Will Run Tennessee + Make The College Football Playoff

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Bussin’ With The Boys

Episode: Best of the Bus: Diego Pavia Says Vanderbilt Will Run Tennessee + Make The College Football Playoff
Release Date: November 29, 2025
Host(s): Will Compton & Taylor Lewan
Featured Guest: Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt QB), plus teammate Cade
Theme: The meteoric rise of Diego Pavia and Vanderbilt football, Pavia’s underdog mentality, the changing landscape of college football (NIL, transfer portal), team culture, and bold predictions for the future.

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Episode Overview

This episode of Bussin’ With The Boys dives deep into the story of Diego Pavia, the brash and confident Vanderbilt quarterback who’s upended expectations and fueled a program resurgence. Hosts Will Compton and Taylor Lewan get candid about Pavia's path from overlooked recruit and JUCO star to SEC game-changer, exploring his mentality, leadership, and vision for Vanderbilt as a perennial contender. The boys also riff on college football’s NIL chaos, the psychology of the underdog, and legendary moments on and off the field.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Diego Pavia: The Underdog Mentality

• Pavia discusses his early days as "the epitome of a high school wrestling state champ that also plays quarterback" (01:34), highlighting how wrestling shaped his relentless mindset.
• “Wrestling’s a true one-on-one sport. Who’s better, me or you? I developed it from wrestling for real.” - Diego Pavia (10:51)
• Recounts being #1 in youth wrestling nationally and how that mentality transfers to football.

2. Quarterback Style & On-Field Improvisation

• Pavia’s playing style is compared to Johnny Manziel—electric, fearless, and unorthodox.
• “At the end of the day, like, you’re gonna do whatever the fuck you want to do.” – Co-host (02:49)
• Pavia shares openly about ignoring play calls at times, changing plays at the line, and taking risks:
  • “If the play say it’s a run play, second and short... Now we’re going deep.” (03:45)
  • “It’s like, I just change it to what I like.” (03:32)

3. Path from No Offers to JUCO Champion

• Pavia details having no D1 football offers, only two D2s, and a partial wrestling scholarship (11:46).
• Walks on at JUCO, beats out 4-star QBs, wins national title, gets first FBS offers: "That’s when I knew stars didn’t mean nothing." (13:30-14:09)
• Story of New Mexico State only offering after he outperformed their original target in the JUCO national title game.
  • “Went out there... had like three touchdowns... Beat him... and then the next day I got a call from Coach Kill, like, I was offered. They pulled his scholarship.” (14:19)

4. Deion Sanders Recruitment & Choosing New Mexico State

• Pavia describes Deion’s blunt honesty: “Even if you’re better, my son’s playing regardless... We’re looking for a backup.” (15:24)
• Pavia refuses to be a backup, chooses New Mexico State.

5. The NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) Era and Transfer Portal

• First NIL check at New Mexico State: $1,400/month—less than his tight end’s $3,000/month; sparks his drive (28:28).
• Massive increase in offers when considering transfer—mentions “other schools offering me 4 million, not Vandy.” (69:24)
• Open discussion on locker room dynamics, players learning about taxes and finance, and the real impact of the NIL game.
  • “The most important thing to me is playing time and obviously winning a national championship.” (30:47)
  • “I would have stayed at New Mexico State for a hundred thousand.” (31:16)

6. From New Mexico State to Vanderbilt—Following Coach Beck & Coach Kill

• Coaches lobby for him to follow them to Vandy; describes how loyalty and program fit outweighed cash.
  • “They told me the things I wanted to hear... they were telling me, we could pay you that, but we’re not gonna have enough money to go get these guys... I value winning over anything else.” (72:49)

7. Beating Alabama, Changing Vanderbilt’s Trajectory

• Poignant recount of the historic win over Alabama—the first top-5 home win in Vanderbilt history (08:34).
• Team and campus erupts; his family and teammates party down Broadway (48:07-49:06).
  • “It didn’t hit me until like a week after... but that night was jumping for sure.” (50:16)

8. Culture, Leadership & Team Chemistry

• Earned team captain status by building trust, humility, and taking linemen out to eat (“Cinco de Mayo twice!”). (68:22)
• Teammate Cade: “As an O-lineman, you get real close to your quarterback... Diego gets out in front of everyone... like, ‘Shut the fuck up. I’m talking right now.’... This is over before it starts.” (38:58)

9. Unfiltered: Locker Room Life, Pranks, Rivalry, and Trash Talk

• Legendary “I pissed on their Lobo logo” story—equal parts disrespect and motivation. (19:36-22:26)
• Riffs on recycled jokes, quarterback rivalry, and unique game day rituals.

10. The SEC vs. Big Ten (and Everyone Else) Debate

• Spirited debate on SEC versus Big Ten toughness and recent national championships.
  • “The best football’s from the SEC... but you got one or two in the Big Ten. The trenches are just different.” (61:17-62:13)

11. Ambitions & Playoff Dreams

• Pavia asserts Vanderbilt’s goal: “We got the guys to do it... I like me over everyone.” (08:58-09:39)
• On playoff hopes: “Vanderbilt’s going to run Tennessee after this year. This is going to be the new staple of college football.” (93:27; see also bold predictions throughout)
• Unapologetic about high expectations—“If you win 10 games in the SEC, you’re in the tournament, and then it’s anyone’s game.” (09:31)

12. Reflecting on Growth, Motivation, and the Future

• Candid about struggles, self-doubt in JUCO, and how he uses slights and personal adversity as fuel.
  • “My ex-girlfriend...she didn’t want me, bet, I’m gonna go harder.” (78:02)
• Focus on leaving a legacy, doing it for “the brothers,” and keeping a chip on his shoulder.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Diego Pavia’s Chip:
  • “If you go in there with the losing mentality, you’re screwed already.” (06:32)
• On Switching Plays:
  • “I think sometimes they think that’s what the play call is, but I’m just changing it. You know what I mean?” (03:32)
• On NIL Reality:
  • “I was pissed because Eli Stowers was getting 3,000 a month and he played tight end and I played quarterback.” (28:36)
• On Beating Bama:
  • “You guys go down the field—8, 9, 10 plays, score again, back and forth—and are able to beat Alabama.” (05:31)
• On Legacy:
  • “When you turn on the tape, it’s like, this kid right here is the best player on the football team right here. Both sides of the ball.” (76:32)
• On Motivation:
  • “My ex-girlfriend...that was one of the reasons why I go so hard too.” (78:02)
• On Vanderbilt Running Tennessee:
  • “Vanderbilt’s going to run Tennessee after this year. This is going to be the new staple of college football.” (93:27)
• On What He’d Sacrifice for a Natty:
  • “I’d bite an ear off to win the national championship.” (96:21)

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Important Timestamps

• [01:34] – Introduction to Diego Pavia: background and mentality
• [03:32] – Pavia on improvising play calls
• [05:31] – Breaking down the historic Alabama win
• [13:30] – JUCO stories and rise to prominence
• [15:24] – Deion Sanders’ frank recruiting pitch
• [28:28] – NIL realities and money talk
• [34:44] – First impressions at Vanderbilt
• [48:07] – Aftermath of the Alabama win—Broadway celebration
• [68:22] – Building trust and becoming team captain
• [93:27] – “Vanderbilt’s going to run Tennessee after this year.”
• [96:21] – “I’d bite an ear off to win the national championship.” – on what he’d give up for a natty

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Noteworthy Moments

• Legendary Prank: Pavia urinating on rival New Mexico’s midfield logo as payback for not being recruited.
• NIL Offers: Admits millions were on the table to transfer elsewhere, but stayed loyal to Vanderbilt and winning (69:24, 72:49).
• Wild Celebration: Describes leading goalposts down Broadway after the historic Bama win, family partying opening to close (48:07–49:06).
• Locker Room Leadership: Stories of building team culture—taking linemen out, rallying teammates, making the case for captaincy.

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Tone & Style

This episode is as brash, honest, and freewheeling as college football gets—Diego Pavia and the hosts pull no punches, let fly with locker room language and jokes, and balance behind-the-scenes grit with irreverent humor. The tone is competitive, brotherly, and unapologetically confident.

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Closing Thoughts

Pavia embodies the modern game—scrappy, unorthodox, and empowered by new NIL realities but grounded in old-school toughness. He and the Boys make a case for believing in Vanderbilt football, not just as the feel-good underdog, but as a legitimate SEC force aiming for a playoff spot. High expectations, high entertainment—this episode is a must-listen for anyone fascinated by college football’s seismic changes and the personalities rewriting its script.

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Next Episode Tease:
Will Diego Pavia deliver on his promise? Can Vanderbilt topple SEC giants again? Stay tuned—Anchor up!

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Transcript

[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

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[Podcast Host]

All right, fellas, this interview is brought to us by Bud Light. Bud Light is always brew with four simple ingredients for a clean, crisp taste. Bud Light is the official beer sponsor of the NFL. The NFL draft tied in you also Bud Light partners with George Kittle, the UFC, Shane Gillis, 2025 tour. And partners also include Peyton Manning, Baker Mayfield, Emmett Smith, the Boys Post Malone and Dust. Stock up now on Bud Light and head to www.budlight.com locator to find a store near you. Easy to drink, easy to enjoy. Just like this episode will be easy to enjoy because we have a baller sitting with us on the bus right now. Diego Pavia. Starting quarterback, Vanderbilt. True underdog mentality. I was telling you before we got on here, like, you are the epitome of a high school wrestling state champ that also plays quarterback.

[Diego Pavia]

Is that a backhanded compliment?

[Podcast Host]

No, I think it's a great compliment. I think it's a great. I think it explains everything about his game, his antics on the field, off the field, everything. You hear the aura around Diego Pavia. It makes so much sense that he was a. How like you were a state champion, but you were kind of telling me that you were number one in the country for.

[Diego Pavia]

For like fourth grade until, like seventh.

[Podcast Co-host]

Grade, which is before puberty. So fourth grade to seventh grade, then Everyone kind of hit puberty. And then after that, it was that, no, it's crazy to be number one in the country. I'm just messing with you. But that is. That is wild. I feel like you are the first generation of cats that grew up watching Johnny Manziel. Like, the way you play. And I mean that as 100 a comment. Like, you talk, you get after it, dudes hit the. Out of you in the sideline, you're limping on your leg, but your boys, your offensive lines, watching you limp over, they're getting. They're muscling up against other cats. And you just go in there, you just don't give a. It really feels like. It's like, hey, we got a play call, boys. But Diego, at the end of the day, like, you're gonna do whatever the you want to do.

[Diego Pavia]

I think sometimes they think that's what the play call is, but I'm just changing it. You know what I mean? So, like, I just change it to what I like.

[Podcast Host]

So you'll just go. You'll go AWOL and change it to whatever you want at times.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, yeah. Like, if the play say it's a run play, second and short. Like, now we're. We're deep. We're going deep. We get the next play.

[Podcast Host]

Now is coach aware.

[Podcast Co-host]

In the time it's happening? He's like, what the fuck?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, sometimes, like, they get to talk to you now. And so, like, on the earpiece, it's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Like, what are we doing? Like, he's talking to someone else on the top. You know what I mean? But, like, I can't talk back. I don't have a mouth. He said he can hear me, so it's just like, shit, just better work.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, you're thinking in your head, you guys are taking a little too long for my liking. Like, let me. I'm just going to draw something up right here.

[Diego Pavia]

Well, not. He'll call a play, but it's like I check down and we. We do a number system. And so if it's like a run, then I'm like, I'm changing it. You know what I mean? And then sometimes he asked me in the film, like, what'd you get here? And I'm thinking, well, I thought you said a different number. But in reality, in my head, I'm just changing the play.

[Podcast Co-host]

Oh, now what are you. What are you changing the play based on? Are you looking at safety rotation? You look at this nickel press corner over here, and you're like, okay, they're bringing a little pressure over here. Or are you like, hey, it's. We're here to score touchdowns. I'm here to ball out coach.

[Diego Pavia]

It's like tendency, you know what I mean? Like oh, first, first drive against, let's say they were playing Bama. First drive against Bama. They brought the house second and short. All right. Man to man. I'm expecting man to man. Let's take the top off.

[Podcast Co-host]

I mean we, listen, we can jump around. We have to jump around all of your like your career, the no offers. You have two D2 offers. You go the juco route and you jump around essentially with kill the your your entire career. But like you did bring up something that was that Vanderbilt hasn't done since win ever.

[Podcast Host]

In program history I've never done that.

[Podcast Co-host]

And I remember sitting at tight end you at at Vanderbilt's practice facility and your boys running up and obviously I see the office alignment we dap up. You got a bunch of cats just ripping around talking about oh we, this we dad, I'm like this white guy, what is this guy doing right here? But then they're like always starting, hey, this Pavia kid, this Pavia kid. This kid's the truth. Blah blah blah. Like you get to, you get to play Alabama at Vanderbilt. It's a totally different atmosphere. Well, it's still an away game for you guys because at this point we don't have the lore of Diego Pavia and, and Vanderbilt yet. And so you have this stadium under construction. Nick Saban. Oh no, this is Caitlin DeBauer. Yeah, Kaylin DeBoer. They come in and you guys put on a clinic. Like it's like they score. You guys go right, go down the field, 8, 9, 10 plays, score again back and forth and are able to beat Alabama. Like obviously I've known you a little bit of time and it's always confidence. But like how, at what point were you like holy shit, we're really going to do this? It's actually not talk anymore. We're actually going to be able to pull this off.

[Diego Pavia]

Oh, like when we won I would just think like when I, when we pulled the ball and I got like a 12 yard gain and then like the game was over but like I always thought like we could win. Like ain't no like that's just how I approach the game though. It's just like if you go in there with the losing mentality, you're screwed already. And so for me, I don't care if it's Bama Nebraska.

[Podcast Co-host]

Michigan.

[Diego Pavia]

We don't say the N words.

[Podcast Co-host]

You got something against Michigan?

[Diego Pavia]

I do.

[Podcast Co-host]

What's up?

[Diego Pavia]

Well, Michigan's a great school, but they should be winning more than they should with the cap that they got. Like Dave Portnoy donates to Michigan. I know the nil's to the roof. Should you not win?

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, no, I agree.

[Diego Pavia]

Okay.

[Podcast Co-host]

And we won seven games last year with throwing turned off. Like if you're, if you're talking about, hey, there's multiple phases to an offense, you're going to take off probably like a 50% of an offense and still win seven games and just knock down, drag them out three yards in a cloud of dust.

[Diego Pavia]

The, the running back was good though. He should have went higher than what he did in the draft.

[Podcast Co-host]

You know, he started his first 20 games at the University of Michigan. He was a linebacker.

[Diego Pavia]

I didn't know.

[Podcast Co-host]

We got to make this cat a running back.

[Diego Pavia]

He's really good.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, he's solid.

[Diego Pavia]

Where's he at now?

[Podcast Host]

Oh, come on, D. I think he.

[Podcast Co-host]

Went to the Jets. I'm not sure, but yeah, I mean, listen, tough year. We win the national championship, you must have forgot about that in 2024. And then we go into this past year. Yeah, we, we had some difficulties at quarterback. Not going to come at the boys at all. We had a hard time tossing the ball over the yard. It was bad. It was not great. Now we got this cat, Bryce Underwood, who apparently is the second coming. I'm a little nervous about that. But like you've got to assume at the very least we're going to be a little bit better in the throwing categories we were last year because I think our gonna be really good.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, I think he'll be really good too.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Have you met him before?

[Diego Pavia]

No, I haven't. But like I've seen in some of my boys that know him, they say he's pretty good.

[Podcast Host]

Your guys confidence is obviously very high. Coming off of last year. You had an incredible year. Iconic. Best in program history. Really? First time you guys ever beat a top five program in the program's history at home against Alabama. You guys go down to Bear Bryant Stadium this year. You in your brain, you think the outcome is going to be the same for sure.

[Diego Pavia]

I have no doubt. Like we got the guys to go do it. We got the firepower, we got the depth, got the defense, the offense. Like we would be selling ourselves short if, if I was to sit here and tell you, like, we don't have the faith to go win the national Championship.

[Podcast Host]

You guys. You boys are thinking natty.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah. You guys are sitting here in your off season program. You're thinking national, national championship. I don't want to be rude. That's a. That's a very high expectation for you guys. If you guys don't want a national championship, is that a disappointment for sure?

[Diego Pavia]

You. You win 10 games in the SEC, you're in the tournament, and then it's anyone's game.

[Podcast Host]

And you like you.

[Diego Pavia]

I like me over everyone.

[Podcast Host]

I love the chip he has on.

[Podcast Co-host]

His shoulder because you, when he talks, you're like, hey, he plays for Vanderbilt. But like Loki, the way he's talking, I believe everything he's saying.

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[Podcast Co-host]

Have you always had this type of chip on your shoulder where you're like, yeah, I'm. It doesn't matter who's in front of me.

[Diego Pavia]

They're.

[Podcast Co-host]

They're going down.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah. Like, we were talking about wrestling, and wrestling's a true one on one sport. Who's better, me or you? And so I feel like I developed it from wrestling for real.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. I was gonna ask too, how much you think, like, wrestling played into that Psych. Because you're right. Like, you go out there, it's one on one. The win is on you, the loss is on you.

[Diego Pavia]

Right.

[Podcast Host]

And you being as competitive as you were, like, learning that about you being number one in the nation growing up, like he was hitting the circuits, like the triple cr, Tulsa, Reno. We were chopping it up pretty good because I had no clue that he. That he had a bag like that in wrestling. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're finding common friends, common people that we have in common.

[Podcast Co-host]

Did he ever come across Cody?

[Podcast Host]

No, because he was like, how old was your brother? I asked how old he was. He was like 23. I was like, oh, yeah, this is about a decade ago. But yeah, I was like, you know Cody, how we won senior nationals? And he's like, again, he was a. He was a stud wrestler. So he. He understands. He understands the respect there. Yeah, he gets the game.

[Podcast Co-host]

You talked about being, like, number one in the nation, fourth to seventh grade, high school. Did you keep wrestling all the way through?

[Diego Pavia]

No, I. I really, like, took a year off. 8th grade year. I didn't. I didn't. I knew. I loved. I love football, not wrestling. So I was really just focusing on football. And then I had no offers, but I. And I still had a partial scholarship to UNC Northern Colorado. And then after that, I was like, no, I'm still in the stick with football, and walked on in Juco.

[Podcast Host]

So you had a partial for wrestling?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Northern Colorado, Yeah. And you opted to go the juco route in football just because you loved it more?

[Diego Pavia]

Walk on football, dude.

[Podcast Co-host]

People are going. People always talk about how, like, you know, you look at a guy like Cam Ward, zero offers out of high school, he's now the first overall pick. When you are going your freshman through senior year of high school, and you're putting it out there every single week, you're. You're obsessed with football. You love it. I'm assuming you have the same mentality you do now. Like, what level of frustration is coming to you when you're seeing other quarterbacks, probably in the same state as you'd be like, bro, I am better than him. Why are they offering this cat instead of me? Like, talk about, like, yeah, that mind frame and all that things. Because there are cats right now that are listening to this podcast that are probably in the same exact situation. Like, I feel like, am I just delusional? I swear to God, I'm better than these other guys.

[Diego Pavia]

Oh, yeah, you see it all the time. And then you go to camps, too, and you're putting balls, like, in way better spots. And this kid's like a four star. And you're like, what the. How is that kid a four star? You know what I mean? But, like, you don't want to play or, hey, either and, like, go to coaching. But, yo, what the. Like, why you got offering this kid and not me? But, like, at the same time, like, the cream rises to the top every time.

[Podcast Host]

So what was the journey like when you were in. In Juco? Because I Want to say that there was a story that they were kind of briefing us on that you were still, you know, not having any offers. Did you go to the JUCO national championship?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

So there's another quarterback there that you played against that had.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah. This is why I like juco too, because, like, the coaches there, there's a lot of politics in, like, D1 now of who gets paid more is going to play in juco, no matter if you're a five star, no star coaches trying to make it out, too. So it's best player on the field all times. And so I. I transferred in with this four star, and it was me versus four star, and I. I legitimately beat out a four star. That's when I knew stars didn't mean nothing and then took it over. And then the next year, we won the national championship. And then I finally got. I had three offers. I had Jackson State, where Dion was New Mexico state, and then St. Francis.

[Podcast Host]

And the New Mexico state one. Because that's where you opted to go was the quarterback you were facing in that national title game. He was an offered kid from New Mexico State. You ball out, they end up flipping.

[Diego Pavia]

So our head coach, Coach Kil, and Coach Beck, our offense coordinator, were at Hooters in Las Cruces, New Mexico. They told me this story, and they're at Hooters having a beer or whatever. They're hammered, and they're watching the game the night before. They offered the other kid that we're about to play against. And my OC knows. I kind of, like, get fired up about that stuff. So he comes in my room, he's like, hey, they. They offered the other kid. Don't worry about it. Just play better than him tomorrow. Bet went out there. I had like three touchdowns, 270 yards, probably like 80 rushing. Beat him like 31, 14 or something. And then the next day, I got a call from Coach Kill. Like, I was offered. They pulled his scholarship.

[Podcast Co-host]

And he told you they pulled this kid scholarship?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, they told me, like, the exact story.

[Podcast Co-host]

Right?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

And were you okay? This? No, I'm thinking about it later down the road. Like, what was about Coach Kill? Was it really at the time, just like, yo, they offered the biggest school. I'm gonna go there. Or was there already a relationship kind of intact with Coach Kill?

[Diego Pavia]

No, I was thinking about going to Jackson State, but Deion was so real. He was like, hey, like, you're not. This ain't no 50 50. My son's playing regardless.

[Podcast Co-host]

He said that?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

And so even if you were better than.

[Diego Pavia]

Even if you're better, like, my son's playing regardless. He's like, we're looking for a backup. He's like, if you want to come here and be back up. And I'm thinking my head, like, I know. Backup. You know what I mean? So I was like, I'm not going to St. Francis because I can't go to league from there. So I was thinking, New Mexico State's my only option.

[Odoo Advertiser]

Damn.

[Podcast Host]

What was it like getting recruited by Dion?

[Diego Pavia]

It was pretty cool. It was short. It was short, but he was real. That's what I like.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, man. That is. That is all. That's awesome.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah. I mean, Deion Sanders sitting there, and for him to sit there with all the Shador Sanders stuff going on, he falls in the draft of the fifth round.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

And essentially, you look back five, six years ago, he's like, hey, Diego, like, we'd love to have you, but, like, you'll be holding a clipboard because no matter what my son's playing.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Even if you're throwing dots.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

And obviously the wrong guy to tell that too. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Another good trip on his shoulder.

[Podcast Co-host]

Right. Like, you gotta lie.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Be less truthful.

[Diego Pavia]

Production.

[Jack (Bus Guy)]

Saying, just keep the mic close to the. Your mouth.

[Podcast Host]

Production. When you go to New Mexico State, remind me, is this when the. The world was starting to open up with transferring in Nil yet?

[Diego Pavia]

No, it was the year before, so it might have been 2021. 2022.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Because I'm asking. Because I'm thinking.

[Diego Pavia]

I think it's 2022. So nil just started creeping up.

[Podcast Host]

So you're. You. You're probably thinking juco. This is probably the best route so far with New Mexico State. If I ball out here, I can get to a better program. Were you even thinking that yet?

[Diego Pavia]

Nu. Well, I lived in New Mexico my whole life, so it was like I wanted to play against the Lobos and the.

[Odoo Advertiser]

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[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

Not everything is terrible. I repeat, not everything is terrible. The ripple effect with Jenna Kim Jones is proof that the Internet it hasn't ruined humanity entirely.

[Rubicon Representative]

Let me start by saying it's a great day to be a gray shirt team. Rubicon. You know, it truly is a team. Those folks, myself included, all had one desire, which is helping folks in disaster. Trying to be a little bit of hope in a really, really bad situation.

[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

It's like magic you guys. So put down your doom scroller and pick up your faith in humanity and join me, Jenna for the ripple effect. It's a reminder that you can start a ripple that changes everything. You really can. We give just that nugget of hope helping other people. For some of our gray shirts, it's during a time when they need help and by helping others, it helps them. Listen to the ripple effect with Jenna Kim Jones on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Co-host]

Hey, Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a very happy half off holiday because right now Mint Mobile is offering you the gift of 50% off unlimited. To become clear, that's half price, not half the service. Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means a half day. Yeah, give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of 45 for three month plan.

[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

Equivalent to 15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only.

[Diego Pavia]

Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of networks.

[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

Busy, taxes and fees extra.

[Diego Pavia]

See mint mobile.com that's our arrival school and and the Lobos. The first year I was in out the lineup playing with this other kid and the only game I did not get to play was against the Lobos. So the next year I was like this is money game played against the Lobos. There's a little story about it that before the year I pissed on their Lobo like in the mid, in the midfield of their indoor and like before the game no one said anything about it and they were using it as fuel and they thought they were gonna beat us and then be like use it against Me after. You know what I mean? Anyway, went in there, wiped him out. The head coach was all sad and stuff, but I really had something against them because they didn't recruit me either out of juco and I won a national championship. They were still losing and. Or at a high school, so it was like real life. Like beef with the coaches.

[Podcast Host]

It was personal for you.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

So you were thinking Mattel is oldest time.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Like, I'm from this state. I want to go to this school. I'm assuming you want to go to the Lobos. Yeah. And then they don't offer, and it's.

[Podcast Host]

Like, they don't show you.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Now I got to go piss on their logo.

[Podcast Co-host]

Now I gotta piss. You what?

[Podcast Host]

Transport is old as time.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah. What conversations had to take place or what went through your brain where you're like, you know what? I know how to get these boys. I'm going to urinate on the 50 yard line.

[Podcast Host]

I want a whole lot of thought process.

[Podcast Co-host]

But before.

[Diego Pavia]

No thoughts.

[Podcast Co-host]

Before you answer that question.

[Podcast Host]

What was your strategy was. I thought it'd be funny.

[Podcast Co-host]

Before you answer that question, I have a question for Will Compton. What is Lobo Spanish for.

[Podcast Host]

No clue. Lobos. Chicken. No, that's polo.

[Podcast Co-host]

What's your favorite animal? Oh, that's a tough L for Will Compton. The tough one for Wilcox starts with an L. But. Yeah, what's the. What's the thought process?

[Diego Pavia]

We're like, there was no thinking. It was no.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

You don't say these guys.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah. Yeah. That's some. That's some Blue Mountain State type. Johnny Manziel. Blue Mountain State. What's the old Billy Bob Varsity Varsity Blues. He just put the VCR tapes in as a kid. Was like, this is gonna be my life. This is what I'm doing. So you just went and pissed in the 50 year line. How did they find out that you did that?

[Diego Pavia]

So the. The guy who I was with.

[Podcast Host]

Reggie.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

He. He posted on Snapchat, and then they.

[Podcast Host]

Like, so you were with. You're with a buddy, and he was.

[Diego Pavia]

I was like, three buddies.

[Podcast Co-host]

Get this picture, his cat got sweatpants on.

[Diego Pavia]

I was with, like, three buddies, and one of them recorded it, but I didn't know. And then I came back to my phone and they're like, hey, tell Reggie take that off. And I took it off and it was too late.

[Podcast Co-host]

They already got a hold of it.

[Diego Pavia]

I already got a hold of it.

[Podcast Co-host]

It was the news network of New Mexico.

[Diego Pavia]

Yep.

[Podcast Co-host]

They jumped all over that.

[Diego Pavia]

Hell, yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

We scored the game.

[Diego Pavia]

We Beat him by, like, Ted.

[Podcast Co-host]

Okay, so you guys.

[Diego Pavia]

10, 14, something like that.

[Podcast Co-host]

Okay.

[Podcast Host]

When does it start to sink in? Or, like, when does the conversations and thought process start to happen that I can go somewhere else now?

[Diego Pavia]

So what happened was at New Mexico state, we were 2 and 3, ended up 10 and 3. So, like, by game, we're like, on a win streak and we're about to go to the conference championship and stuff. And so, like, before that, like a game before, when we're like 9 and 3, my coach gets in my ear, like, hey, I gotta. I got someone calling me from a Power 4 school. You'd really like it. I want you to come with me. When the season's over. I was like, all right, bet. Like, this is my opportunity, you know? And so he. He's doing his thing, and then it's our offensive coordinator. So our offensive coordinator at the end of the season leaves, and he's like, all right, I'm going to Vandy. And so he wanted me to come with him. But Coach Kill still at New Mexico State. Then Coach Kill, a week later decides to retire. And then I was like, okay, well, if I hire the defense coordinator, then I'll stay. Didn't hire him. That was my sign. Laters.

[Podcast Host]

So if New Mexico State were to hire the dc, you would have stayed?

[Diego Pavia]

I would have stayed, yeah. Gotcha.

[Podcast Co-host]

What was about the DC that you were like, they got to hire this guy.

[Diego Pavia]

He was real. He was gonna pay me the money I wanted.

[Podcast Co-host]

Okay.

[Diego Pavia]

And shoot. He was like. He was the one who, like, our defense was really good in Mexico State. So I was thinking, okay, well, we could win here. And then there's, like, a chance, like how Boise State went to the playoffs, like, that we'd be that team. That whole team was freaking stacked. Like, we got. We got Eli. We got me, Eli, M.K. trent. Well, these are just guys on the team.

[Podcast Co-host]

You're saying first names to me.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, yeah. I'm just saying first names, too.

[Podcast Co-host]

But these guys are dogs.

[Diego Pavia]

But we got dogs on the team. We got, like, seven of the guys from New Mexico State team on the Vanderbilt team.

[Podcast Co-host]

And was there a situation where you were possibly gonna go be a part of the wolf pack? Nevada.

[Diego Pavia]

I committed to Nevada.

[Podcast Co-host]

So you. This is. While you're at New Mexico State, you go on a little visit.

[Diego Pavia]

So, yeah, I took some visits. And the whole time that I'm taking visits, I'm like, I. Back in my mind, I'm thinking, I'm going to Vandy. So the whole time I have a notebook that I'm taking on these vivids. I really didn't know how to read a defense when I was at New Mexico State. And I'm, like, just penciling in, like, just meeting with the offensive coordinators, how they. How they read the defense. You know, middle closed, middle open blitz, how they call. And I'm just taking little, like, details away from these offensive coordinators just in case I do go back to Vandy, like, how to clean stuff up.

[Podcast Host]

Okay, in this one, you were looking and taking visits and thinking about Vandy, right? Was Coach Kill. Had he not retired yet?

[Diego Pavia]

So he. So he retired. And then I. I was like. Because Coach Kills, like, basically kind of like my dad. And so, like, when he retired, I was like, you know, I'm just. Go to Nevada. Like, Nevada. I really like Nevada. Like Coach Cho. And then I commit that night and I call Coach Beck, who's offensive coordinator of Andy, and I'm like, hey, like, I'm committed to Nevada. Like, appreciate you guys. He's like, wait, wait, I got something to call you. Coach Kill calls me, tell me he's coming out of retirement to be. Basically just be on the Vanderbilt staff and just take care of the offense. So then my mom was like, yeah, you're gonna go to Vandy. So, yeah, I'm going to Vandy.

[Podcast Co-host]

And have you been to Vandy at this point yet?

[Diego Pavia]

No, I never took a visit.

[Podcast Co-host]

So did you have no idea about Nashville, Tennessee or the area or nothing like that?

[Podcast Host]

No, I did.

[Podcast Co-host]

You saw SEC and thought, I knew they're in the SEC conference. I gotta get there.

[Podcast Host]

What'd you throw in there? Right?

[Diego Pavia]

Are you. Are you good?

[Cade (Teammate)]

Good?

[Odoo Advertiser]

What?

[Podcast Co-host]

Did I say something?

[Diego Pavia]

Do you know the three conferences of the NFL? Afc, NFC and sec?

[Podcast Co-host]

But the two last national champions were from the Big Ten.

[Diego Pavia]

Right, but who has.

[Podcast Co-host]

Like, how are you gonna.

[Diego Pavia]

But is there more in the Big Ten or sec?

[Podcast Host]

This new era of college football has to kind of play out.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah. Like, the NIL has established a level playing field. Like, we all. We all sit here, we all.

[Podcast Host]

Everybody can pay players now, right?

[Podcast Co-host]

Everybody can pay players. Not just one conference, because you're right, it is afc, NFC and sec. We're talking about paychecks. But now that everybody can pay everybody, it's like, okay, now it's just afc, nfc and then the rest of college football.

[Diego Pavia]

So do you think the Big Ten has a higher percentage of winning it this year? The sec?

[Podcast Co-host]

The Big Ten?

[Podcast Host]

Big Ten. The national title?

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, Big time.

[Podcast Co-host]

Oh, absolutely. I mean, listen, you guys.

[Diego Pavia]

You guys know what's back? Do what you guys know.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

Oh, is that double?

[Podcast Co-host]

Oh, that's more than double. But if you look at the recency like that. So those 43 national championships, how many of those came after nil started? That's. That's the question you gotta ask. Because the sec. Yeah. You guys are gonna have national champions. You guys are paying seven figures to players.

[Diego Pavia]

It's probably like when I was in college, it's probably like 2 and 2.

[Podcast Co-host]

I don't think it is.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, 2 and 2.

[Jack (Bus Guy)]

You're saying the Big Ten didn't pay players.

[Podcast Co-host]

I know.

[Podcast Host]

No, we were there. This is a clean conference.

[Podcast Co-host]

Clean conference.

[Podcast Host]

High character conference.

[Diego Pavia]

Yep. Don't do that.

[Podcast Co-host]

I mean, as far as I know, two and two.

[Podcast Host]

As far as I know, two and two.

[Podcast Co-host]

Right. Two and two. And the last two have been.

[Diego Pavia]

I could. If we were having this podcast in 2022, I would said the last two have been in the SEC, but we're not.

[Podcast Co-host]

Right. If we were, if. If this is 1912, we'd be talking about how the Titanic sunk a couple months ago. Like, what are we talking about? Like, if I go back in time, I would invest in Netflix, but like, we're just. Yeah, exactly. We're living in the now, brother. Talk about crazy.

[Podcast Host]

So speaking of, since the NIL era, give us your first run in the NIL game because clearly you had stuff going on with either staying in New Mexico State. Want to go to Nevada now? I'm going to commit to Vandy. So your first crack in the NIL game?

[Diego Pavia]

First crack in the NIL game. I was getting paid 1400 at New Mexico State. And I was.

[Podcast Host]

Per month or for the year?

[Diego Pavia]

Per month.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Diego Pavia]

And I was pissed because Eli stowers was getting 3,000amonth and he played tight end and I played quarterback.

[Podcast Host]

So you're pissed because on your own team, this, the internal locker room.

[Diego Pavia]

Internal locker I'm learning about, man, fuck that. Like, I need to go harder. You know what I mean? Yeah. And then it all worked itself out.

[Podcast Host]

And then when Nevada's recruiting you, like, what are they telling you?

[Diego Pavia]

Am I allowed to say that?

[Podcast Host]

I think, is he not? Why wouldn't he be?

[Podcast Co-host]

I think so we could double check. But essentially, when you are in the transfer portal, people come to you and they're like, we could pay you this.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, yeah, right? Like they, like they, they. Everything you hear on the Internet, I.

[Podcast Host]

Don'T even know what's on the Internet.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, it's like.

[Podcast Host]

It's like. So, for example, Price underwood There's a.

[Podcast Co-host]

Four year 10.2 million dollar deal.

[Podcast Host]

Right, right, right. You learn that stuff. But it's not so, you know, candid that you understand what everybody makes in the NFL. So it's more of like hearsay, it's more storytelling. So now that you're at Vanderbilt, a couple years removed from it, I'm just, I'm truly curious like when you're like a new guy in that circuit, like what those conversations are actually like. And if they're real, if some of them, some of it's fake, you feel lied to. And just even understanding that you had a tight end on your team that was making more than you.

[Diego Pavia]

Right.

[Podcast Host]

And it's like got a chip on your shoulder because that's stuff that everybody talks about but you don't really understand until you hear it. It's like, oh, that is a real thing. So I'm truly asking, not on like a gotcha moment. I'm just like what were these conversations? Like when you're on a lower level, how much of that weighs into the impact of you actually going to that school?

[Podcast Co-host]

Because just to put things in perspective, when Will and I put in college, you talk about making 1400. Like I think I got $1200 a month.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, we were 50 on a scaly check.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, 12.50.

[Podcast Host]

And just a blanket statement, these are.

[Diego Pavia]

Conversations that he had with people completely separate from any universities.

[Podcast Host]

Yes, yes, yes.

[Podcast Co-host]

That's a great insurance policy because we're not here to get anybody.

[Podcast Host]

Yep.

[Diego Pavia]

I would just say like, well coming from that 1400 to like these other schools were offering me like a like a card houses and in like big time money. It's like holy. You know, like it was big like.

[Podcast Host]

That even with like Nevada and when you're coming out of New Mexico.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Damn.

[Diego Pavia]

And so like obviously this last year I didn't go in the portal or anything because I knew where I want to stay. The most important thing to me is like playing time and then obviously winning a national championship when you got the guys to go do it. So I would, I would never leave these guys.

[Podcast Host]

So New Mexico, when you're thinking about Nevada, Vandy, is there an amount of money that you stay at New Mexico State? Like does it come down to. Obviously there's other factors.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Going with your coaches, going with coach Kill who seems like a father figure to you. Yeah, I'm sure they probably get a little bit.

[Diego Pavia]

That was priceless. That was priceless of like them obviously taking me into Mexico State. That's like, that's priceless. And then I would have stayed at New Mexico State for a hundred thousand and. Yeah. And then at Bandy, the quarterback they just brought in, they paid him way over a hundred thousand and they offered me 150. And I was like, but I didn't know that. You know what I mean? I'm going from 1400 to 150,000. I'm like, oh, sign me up. You know what I mean?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

And so that's, that's how I took it last year.

[Podcast Co-host]

How does, how does college football work when guys are getting paid this much? Like, do you guys have meetings with financial advisors? Do you have people come in, be like, how do tax. Like, do you understand taxes, these brackets? Like, do you have people that are taking care of all this for you?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, I hate taxes.

[Podcast Co-host]

Everyone does. Isn't it crazy, bro? Like the minute.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, it's awful.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yes.

[Diego Pavia]

But I'm glad I live in Nashville, Tennessee too. That's a lot of things that players don't get is like the taxes here. Like here, Florida, and there's like seven states, but taxes.

[Odoo Advertiser]

What else did he ask?

[Podcast Co-host]

Just how, how the process works with college football and like making sure everyone's financially literate.

[Diego Pavia]

They, they. So Vanderbilt does a good job of like bringing in, you know, ex players or alumni that are big time people who work in, like, the business and they come back and tell us all about it. Like, we have probably eight, nine meetings on it.

[Podcast Host]

When you were younger and coming into this new money, was there ever like a shock or surprising moment of like, oh, I'm doing a little too much because you're just now learning about what taxes are. Financial advice you're starting to get. Maybe coach kills checking on you or your mom.

[Diego Pavia]

Right?

[Podcast Host]

You're kind of like, oh, okay, I need. I wasn't seeing this right away. I thought I'd get off all this.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, I, I give it to my all, to my mom, and she handles it.

[Podcast Host]

That's nice. That's awesome.

[Diego Pavia]

So I don't, I don't. I've never touched a dime of my Nio. What up?

[Podcast Co-host]

This episode to bring you true classic boys we talk about all the time. I'm truly a cartoon character when it comes to my outfits. If it's not true classic, it's not for me. I put this stuff on every single day. I look in the mirror and I think, you know what? Things aren't as bad as you thought they were. They fit fantastic. They grab the chest, they grab the shoulders, they give you a little bit in the midsection too. During the winter months when you have that extra layer on you. It is summertime boys. Tan, toed. Is it tatted? Toned tan. Those are the three things.

[Podcast Host]

Tatted, tone tight.

[Podcast Co-host]

Tatted tone tight. You can do all three of those things or you just put a True Classic T shirt on. That stuff is incredible. You can find True Classic at Costco in Nashville June 13, which is already passed. So now go to your Go to Costco, go check them things out and you can also find them at SAM Clubs, Target or [e-mail] busim for the kids and women. They got a line launching later this year. Look good, play good. We love True Classic. Let's get back to the episode.

[Podcast Host]

When you go to Vandy get into Nashville for the first time. You're talking all your new teammates, your new coaches. They obviously brought in another quarterback who was making more money than you. Like, what was your, you know, first? Not like welcome to the NFL moment or like welcome to the sec, but you feel like you're in a different league than you were in New Mexico State.

[Diego Pavia]

I don't know if I ever had one. Let me think. Shoot. Yeah, I never really had one. I said I've had my welcome to.

[Podcast Co-host]

So when you get to practice, your first practice from being in New Mexico State, go to Vanderbilt, an SEC school. The speed wasn't different to you? Nothing was different to you?

[Diego Pavia]

No, I. I thought I was. I felt pretty good the whole time and then especially like taking on those trips. Like I was just studying the game a lot more. But I would say like maybe the workouts were like a little bit more intense. But I think our locker room was. Or our weight room was bigger at Mexico State. So it just gets hotter, quicker. And the humidity.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Were you second or where were you on the depth chart when you first got here?

[Diego Pavia]

In my mind or other people's mind?

[Podcast Host]

In other people's mind.

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[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

Breaking news, everybody. Not everything is terrible. I repeat, not everything is terrible. The ripple effect with Jenna Kim Jones is proof that the Internet, it hasn't ruined humanity entirely.

[Rubicon Representative]

Let me start by saying it's a great day to be a gray shirt team. Rubicon. You know, it truly is a team. Those folks, myself included, all had one desire, which is helping folks in disaster. Trying to be a little bit of hope in a really, really bad situation.

[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

It's like magic, you guys. So put down your doom scroller and pick up your faith in humanity and join me, Jenna, for the ripple effect. It's a reminder that you can start a ripple that changes everything. You really can. We give just that nugget of hope helping other people. For some of our gray shirts, it's during a time when they need help and by helping others, it helps them. Listen to the ripple effect with Jenna Kim Jones on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Diego Pavia]

All right, here we are.

[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

Oh, it's perfect.

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[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

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[Podcast Co-host]

Another.

[Diego Pavia]

We definitely need more space to more practical homes.

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[Podcast Co-host]

When you walk into the quarterback meeting room, where do you see your thing at?

[Diego Pavia]

So I obviously I knew the offensive coordinator and he never put us like one above the other, but I knew I was going to win the job. Other people thought like maybe the other kid was going to win, but it was like you turn on the tape, it's night and day.

[Podcast Co-host]

How quickly did you know? Because like this kid's getting paid more. You didn't know that at the time, but you figure out he's getting paid more. You go out to spring practice, obviously you're confident, but you're seeing this kid throw. Was it very quick? You Realized Okay.

[Diego Pavia]

Oh, yeah. It was like. It was like, oh, yeah, it's beat. But then it was like, okay, I need to renegotiate my contract if I'm gonna be playing over this kid. You know what I mean? Yeah, dude, but you can't. Yeah, you can't really do that in the. In the ncaa.

[Podcast Host]

So how do you balance all that mentally? Like, not letting your ego take over too much? Like, when that stuff is coming up.

[Diego Pavia]

Shoot, it's like, if I really want it, then I go to league.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

I'm get paid more in the league than in college.

[Podcast Host]

We have a team of yours. Cade, he's sitting on the back. You want to hand him a mic? Cade, when did you know it was going to be Diego was going to win the job? Was it as quick as he was realizing it?

[Cade (Teammate)]

Yeah, it was pretty quick. And as an O lineman, you. You get real close to your quarterback. I mean, everybody knows. And I think it was. Honestly, during summer workouts and stuff, just, we had a. You know, you're. You're holding arms with everybody for team bonding, doing lunges across the field. And everyone. We're all a new team. We're all trying to figure out who's talking. And Diego gets out in front of everyone's, like, every. Like, everyone, shut the up. Like, I'm talking right now. Like, you guys, this is what we're gonna do. So then that's when it was like, all right, like, this is over before it starts, kind of. But we knew. And, like, the first time I met Diego, he had blonde. Blonde tips in his hair.

[Podcast Co-host]

And.

[Cade (Teammate)]

This kid's either gonna be insane or we're a little. But, you know, that was quick as he knew it. Yeah, for sure.

[Podcast Co-host]

What's the relationship looking like from both of your perspectives of you with this other quarterback who comes in, essentially thinks he's going to start. And then you come in, you're in team meetings, or everyone's locked arms doing lunges, you're like, this shit's not good enough, or whatever the speech is. Are you secure? You seeing kind of, like a little friction, or are you pretty cool? The other quarterback, there's.

[Diego Pavia]

There's like that competitive friction that you have with, like, everyone that you go into a new room with. But I guess I think he was like. Like, one time, I'll tell you this story. One time I cracked a joke, and maybe it was an inappropriate joke, and he was loving it when, like, he was projected to start. You know what I mean? And I cracked the same joke when I was starting, and then he, like, texted the coaches about it and was like, hey, like, Diego, that was inappropriate joke by him. Like, he needs to say sorry. And then, like, I had to call him and he's like, bro, that was not cool. This and that. And it was just like.

[Podcast Co-host]

All right, so there's two phases that question. One, you recycle jokes.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, if they're good.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, we recycle jokes.

[Podcast Co-host]

No, no, I'm fucking around. And. And to, like, what, you trying to.

[Podcast Host]

Catch me right there?

[Diego Pavia]

You know what?

[Podcast Co-host]

My mom. My mind went to. Was you in Portnoy a couple years ago because you said a joke to him.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Like, and then at the super bowl, you did the same thing. He was, like, on your ass about recycling jokes.

[Podcast Host]

It was the.

[Diego Pavia]

I went.

[Podcast Co-host]

Was it the same.

[Podcast Host]

I went over and made a joke. I forget what it was, but about, like, a jacket or something. Yeah. And one of the boys was saying about me, and they laughed. They've also kind of heard the joke. But when the boys left, I'm like, all right, I'm gonna take it to a bigger.

[Podcast Co-host]

Oh, yeah, that one's gonna work.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Once you have more people, you know, this joke's solid.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, I recycle the game with the women, too. It works.

[Odoo Advertiser]

It works.

[Podcast Co-host]

You recycle what?

[Podcast Host]

The game with the game with the women, too. The shit works when he's spitting game. Yeah, Like. And so then Dave obviously jumps on is, oh, you're recycling jokes. Right? It's like, that's. That's what. That's what you do.

[Podcast Co-host]

Like, Dave, you haven't said the same words in the same sentence before ever again. But that's basically where I got that. What? When you weren't starting, what was the joke?

[Diego Pavia]

His. His girlfriend made something to eat, and it was sushi. And I was like, oh, you're having sushi twice tonight, huh? And he was. He was laughing his ass off. And then I made the joke again. I was like, hey, what are you having again? Sushi. Twice. And then that was the same joke.

[Podcast Co-host]

And he was, like, all up in arms about that.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, we probably gotta cut that.

[Podcast Co-host]

I feel like, you know, there's a college quarterback. All I hear, first off, dude, I love how open you are because you.

[Podcast Host]

Don'T get a lot of quarterbacks, man.

[Podcast Co-host]

But I don't want you to sit in a team meeting at Vanderbilt. The coach be like, what are we doing?

[Diego Pavia]

Well, he's gone now. He's gone now. He's gone now.

[Podcast Co-host]

Where's he at?

[Diego Pavia]

He's he's at Utah.

[Podcast Co-host]

I mean, people could look this up where he's. He's at the Utes. Like, people even know where this guy is. That's crazy. That's crazy. That's fucking insane. Start of starting spring camp, you're second. The depth chart. Third in the depth chart.

[Diego Pavia]

There was, like, no depth chart. Like, we were rotating between three quarterbacks, though.

[Podcast Host]

Got you open competition.

[Podcast Co-host]

We're all family lines. And are all of you guys transferring from other schools to Vanderbilt, or was there two transfers?

[Diego Pavia]

One kid that's been there.

[Podcast Co-host]

One kid that's been there.

[Jack (Bus Guy)]

Is he.

[Podcast Co-host]

Is that kid still there?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, he's actually really talented. He's got a strong arm. Really good. Yeah, I think if he went to, like, a. More of a pro style, like, he'd pop more. He's really good.

[Podcast Co-host]

So why. Why do you think? Have you had that conversation with him? Like, yeah, he's like, hey, man, maybe you go and do this. And what year is he?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, he's. He has two more years left, but that Vanderbilt degree is something to him. Yeah, really smart kid, for sure.

[Podcast Host]

Going, like, in the year, this year, were you aware that you were going to get an extra year at first? Like, what are you hearing? You have a. You have a legendary year. Vanderbilt, you guys exceeded all expectations. You're having a hell of a run. Like, are you talking to NFL? Are you thinking NFL? Are you thinking I want to get an extra year? There could be a possibility. Like, what was that process like for you at the end of the season, looking at the neck this year that we're in now?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, well, we beat. We beat. So we're two and two. Then we beat Bam. And then we beat Kentucky. And then, like, Kentucky game. I got kind of hurt that big Dion Walker just sat on me, and it was like, all right. And then I'm kind of, like, straggling out the whole year. And so when it was brought up to me that I could play, possibly play another year, I was like, oh, yeah, let's do it. So then I just. It got filed and had a really good lawyer and everything worked out.

[Podcast Host]

It wasn't like, were you. You weren't even considering the potential or maybe looking around for the next level yet?

[Diego Pavia]

No, I was. I was asking, like, Coach Lee, like, about agents and things like that and what the, you know, scouts are saying and what they wanted to see. But it was just, I think, in my favor to get two years under the SEC underneath my belt, and then, you know, we win the national championship. And I win the Heisman, then there's no. There's no reason why I don't get drafted first round.

[Podcast Host]

Based on the feedback that you heard from the next level, like, what chip on your shoulder do you have now? Like, what. What things were you hearing?

[Diego Pavia]

They said I need to get maybe better as a passer. Sitting the pocket don't leave as much, and so I need to work the pocket more.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Podcast Co-host]

Do you agree with that criticism, or do you think you do that really well?

[Diego Pavia]

I could get better at everything, but, I mean, we had a lot of. A lot of play calls to, you know, roll outside the pocket for. You know, they got the, like, Dylan Stewart off the edges is really good. James Pierce is off the edge is really good. So. So I think doing little things to make sure those guys get off my back and then just letting me make plays, I feel like that's where I'm best at is making plays.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Improv.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Improvisation on the field.

[Diego Pavia]

Yep.

[Podcast Co-host]

When did you realize that you had that capability to take the X's and O's of a play that's drawn up a certain way in a whiteboard, but you can extend plays and figure it all out?

[Diego Pavia]

Little league football. I have some pretty nice tape in little league football.

[Podcast Co-host]

Nasty.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, some nasty tapes. But I think that's when I figured it out. And then just having the confidence that I do and then installing it in, like, the guys around me, and then you become unstoppable.

[Podcast Host]

How? As a guy who's pissing them on a logo back in New Mexico State, and you have, you know, the stories of Diego and all the fun that you have on the field, talking and everything else. How do you feel like you've approached maybe this year, whether it's a little bit differently because you could be going to the professional level and you're being a little bit more conscious about everything that you're doing. Do you feel like you've had, you know, a moment to. Where you've kind of reflected on things and thinking, like, a. The act is awesome. It's a lot of fun, but I also got to kind of put my head down and work a little bit more? Because it is a bit of an uphill battle at times, right?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah. I've actually done a lot of reflecting on how I could get better. One is being in the training room more. I'm always around the facility. Like, I'm. I get there. I wake up at five every morning, wake my bed, you know, pray to God, and then at, like, I'm in the facility by about 6:15 and I don't leave till about 6. So I'm just doing everything I can possible to stay healthy for the season. Another thing too was like, sometimes when I say I would party, I mean that I would have a good time, you know, laugh with my friends. I don't. I rarely drink. I'd be lying if I said I didn't drink, but I rarely drink. And so like those staying up late affected me for Sunday, which rolled over to Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and then it was just like a trickle effect.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

So like I feel like Sunday, once I get home after the game, I need to, you know, stretch, get in my little thing after the game on Saturday and then be ready to go for the next week.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, it's got to be hard too.

[Podcast Host]

When you're.

[Podcast Co-host]

When you're doing things at Vanderbilt that haven't been done in a long time, you're essentially reviving an entire, you know, program.

[Podcast Host]

You guys are carrying the goal post down Broadway.

[Podcast Co-host]

That was where I was gonna go to go with that. Like, you beat Alabama and you take the goal post and you march that thing all the way down the Cumberland River. Like, what. Where were you during that? Are you, Are you viral rushing the field? Get in the locker room like, hey, let's speed up the speech.

[Podcast Host]

I gotta go have a little bit of fun.

[Podcast Co-host]

That's a long ass way down Broadway.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, no, it is. My. My brothers and my family are like really crazy. Like crazy in a good way. But like. And I'll tell you guys a story how crazy they are. But like, they were like, bro, hurry that up. Like, we gotta bounce. We. They. That literally Sunday, the day after, they literally opened the bar and ended the bar, like until it was closed. And it was just like, bro, these guys are wild. You know what I mean? So like, obviously you want to join them and stuff, but you got responsibilities. So that's what makes it like, that's what makes it hard. Obviously they're only in town for like a few days and then they go back. Yeah, but I mean, we, we had some really good times this year for sure.

[Podcast Host]

How was that night? Kate? You can talk about it too, but the night you guys do beat Alabama and take them down and the city is just absolutely on fire.

[Diego Pavia]

We all went to Broadway.

[Podcast Host]

Let's pretend we're all retired. Just pretend we're all retired.

[Podcast Co-host]

You sure?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Relive the glory day.

[Podcast Co-host]

Are we sure we want to do that?

[Podcast Host]

Taking down the Crimson Tide, just a.

[Podcast Co-host]

Team that's won, you know, 41 of those 43 national championships.

[Diego Pavia]

Like it was a good time.

[Podcast Co-host]

You get the 12 yard game. The game is over.

[Diego Pavia]

Game's over.

[Podcast Co-host]

Fans are on the field. They are, dude, hey, let's live in reality. Like you guys are playing away games at home, and that's changing because of you guys.

[Cade (Teammate)]

There's 35, 5, 15.

[Podcast Co-host]

Like, people are juicy. Fuck.

[Diego Pavia]

Look at that kid. He's getting after right there.

[Podcast Co-host]

They're loving it, dude, 17. This kid, 17. Get the same size legs as me. He's getting after it, bro. But I'm just saying, like, these fans storm the field. You are, you are now probably realizing, like, we've done something for the first time ever.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Like, this is incredible, but it's fast.

[Podcast Host]

Where you win just a fucking massive game. The vibes are absolutely psychotic.

[Podcast Co-host]

Psychotic.

[Diego Pavia]

Really didn't. I really didn't. It didn't hit me until like a week, a week after, like, like maybe after we beat Kentucky or something. Like, it really didn't hit me until then. But that night was. It was jumping for sure. I mean, we, we went to. All went to barstool. The whole top was rented out for us. You know, we stood up so late that night. And then they thought we were gonna lose to Kentucky, beat them the next week too. But it. That's. That's when I got hurt. But I feel like God kind of gave me a signal right there. It was like, hey, you can't just go out and party when you have a big wins. Like, I'm gonna give you more big wins. Just. You can't part like that. And so that, that's like for this year, you know what I mean? That's why he gave me another year.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

So it's like, yeah, get it right this time.

[Podcast Host]

How was the experience from. From your vantage point?

[Podcast Co-host]

Because, you know, office alignment, they're like, we're getting the. We're getting after this, but lights.

[Cade (Teammate)]

Yeah, it was good. I don't even know if he knows this, but I lasted an hour and a half at the bar. Like, it was a quick night for me. And that doesn't happen very often. And so I, I was getting after it pretty hard. But not like the field rush stuff. Like, he was probably the calmest in the huddle, which is surprising. Once he got that first down, it was. There was some kind. There were some antics on the field everybody knows about, but we were kind of. All the huddle.

[Podcast Host]

You talking about when nobody did the shove or kick the ball or hit the ball. We had the ball Kick safety. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

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[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

Breaking news, everybody. Not everything is terrible. I repeat, not everything is terrible. The Ripple Effect with Jenna Kim Jones is proof that the Internet, it hasn't ruined humanity entirely.

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[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

It's like magic, you guys. So put down your doom scroller and pick up your faith in humanity and join me, Jenna, for the ripple effect. It's a reminder that you can start a ripple that changes everything. You really can. We give just that nugget of hope helping other people. For some of our gray shirts, it's during a time when they need help and by helping others, it helps them. Listen to the Ripple Effect with Jenna Kim Jones on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Diego Pavia]

All right, here we are.

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Oh, it's perfect.

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Another.

[Diego Pavia]

We definitely need more space to more practical homes.

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[Cade (Teammate)]

And I had Only played that drive. Like I sat for three and a half hours the whole game and then got in on the, on the four minute drive to get the first downs and win the game against the number one ranked team. And I was like, oh, shit. Like, you know, my knees hurt already hitting the stance. So all the antics, whatever. He gets the first down, face pushing the ground. I kind of ran after it a little bit, but like, we got back in the huddle. He's like, all right, all right, all right. Like, like, we got to get this snap. We got to get this snap because it's victory. And he was the most calm one. And then the field rush went to the locker room and everyone's like, in the locker room.

[Podcast Host]

Like we.

[Cade (Teammate)]

All right, let's, let's get out of here. We got some stuff to handle.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, dude.

[Podcast Co-host]

Talk to me about the emotion of a field rush. Like, as a player, I only got to experience that, I think one time, and that's when we beat Ohio State. And it is like the most electric feeling in the entire world. When all the fans are on the field or jumping, they're grabbing you, they're pulling you. Yeah. You essentially feel like, like the biggest star in the world for a moment. Like, what was that like for you guys?

[Diego Pavia]

It was nuts. I had all my boys there too. I wasn't trying to lose that football right there. Snipe that thing and then nil. Now like I. My jersey sold for like 40,000.

[Podcast Co-host]

That jersey.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Why don't you keep the jersey?

[Diego Pavia]

Huh? Shoulda.

[Cade (Teammate)]

You know the guy that has it though, right?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, yeah. It's what, like, it's one of those guys that I know and he's a good people do.

[Podcast Co-host]

He's a good guy. Good. Good enough guy to give it back to you.

[Diego Pavia]

There's only one way to find out.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah. A check for $41,000. Good people, man.

[Podcast Host]

What. What was for you your best freestyle, most memorable style play for yourself where you kind of went off the. Went off the whiteboard and made something happen. The coaches weren't expecting it.

[Diego Pavia]

At New Mexico State, we're playing against UTEP and it's like two minute drill and I call my own play and I do all burts and I'm thinking I'm about to hit this seam up to Eli, but like the safety closes it. So I spin out, I'm rolling left full speed. This kid come our boy. So if we're going that way, he comes back and then goes back and I do like a 40 yard dime on the money over the shoulder and he just. He just gets cracked.

[Podcast Host]

Let's go.

[Diego Pavia]

Dude.

[Podcast Host]

What? Kate for you. What's this, man? Like in the huddle? Any moments that stand out?

[Cade (Teammate)]

Yeah, so my first play of the Alabama game, like, stands out to me of all of them. We're on the goal line and we're running one of our. Our goal line run schemes. And it's a two play scheme. So we're either running one play or the other. And we hear it because of the cadence. We know which play we're running. And it was my first play of the game. And he's tired as hell from the, you know, the drive before, and so he's like.

[Podcast Host]

Ready, break.

[Cade (Teammate)]

And I was like, all right. So I kind of just followed the guy I knew I needed to follow. And I think I just down blocked because I didn't know the play. But that's normally like how he is. Is normally really calm, normally really collected. Like, all right, guys, like, got to get the first year whenever pretty. This quarterback stuff, you know, they got to command the huddle. But that play stands out to me just because he's spitting everywhere and, you know, I had no idea what the play was.

[Diego Pavia]

Got to get the shit out, make some checks when we get to the line.

[Podcast Host]

Do you have. Do you have moments that stand out in the huddle?

[Diego Pavia]

We have a. We have a funny guy who, who like talks shit. His name's Chase Mitchell, but he stutters a lot. So he's like, that boy got fun with me. But like, so that I just be laughing and then like. But no, I'm. I'm usually like pure business. Trying to get the guys in and out so I can like make checks. It's game time. This ready to go, right? Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

How much after the year was the portal blowing up for you on potential teams wanting you to come be the quarterback for them at a different school?

[Diego Pavia]

A lot it was like, yeah, it was less reaching out to me. It was like more reaching out to like, my brothers and my family and stuff.

[Podcast Co-host]

Was there a dollar amount that you heard that was like, holy?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah. I don't know if I'm supposed to share, but like anywhere from like 4.

[Podcast Co-host]

To 4.5 to leave and go somewhere else. What, what conference SEC checks out in conference. In conference.

[Podcast Host]

Any Big Ten teams trying to get.

[Diego Pavia]

You, you want to play with the best, you don't want to play with the Big Ten.

[Podcast Co-host]

Some cats, man.

[Diego Pavia]

You ignore those last two national titles. I know you ignore those calls. You know that the whole time ignoring These calls. But you got to think about this, dude. The SEC is like nothing like, okay, the Big Ten. You have like Ohio State, Oregon. If it's Michigan, Michigan, Penn State. Michigan, Penn State.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Arguably after this year, Nebraska, I got you kids.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, we will see. I'll finish this.

[Podcast Co-host]

But like we just gotta be.

[Diego Pavia]

You got all Doc. So like you really only have four games a year like the sec. It's like week after week after. Like you're gonna get beat on like the Big Ten. You ain't gonna get beat on with like the Purdue, Nebraska. Not all you want.

[Podcast Host]

Like that's a comment like a week after week.

[Diego Pavia]

Like that's, that's, that's real though.

[Podcast Host]

I listen, I'm here to have a. I'm here to have a clean podcast.

[Diego Pavia]

Okay.

[Podcast Host]

That's not here to talk too much to start it off. I don't want to. I don't want to on any SEC teams, but you guys would have your.

[Podcast Co-host]

Hands full of Illinois.

[Diego Pavia]

Oh yeah. Illinois is a good team.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, they are.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

It's a good ball club. What about usc?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, they are, buddy.

[Diego Pavia]

Usc.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

USC is a tough team.

[Diego Pavia]

I haven't Washington, Washington, Iowa. You're gonna. You've got to score seven points. You beat Iowa, it's going to be.

[Podcast Host]

A tough 7.72 school.

[Diego Pavia]

That is. That is true.

[Podcast Co-host]

You guys resurrected program. Iowa resurrected an extinct cornerback track like that is. You want to talk about who can achieve more?

[Diego Pavia]

I mean there's a.

[Podcast Co-host]

There's a cornerback in the NFL that's white right now. I know because of Iowa.

[Diego Pavia]

I know, I know a couple of them.

[Podcast Host]

Don't forget about Riley Moss.

[Cade (Teammate)]

Now.

[Diego Pavia]

Cooper Jean is good.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, he knows.

[Diego Pavia]

But I'm. I'm saying like, you have to like the trenches too in the S are just different.

[Podcast Co-host]

Is the trenches.

[Diego Pavia]

No, let's think about this.

[Podcast Co-host]

You want to talk about the best.

[Diego Pavia]

Football are from the sec, except like Abdul Card. Like you. You'll find one. Like you'll have one or two.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, the third overall pick this year.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, but like you got. If the kid from South Carolina could have left, he would have been a first round pick.

[Podcast Co-host]

We saw him at, at media days, the super bowl and he, he looked apart. Yeah, he looked apart. Who was. Who was in your mind, the best defense you played against all year?

[Diego Pavia]

The best defense.

[Podcast Co-host]

Texas Tejas.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, I was at that game. Bummed you guys couldn't make it out. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

That kid Michael Taff is. He's good. He's like an elite, you know Those white kids who are gonna be the right. Right play right time.

[Podcast Co-host]

It's that kid always gonna be in the right spot. Great technique.

[Diego Pavia]

Great technique.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

Won't he'll be perfect. Perfect sound perfect.

[Podcast Co-host]

I will say this. I thought, man, that ASU Texas game in the playoffs. I thought ASU should have won that game.

[Podcast Host]

I know, man.

[Podcast Co-host]

They should have won that game.

[Diego Pavia]

I don't like how people on Quinn Ewers. Quinn Ewers.

[Podcast Co-host]

I don't like that either.

[Diego Pavia]

Quinn Ewers is a solid quarterback.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. I don't think anybody was saying that we. I don't think we were on Quinn.

[Diego Pavia]

No, no. I'm just saying, like, I think he's.

[Podcast Co-host]

Just bringing this out of his own back.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

He's thought about this for a minute. He's like, I gotta make sure I say this.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah. No, no. Like he went seventh around, like he should have. You gotta think about Texas before Quinn. You know what I mean? Like, they were winning too many games. Then Quinn goes and now they're in the, like, possibly the championship if he doesn't get strip sacked.

[Podcast Host]

Right, right.

[Podcast Co-host]

Against a Big Ten football team.

[Diego Pavia]

Here he goes.

[Podcast Co-host]

I'm just. Dude. I mean, that's a fact. That is a fact. Against the D end who was drafted in the third round.

[Diego Pavia]

He's good. There's a lot of good players in the Big Ten, too.

[Podcast Co-host]

I don't know why we.

[Diego Pavia]

But there's more in the sec.

[Podcast Co-host]

There's some good ball players in the sec. There's no doubt about it. I'm. What the main thing is, is now that everybody can get paid. We definitely equalized.

[Podcast Host]

There's a lot more parity in the game now.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yes, absolutely.

[Diego Pavia]

It's two and two. So it's equal right now, as we'll.

[Podcast Co-host]

Find out this year.

[Diego Pavia]

That's right.

[Podcast Co-host]

Vanderbilt 2026. Right. I guess it would be 2026 national champions in Miami.

[Podcast Host]

What are your. Obviously, there's a lot of discussion around the College Football Playoff in the format. Like, what would you. What would be your critiques for the College Football Playoff? You want to see it go to 16?

[Diego Pavia]

I think that the SEC in the Big Ten should obviously get the four bids regardless, and then they could do whatever they want from there.

[Podcast Host]

And you like. Do you like how they structured it as, like, you know, if you win your conference, you don't automatically get a buy. They're kind of just. They're kind of seeding it.

[Diego Pavia]

True now, right? Yes. Yeah, I like that.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

I think the basic thing needs to change is right after conference championships, you go right into the next week as a first round. Yeah, we don't need this three weeks or whatever it is. Like, let's have all of December and let's knock this out.

[Podcast Host]

Is this their schedule right here?

[Diego Pavia]

Sure, that's ours.

[Podcast Host]

How do you feel about your guys's schedule this year? You got great South Carolina, Alabama at South Carolina, at Alabama.

[Diego Pavia]

We got Charleston Southern, we got Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Georgia State, Utah State. Every game, any given Sunday, any given Saturday. Really?

[Podcast Host]

I mean, what happened with Georgia State? How you guys put on a season like that last year and have a. You know, the laughs that you guys did, man, happens.

[Diego Pavia]

They came out and they punched us first and then we had to lead like 17 seconds left to go and do a bomb touchdown, I guess. 60 yard bomb. We were up by like three.

[Podcast Co-host]

That's tough.

[Podcast Host]

Do you have. Yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

When you look at the schedule, like you said, you know, every single week you're going at it, blah, blah. You got to play at Alabama, at Tennessee, at Texas, at South Carolina, at South Carolina. Sandstorm. Sandstorm. Plan. That place gets rowdy. Sleeper place to play. Sleeper place. How many of these games that you're coming out? 12 games.

[Podcast Host]

That's. I was thinking about asking, but since he said national championship earlier, I'm like.

[Podcast Co-host]

He'S gonna say 12, zero.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Who do you.

[Podcast Co-host]

Okay, who do you think is which one of these games is like circle.

[Podcast Host]

Do you.

[Podcast Co-host]

Like, this is. I gotta make sure.

[Diego Pavia]

I don't want to give the opponent no fuel. What do they see?

[Podcast Co-host]

I think at this point, we've already gotten past that thing.

[Podcast Host]

I think every school knows they need to have their cameras on at all times.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

If Diego is in town the day before a game.

[Diego Pavia]

Game three.

[Podcast Co-host]

Game three.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, dude. Do we say it? I don't even know.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, we can say. I mean, people can go, look, South Carolina. Like, this is a podcast. It'll be out to the world.

[Podcast Host]

They'll be tough this year, man. Yeah, they got a squad.

[Podcast Co-host]

I mean, after what you did to Alabama too, like, you better keep your head in a swivel down in Tuscaloosa. I don't know, like, there's a chance you might not make it to the game. The fans go crazy out there.

[Diego Pavia]

Lol. I got my brothers with me. We're good.

[Podcast Host]

Do you feel like you feel like you guys have more respect in the. In college football right now? Like, do you feel like there's a little bit more pressure that's kind of come with this year?

[Diego Pavia]

Nah, like, it's just as long as we get better in our, like, detail, we'll be fine. Like, we're really just worried about us right now. Like, we don't really care about what other people say or anything like that. Like, everyone's just focused internally.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. People could be saying, Diego, one. One hit wonder. One good year might be all he has.

[Diego Pavia]

Right.

[Podcast Host]

We're gonna put him in his place this year.

[Podcast Co-host]

There's enough film on him. We see what he does.

[Podcast Host]

We know his tendencies shut him down.

[Podcast Co-host]

Right. Gets a little loose with the ball and he rolls out to the left.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

He's probably gonna try to stay in the pocket a little bit more this year because he's been hearing the fluff at the next level.

[Podcast Co-host]

Scouts say you have to sit in the pocket. Don't worry, we'll condense the pocket. We'll contain. Rush him. This is games at the middle from.

[Podcast Host]

Juco and New Mexico State.

[Podcast Co-host]

Right, boys? The kids from New Mexico. Well, you can count on your hand how many guys have come out of there. Yeah. That's what they're saying in team meeting rooms right now that you circled. And it's a. It's a picture with frosted tips, too.

[Podcast Host]

It's not this.

[Podcast Co-host]

It's not this. Diego.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. How many teams. How many teams are in the SEC?

[Podcast Co-host]

16, I believe.

[Podcast Host]

And right now it looks like your guys power rankings in the SEC.

[Diego Pavia]

You're.

[Podcast Host]

You're predicted at 13.

[Diego Pavia]

It's probably by some fat guy who sits on a computer all day.

[Podcast Host]

Damn. Josh Pate is in good shape.

[Podcast Co-host]

Josh Payton is he. He's got the shoulders and the chest on him.

[Podcast Host]

So what do you think about when you see stuff like that? Like, I know it's just noise, but when you're at home and you're kind of going through some of this, I. I really don't.

[Diego Pavia]

I. I've never seen this site before. What is this, 247? We used to have our guy, Barton Simmons used to work for two or sevens. But like, I don't mistake him for it because, like, real players up too.

[Podcast Co-host]

So.

[Diego Pavia]

Okay. They'll just find out after.

[Podcast Co-host]

Do you talk to me about the C on your chest? The C. The C. Captain.

[Diego Pavia]

Okay.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah. Going from New Mexico State, you transfer over to Vanderbilt. You're earning these guys trust. What was that process like for you?

[Diego Pavia]

It was actually really dope. Like, you know, taking out the alignment to eat and stuff is. Is really cool. And then you, like, just knowing the guys, like, everyone comes out from like a unique background and you find out like things about these guys, like, you know, some of them. Well now, like a lot of us, not us, I don't have a kid. But a lot of them have kids and stuff and you got to meet their kids and bring around and this like, it's just really cool to like earn their trust.

[Podcast Host]

Were we taking them? Could he do better? Could he do better on how he treats you guys?

[Podcast Co-host]

We.

[Diego Pavia]

Have you heard Cinco de Mayo? Yes, dude, we went to Cinco de Mayo. We went to Cinco de Mayo twice. And then we were supposed to get go to Eddie V's this past weekend, but not a lot of the guys could go.

[Podcast Host]

So you haven't gotten these boys a little room at Kane prime or up at, up at Bourbon Steak? I'm trying to work for you right now.

[Diego Pavia]

I told you other schools were offering me 4 million, not Vandy.

[Podcast Host]

You said what?

[Diego Pavia]

Other schools were offering me 4 million, not Vandy.

[Podcast Host]

Dude, hey, legit. So were you ever flirting with the idea of leaving Vanderbilt?

[Diego Pavia]

No, I never flirted with it.

[Podcast Co-host]

Maybe for a moment, one moment. You saw, you saw, you saw the.

[Diego Pavia]

Number and you're like, I mean the number, the number is great. Like the numbers are great, but like winning is, is more important to me than anything and we got the squad to go do it.

[Podcast Host]

When you're breaking it down with your agent or whoever your representation is or you're talking with the coaches is how uncomfortable does it get at times like you, you might hear the rumors of 4 million and it's, it's like, you know, we're all in the game of business a little bit more now and it's like you want to leverage the number. How much should I try and leverage the number and get to a spot that I feel comfortable? I don't want to piss anybody off. Like, how's that going for you mentally when you are in that process of potentially, you know, them feeling like you could potentially leave?

[Diego Pavia]

Right. It was, it was difficult for sure because like you got.

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[Diego Pavia]

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[Diego Pavia]

All right, here we are.

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[Diego Pavia]

Another. We definitely need more space to more practical homes.

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[Diego Pavia]

Mayflower.Com coach kill and coach Beck like relying on you to come back and then, but it's like all a money game and then like you got other schools offering you 4 million and they don't want to pay you 4 million. But you're like, all right, but like you took a chance on me. So like I understand that. And then freak. I was gonna say something too. Like they, they told me the things that I wanted to hear of how they're gonna build the offense, you know what receivers are gonna go get. And they were telling me like we could pay, we could pay you that, that, but we are not gonna have enough money to go get these guys to go throw the ball around. Yeah, and it just made sense to me. Like, man, I. I value winning over anything else. So how, like, perfect.

[Podcast Host]

How well did they do going and getting some of these pieces that they were talking to you about?

[Diego Pavia]

Really good.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

Like, it's like playing with a new toy every day. You just throw the ball as far as you can. Yes. You have some fast little black kid. Just catch it.

[Podcast Host]

Washington Post is going to salivate over this.

[Podcast Co-host]

Salivate, dude. Yep. Washington Post, New York Times. Like, got him again. Yeah, yeah. Dude, Jerry Kill. You talked about him being like a father figure to you. What about Jerry Kill was like, did it helps you guys connect so much? And do you have, like, a Jerry Kill story that you're like, this dude's the man? Because he was telling me. He. He offered me. He was at Nevada when I was in high school.

[Diego Pavia]

No, no, that was Coach K. Coach.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah. Okay, okay, okay, okay.

[Diego Pavia]

This guy's. This guy's a nut job. Like, he's just one of us, just the older version. You know what I mean? He don't care what anyone thinks about him. He don't care about anything. I would say New Mexico State, when he was the head coach, like, he had all the power in the world. Like, I remember this is this story exactly. We were in, like, a. Like a team meeting. And after that, it was like, the first day of fall camp, getting done, team meeting. We go out there and, you know, we get done practicing. This kid has a full body cramp camp, and he's like, where's the trainer at? And the trainer didn't have IVs. They couldn't give IVs for some reason in Mexico State. He fired the trainer, the equipment staff, and, like, one of the board of directors at New Mexico State that day. And then, like, he was, like, having to do. He hired basically the coaches to, like, serve out equipment. Hired people just to, like, give out water and stuff. So he fired someone, like, on the spot that day, first day, because the.

[Podcast Co-host]

Guy was catching a full body cramp and there's nowhere to save him.

[Diego Pavia]

And there was no. No one to give him an iv.

[Podcast Co-host]

Man, at least have some pickle juice on you or something.

[Podcast Host]

You know, buddy, just anytime I hear body cramp, I just think of this story of there's a guy in the locker room who just as a joke, kept a box of condoms in the locker. And somebody's like, hey, why do you keep a box of condoms in the locker? And he just looked over at him, he goes, you never know when somebody's going to catch A full body cramp and be spazz on the locker room floor. Like what the. Just another glimpse inside of the locker room.

[Podcast Co-host]

Folks, that is a wild story.

[Diego Pavia]

Wild.

[Podcast Co-host]

The full body crabs here are just.

[Podcast Host]

Awful when you reflect on just your entire journey. Like again, underdog story. Juco route, no offers, small schools, go to Vanderbilt. All this stuff you were talking about wrestling earlier, but overall like a general, like a general thought, when you pull yourself out, what do you feel like separates you mentally in the details. When you look back, whether it's playing through injuries or examples you see from other guys, like what things do you feel like have separated you mentally to get in the spot that you're in now?

[Diego Pavia]

When I, when I turn on the tape and, and I want people to know that I'm the, you know, the best person to ever touch like the blade of grass. Like I'm going to be the best no matter what. When you turn on the tape it's like, okay, this kid right here is the best player on the football team right here. Both sides of the ball. And so that's, that's what I want is just not even be like compared I want to be good on is like one of the greats. Like, I feel like I have that mama mentality of three workouts a day or else you like cheated yourself.

[Podcast Host]

When you look back and think of times where it was extremely hard and you possibly thought of never quitting, but where you doubted yourself and everything else, like, is there a moment or a phase of life that kind of stands out that you fought through, that you look back on, you're like, I'm, I'm happy I pushed through that moment.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, Juco was hard for sure. Juco Covid. You know, there's only two people allowed in a dorm probably this big. Big, maybe even smaller. If you cut this down and you know, it's, it's you and your guy and it's just the struggle. Like you weren't able to leave. No one could see you. And those, those times were tough. You're waking up 5am but then like you think about it like you're, you're with your brothers through the grind. So it's like cool.

[Podcast Host]

Who are you leaning on in like those times? Like, are you somebody who like, you know, you're scrolling and consuming videos. Are you reading something? Is it your mom? Is it your staff? When you're kind of having those moments of, of hey, I need to feel like I needed some inspiration or motivation.

[Diego Pavia]

Honest truth. My ex girlfriend was like, she don't want me bet I'm gonna go harder. And it was just like, I'm super serious, like in juco and still like to this day. Like my boy, my boys would tell you, like, it was like once I got on that bar, it was. Was like it was beef, you know, obviously not with my girlfriend, but like, like it was like, like she didn't want you, like, take that personal. But that's one of the reasons why I go so hard too.

[Podcast Co-host]

I feel like the mentality of the athlete, but is taking whatever happens in your life that didn't necessarily go your way big ways or little ways, but it's like, all right, add that to the tank. Add that.

[Diego Pavia]

That's true. That's how I look at it too.

[Podcast Host]

I feel like he's got the most, most wrestling brain I've ever seen as a football player. Yeah, a football player.

[Podcast Co-host]

If you don't want me, put a 45 on. She said what? I don't know.

[Podcast Host]

We were laughing about. You know how those like. You know how wrestlers just get down and just go hard. They got their house parties where they're in their shirts off, they got the bandanas on. They might, you know, there's a few guys got their girlfriends in there and they're just, you know, make a beer pong shot. They just. Yeah, just overly aggressive for no reason.

[Podcast Co-host]

She's got her neck's all up after.

[Diego Pavia]

Everything they do, they go hard.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, yeah. Dapping up your boys and you start getting in and over. All of a sudden your hips are back. It's oh, good to see you, man.

[Podcast Co-host]

Just before they take that takes place. Still got it, I see. How do you think you'd fare in wrestling right now?

[Diego Pavia]

The way I'm at, probably not, but I would like go down like 174s. I think I do pretty good.

[Cade (Teammate)]

Yeah?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

You think you'd have been a good wrestler in college.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, but I didn't.

[Podcast Host]

Cuz you were used. You were a state champ, right?

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, I was a state champ my senior year.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, but I didn't love it.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, he knows New Mexico.

[Diego Pavia]

What's up with these shots?

[Podcast Co-host]

Dude, I like you.

[Diego Pavia]

Arizona. Arizona. Arizona's like right next to New Mexico.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, but it's. Well, I mean we can. The population's like more than double and we also have like a better sports state. Baseball. Football. That's just fact. I mean, New Mexico.

[Diego Pavia]

Hey, hey, we might be better at baseball.

[Podcast Co-host]

I don't know, bro. Like Arizona cats play ball out there. I'd say year round I mean, just like New Mexico, but, like, cats come out of there. Even hockey, now we got hockey players.

[Diego Pavia]

What about wrestling? I think we might be better at wrestling.

[Podcast Co-host]

I think you might have wrestling.

[Diego Pavia]

Wrestling, baseball, soccer.

[Podcast Co-host]

I'm not very. I could see soccer. I'm not. I'm not up to date on, like, wrestling. My wrestling education comes through well, Compton.

[Diego Pavia]

Okay.

[Podcast Co-host]

Like that. I see that he talks about Cody. I just. I've wrestled well three times. I've lost every time.

[Podcast Host]

We'll be in there watching March, man. We'll be in there watching March Madness, and I'll have the. The of the wrestler.

[Podcast Co-host]

We'll be in there this year.

[Podcast Host]

Who.

[Diego Pavia]

So who's your favorite wrestler?

[Podcast Co-host]

Right. Let me go pee real quick. I got.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, man. I mean, honestly, I just root for the boys from Nebraska.

[Diego Pavia]

Okay.

[Podcast Host]

Like, I knew a lot more about it when.

[Diego Pavia]

When.

[Podcast Host]

When my brother was doing it, like, when we were in college together. Like, Jordan Burrows was from Nebraska, and he was. Like, when Cody came in as a freshman, they were the same weight, so they were. They were both wrestling partners and everything else. Like, James Green came a little bit after Cody. So that generation of wrestling is when I knew it the most. I don't know it as well anymore. I just enjoy every year when the conference championships come on. You know, when they're. When the. The national championships are going on. The NCAA's. My dad took me to one. My. Me and my brother to one. Back when we were young, when it was in St. Louis and we got to see Brock Lesnar senior year. And you're seeing him do his little jump, his jumps back and forth before he goes out and beats the boy from. It was. He was at Minnesota, the kid. The dude from Iowa beats him 4, 2 in the finals. In. The place just erupts.

[Diego Pavia]

Did you see Gable Stevenson lost?

[Podcast Host]

Yes, bro. Oh, insane.

[Diego Pavia]

That's sick.

[Podcast Host]

Insane. But, like, you know, and it's like the head coaches of these. Of these teams now got, like, Kale Sanderson, of course, Mark Manning, I've always been a massive fan of. I'm tied in with him. And you see, like, David Taylor getting in the circuit. Just seeing guys from, again, like, that generation, kind of whether they're on the staff now. But as far as individuals, I don't know as much about them anymore.

[Diego Pavia]

Right.

[Podcast Host]

I'm more just support. Like, I support the university. Like, Nebraska had a hell of a year this year, even though it was at Penn State's, like, miles ahead of everybody. Yeah, everybody always kind of competes for that second. That second Second spot, whether it's Iowa, Oklahoma State. So I just kind of enjoy. I just enjoy watching wrestling.

[Diego Pavia]

Nah, that's super dope.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Because you got a couple. You were just talking about one of your boys that's.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah. Real Woods. He's about to go to Final X. He wins this tournament, and that's this weekend.

[Podcast Host]

And for everybody listening, we're recording on Thursday, the 12th, so when this comes out, it'll be on Tuesday, so the match will have already happened. But your boys. He's going to compete this weekend.

[Diego Pavia]

Real Woods. Yeah. At Final X in New Jersey.

[Podcast Host]

And if he wins, he's going to be on the Olympics.

[Diego Pavia]

Olympic team. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

That's sick, man.

[Diego Pavia]

So rooting for him. I hope. I hope he wins. He's gonna win. He's gonna win.

[Podcast Co-host]

Who's your favorite wrestler?

[Podcast Host]

I was telling him how I don't really as far as like, individuals now. I'm not as privy to everybody who wrestles now. I'm more just like follow a lot of guys back from the. The generation that I was kind of just around how their coaches now and I'm more so just support the Huskers. And you're always knowing about Penn State and the who the good teams are.

[Diego Pavia]

What about ufc? Favorite UFC fighter?

[Podcast Host]

I mean, our boy, we. We're biased with our boy Mike Chandler. Yeah. Ms. The old Conor McGregor. We just watched Sean O' Malley and Marab over the weekend. And Merab is a psychopath.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah. He's going to be a cat that's a champion for a long, long time, man.

[Podcast Host]

Who else do you have?

[Podcast Co-host]

Who is the cat that fought.

[Diego Pavia]

You got the girl this weekend.

[Podcast Host]

I know, but Jon Jones is so up in the air. Like, is he gonna. Oh, is he gonna come back?

[Podcast Co-host]

He takes like two, three years off every. Every time he fights.

[Diego Pavia]

Like, he's crazy, though.

[Podcast Co-host]

Like, bro, he is. I mean, it's been said by Dana, it's been said by everybody. He's the goat. He's a goat of ufc.

[Podcast Host]

Like, I'm sick that DC Daniel Cormier never got his, like, a legit rematch shot against him.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

Daniel Cormier was gonna beat John.

[Podcast Co-host]

Maybe not, maybe not. But you would like to see like, a little bow tie put on that have it all be done.

[Podcast Host]

But who is the PED thing came out when they're.

[Diego Pavia]

John was strangling.

[Podcast Host]

Come on, man. I mean, don't expect DC was good, but John is.

[Podcast Co-host]

John's the goat.

[Diego Pavia]

John is John.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Jon Jones is awesome, but you just never know when he's going to get in the octagon again.

[Diego Pavia]

I remember when we coveted was happening in New Mexico and I went back to Albuquerque and there was like, riots going downtown, people breaking glass doors, getting into jewelry stores. Jon Jones went downtown, whooped a few ass, and put an end to all that.

[Podcast Co-host]

I mean, that's insane.

[Diego Pavia]

It was crazy.

[Podcast Host]

Who's your. Outside of Jon Jones, who's your favorite fighter?

[Diego Pavia]

Ah, I like Amanda Nunez. I know she's coming back.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, dude, she's fighting that girl. That's.

[Diego Pavia]

She's dominant.

[Podcast Host]

Is it Kayla Harrison?

[Podcast Co-host]

I think so. It sound. That sounds about right. But she put on a performance this past weekend. Like, she was very impressive. It'll be interesting to see Amanda Nunes taking that much time off, essentially gets inducted the hall of Fame last International fight week, and then says, oh, I'm gonna come back for one more. But that Kayla, that is her name. I don't want to fuck it up. Her quote of being like, I got the belt, you got the legacy. It's put on the table.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

Damn.

[Podcast Co-host]

That's a bar. Yeah, that's a bar where you're like. I mean, you've been to ufc. I saw you at Madison Square Garden.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Like, it's electric, dude. It's just being a part of it, being around it is awesome.

[Diego Pavia]

Well, how does it feel for you guys? You guys are like, with, like, Trump and stuff. Like, they set us to the, like, where all the fighters were. You guys were like Trump and it feels insane.

[Podcast Host]

Like, Tayo and I'll be sitting there. We just look over, like, what the.

[Podcast Co-host]

There's definitely a level of imposter syndrome.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Like, we. We shouldn't be sitting with these guys. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

It really just goes down to, like, the relationship with Dana and.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Get around these people. You don't act like an. Like, you just try to be as respectful as possible. But, like, the people you get to sit next to in these fights and essentially network and talk to and be around, like, it's. You're seeing extremely powerful people come under one roof.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. And you just, like, enjoying the moment of being that close to the. The octagon.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Like, the. The. You know, you hear the punches. You feel the punches. You just feel the entire environment when the lights go off and it's just a spotlight on the octagon. You hear the walking. You feel them walking around the cage. It's like you. You feel the breathing. You see the corners going on. When they get with their corners. It's. It's sick, man.

[Diego Pavia]

That's intense.

[Podcast Co-host]

I'll tell you what a really cool situation to be in is the fights at the apex. Because the, the apex are these up and coming fighters that are right next to the UFC facility. But it's like quiet. You can hear the punches landing. You can actually hear people talking. When you, when the fights are between rounds, you can put a headset on and listen to what the coaches are saying to the fighter.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

What the corners are talking about. Like, it's a very cool, intimate setting. It's awesome.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And it's like we're all fans of Joe Rogan the podcaster, but Joe Rogan, the UFC commentator, going out there to interview. You've seen the referees that you recognize because they're at every fight. Bruce Buffer.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Doing his announcements and intros. It's just, it is insane being that.

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[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

Not everything is terrible. I repeat, not everything is terrible. The ripple effect with Jenna Kim Jones is pretty proof that the Internet, it hasn't ruined humanity entirely.

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[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

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[Diego Pavia]

All right, here we are.

[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

Oh, it's perfect.

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[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

So guess what? We're having another.

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Another.

[Diego Pavia]

We definitely need more space to more practical homes.

[Odoo Advertiser]

Yes.

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[Podcast Co-host]

And the more you're around it, too, like, the more like, people are recognizing you. Like the Bruce Buffers, the Rogans, those types of things. So it's like, yeah, we're all kind of like, in one way or another, part of this little community now. And it's just awesome.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. And you'll. You, like, watch Bruce Buffer. I'll be watching before fights and kind of just like, looking over and seeing, like, what he does, and you just see how he's getting, like, hyped up and in his stretching self, has got. Got like his little note cards that you'll see him, like, refer to and look at, but you just see him locking in, like he's about to actually fight.

[Diego Pavia]

No, that's.

[Podcast Host]

It's.

[Podcast Co-host]

It's cool. It is awesome, dude. Just to be a part of all that. I mean, this last fight, we were in St. Louis at doing an Ezra Bush Foreman. Yeah, yeah. The Cardinal game. And then we get on a plane. Yeah, we can talk about that in a second. We get on Dana's plane with him and fly to Newark, and it's just like you're sitting on this plane with his group of. A group of people, our group of people, and it's just like, this is. This is awesome.

[Diego Pavia]

Is that the life?

[Podcast Host]

It's. It's a dream.

[Podcast Co-host]

There's. Yeah. Dana is one of those cats, too. Or, I mean, he's not a bad thing you can say about him if you actually know Dana personally.

[Diego Pavia]

That's what I've heard everyone Never say.

[Podcast Co-host]

One bad thing about him. How giving he is. Like, he'll walk into a room. I say this all the time. But if whoever he knows the most, he'll talk to the last. Like, he walked in this room. Right now he'd go up to everybody first before sitting down, talking to me, Will, and even Jack. Like, he. Jack's been around him him over a dozen times now. And it's like he makes you feel like you are all great friends. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And you're like, you'll have these moments will be going on and say like you're on the plane or whatever it is or in. In any of these rooms and you just might look over and you make eye contact with Jack or something. You're just like, what the is going on? Right.

[Podcast Co-host]

All because we decided to start a podcast.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Like in the back of some. Yeah. It's just. It's crazy. It always gives you a reason to have gratitude and just reflect at how awesome this is. It's awesome, man.

[Diego Pavia]

It is cool.

[Podcast Host]

Throughout the. Throughout the convo, boys, anything pop up that you want to go back to with Diego?

[Diego Pavia]

One thing I wanted to ask is y' all have some new tools, some new weapons this year. Who's somebody that's unknown right now that you think is going to make a big name for themselves?

[Podcast Host]

Good question.

[Diego Pavia]

We got this new running back from New Mexico State, MK. Where's number 22? He's like that. You guys will see it Saturday.

[Podcast Host]

So, mk, you played with that New Mexico.

[Diego Pavia]

I played with him when he was.

[Podcast Host]

On the freshman last year.

[Diego Pavia]

He was a freshman and then his real names were Kylie Young, but he's a freshman at New Mexico State. And everyone knew like, that kid is. He's different.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

And then he got his chance. He had. He had his kid. And then. So he took a year off last year and then he came this year and he looked.

[Podcast Host]

Took a year off and didn't play last year.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah. Yeah, he didn't play last year.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, no.

[Odoo Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

To have a kid. Jack, I see you.

[Jack (Bus Guy)]

I got a mic. I'm not. I'm a Tennessee fan. I'm not gonna take it there. You seem like a good dude. I actually want to give you something. I have something in my car, so I'm gonna hop on the bus and grab it. And it literally. You might be like, what the is this? And it's not like a gag gift. I'm gonna go grab it. So pause. But it's actually. I think it's kind of cool. Like, it's actually.

[Podcast Co-host]

So just give me a sec. All right.

[Jack (Bus Guy)]

I'm Jack, by the way.

[Podcast Co-host]

While Jack's grabbing his non gag gift that everyone thinks is going to. Everyone is going to think is kind of cool. You got one.

[Podcast Host]

I Kind of want to ask since Jack's off the bus.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

You guys feel like we want Vandy to be the States, the state squad. Yeah, but you're an intern. You can't, you know.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Don't speak unless spoken.

[Podcast Co-host]

You want Vanderbilt to run Tennessee?

[Diego Pavia]

Vanderbilt's going to run Tennessee after this year. Like, this is going to be the new staple of like college football is going to happen here at Vanderbilt.

[Podcast Host]

Do any of you and the boys ever like, talk about that? Like we got to be the fucking state school. Well, we're in Nashville, Tennessee. Like we're in the Music City. Like we need to be the brand of Tennessee.

[Diego Pavia]

Everyone wants to come to Tennessee because of Nashville, so they want to come to Nashville. So Vanderbilt. And then when we have like the most money in Nil, like why not come here year? So like we literally just have to win this year and throughout the rest of the year it'll take care of itself.

[Podcast Host]

You think Vandy will have the most money in the game or.

[Diego Pavia]

I think we'll be up there. Yeah, but like it's Nashville.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. There's a lot of big hitters around here.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

They just need a team to believe in.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah. That's all they need.

[Podcast Host]

They need Diego Pavia. Yeah. Yeah. What's up, Jack?

[Diego Pavia]

Hey, what was up with your pitch? Pitch?

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah. How about that, huh?

[Diego Pavia]

Was that even a pitch?

[Podcast Co-host]

No, I mean it counts 1 0, right? Yeah, counts 1 0.

[Diego Pavia]

I think you might.

[Podcast Co-host]

I've been out. I've been out every single day. You after this podcast, you're not going to go toss the ball around a little bit?

[Diego Pavia]

I don't know, I might get like concussed or something. What you mean flying all over?

[Podcast Co-host]

Flying all over. But you got a glove and you're an athlete. I know you want about New Mexico baseball.

[Diego Pavia]

If it hits like the, the roof and then falls down, hits him on the head.

[Podcast Host]

Concussed.

[Podcast Co-host]

If it hits you on the head and you can guess after that, then you're not who you thought you were.

[Diego Pavia]

Okay, that's fair to say.

[Podcast Host]

But I'll tell you, hey, get some legal advice because you can probably. Well, don't do that because then it's on bus.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, no, no, I'm not doing that.

[Jack (Bus Guy)]

All right, So I was, I was at a camp out and we were using newspaper to start fires and all of a sudden I see this, this paper. I wish it had been a Tennessee player because I think this would be something that's super cool to get framed. I was going to give it to my Friend's dad who's a Vanny fan. But since you are the person in this, I think it's cool. You literally can throw it away, but I thought it was kind of dope when it's, like, popping your powers through all and, like, just burnt.

[Diego Pavia]

That is hard.

[Podcast Co-host]

So if you.

[Podcast Host]

You keep that. That is sick.

[Podcast Co-host]

So I think it's better.

[Diego Pavia]

I think it's better coming from a Tennessee fan.

[Podcast Co-host]

So look, this is. We're still gonna have the rivalry, but I hope the best for you and hope you have a successful career.

[Diego Pavia]

So I appreciate that, man. Thank you.

[Podcast Host]

100.

[Diego Pavia]

That camera.

[Podcast Co-host]

That's big. That's big of you right here.

[Podcast Host]

Which camera?

[Podcast Co-host]

D D show this camera right here.

[Jack (Bus Guy)]

I guess.

[Podcast Host]

That is badass.

[Podcast Co-host]

Come on.

[Jack (Bus Guy)]

It's bigger than the game.

[Podcast Host]

Bigger than the game.

[Diego Pavia]

100.

[Podcast Co-host]

Anchor up. Anchor up. Bud Light. Question. Yeah, Diego, as you know, Bud Light is absolutely incredible. And anyone would do anything for a Bud Light, but what's one thing Diego Pavia would do anything for? Can't say.

[Podcast Host]

Family.

[Diego Pavia]

I'd bite an ear off to win the national championship.

[Podcast Host]

Okay, you would.

[Podcast Co-host]

Mike Tyson, somebody. Does it matter? The ear?

[Diego Pavia]

No.

[Podcast Co-host]

Anybody's ear. You'd bite my ear off?

[Diego Pavia]

Yep.

[Podcast Host]

Would you let somebody bite your ear off for a national Tyson title?

[Podcast Co-host]

Would you let somebody cut your piece off for a national title?

[Diego Pavia]

Yes.

[Podcast Co-host]

Just a Ken doll.

[Diego Pavia]

Just. Or there's surgery now that you could work with. Yeah, that Natty's gonna be mine, though.

[Podcast Host]

I mean, I love it.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

He came into this. He came into this question.

[Podcast Co-host]

He understood 99 of this podcast.

[Podcast Host]

He understood. Yeah, he understood. And we expect Josh Pate to be talking about this.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

Who's Josh P. Oh, my God.

[Podcast Co-host]

Dude, what are you doing?

[Podcast Host]

Almost the. The brightest mind in college football, actually. Yeah. He's the future commissioner of college football. Oh, he's got Josh Pate. He's got a show.

[Diego Pavia]

Oh, I've seen this guy. I didn't know his name was Josh. Bait.

[Podcast Host]

Very put together.

[Podcast Co-host]

Ripped, well spoken.

[Podcast Host]

Definitely wears true classic.

[Podcast Co-host]

Bright mind.

[Podcast Host]

He loves you.

[Diego Pavia]

He gave us the ranking on 247 at 13.

[Podcast Host]

That was a joke. I was just throwing that out there. He didn't actually write that one. I don't know where he has.

[Diego Pavia]

That's some Wikipedia right there.

[Podcast Host]

Well, 247 did write that article. I just. He doesn't work for 24 7.

[Diego Pavia]

Oh, okay.

[Podcast Host]

He's got his own lane. He's got his own thing going.

[Diego Pavia]

Hey, my bad. Josh Bates.

[Podcast Co-host]

Let's give a round of applause. For Diego Pavia.

[Podcast Host]

Hey, I have one. I have one more question.

[Podcast Co-host]

Okay.

[Podcast Host]

Throughout this last year, the run that you did have, what was like, you know, being a. Being a fan of the sport growing up and everything else, what was, like, the coolest thing you got to do? Whether it was going somebody's show or something? Like, man, this is the best thing.

[Diego Pavia]

Is hang out with Theo Von. That guy's a nut job. He's hilarious.

[Podcast Host]

Where'd you get to hang with him at?

[Diego Pavia]

So after the Bama game.

[Podcast Host]

That night?

[Diego Pavia]

No, no, not that night night, but like a few. Like a week after or something. We went and I took few of the boys and we went and just got some ice cream, and that guy's.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, I love ice cream.

[Diego Pavia]

Me too.

[Podcast Host]

Ice cream fans on the bus.

[Diego Pavia]

Chocolate fudge brownie guy. But anyway, like, I was like, bro, he was like the coolest person. Like, he act like he was my best friend for, like, 40 years. You know what I mean? And so. But that. That's really cool that I get to hang out with that guy.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, he's a monster, bro. Did you go to one of his shows or something? You just saw him out and about?

[Diego Pavia]

No, I haven't got the chance to yet. But, like, I get to see his show every day. Like, he's. Every day I hang out with him, it's like, holy. This guy is naturally funny. Like, he belongs to Duke comedy.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, dude, he is a. He's. He's hilarious. Especially, like, in person, hanging around. Just the way his brain operates and thinks on his feet and everything else. He just comes up with the craziest.

[Diego Pavia]

I think. I think we're, like. I was gonna say good together, but, like, that sounds gay, but, like, hanging out. Hanging out. Because, like, he just says whatever's on his mind, and then I say whatever's on my mind. You know what I mean? It just. It's just like nut jobs at it.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

You just made a great couple, Taylor. Right? Think about taxes. Right? Think about taxes.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Join household income.

[Diego Pavia]

What is wrong with you two? You guys got going on as if.

[Podcast Co-host]

You think about it, right?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, I'm just trying to build on his story.

[Podcast Co-host]

It's a business decision.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Let's say I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry.

[Podcast Host]

You go, what you got? Have you hooked them up with the Pavia jersey yet?

[Diego Pavia]

I was actually. So what happened with the Pavia jerseys is, like, you sold them. Yeah, they all sold, and then, like, they stopped making them after the season, so I can't Even buy any right now.

[Podcast Host]

You can't even get your own jersey.

[Diego Pavia]

I can't get my own jersey right now.

[Podcast Host]

But we need one for the shop.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

So let's do this.

[Podcast Co-host]

When you guys beat Alabama again, your words.

[Diego Pavia]

Now.

[Podcast Co-host]

Our words. You bring it, put in the shop, we'll frame it.

[Diego Pavia]

You got my word game, Warren. Whoa.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah. That's what we just said, right?

[Diego Pavia]

Whoa.

[Podcast Co-host]

I mean, you sound like you're okay with just letting whoever.

[Diego Pavia]

Whoa. Did you not hear the price tag on it?

[Podcast Host]

That. Yeah, we'll take Cade's game.

[Diego Pavia]

Wardrobe.

[Jack (Bus Guy)]

Hey, but before it's all said and done, I gotta give a shout out to my boy, Luke Passina, a huge Vanderbilt fan. When you guys beat Alabama, they always take like a boys golf trip. And he got. He. He's not a big like party or drinker. He actually just had a kid three weeks ago. So shout out to Joey, his new daughter. But he made a drunken bet saying that if Bama loses, he would buy all of his boys Diego Pavia jerseys. He gets blacked out, wakes up the next morning and Bama loss. And so he had and his buddies, while he's pass style, literally tapped in. He has credit card connected and bought $1300 worth of jerseys. And they all sent them. And then three of the guys though are big dudes and they only got xl, so three of the dudes, they don't even fit the jersey. So maybe I can sneak one of those jerseys for us. I'll. I'll tap in, but I had to give shout out to my boy.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, I like that.

[Podcast Co-host]

1300.

[Jack (Bus Guy)]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Which is the first check Diego Pavi got in his nil deal for New Mexico state.

[Diego Pavia]

Full circle 1400. But yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Appreciate you.

[Diego Pavia]

Hey, taxes are MF or.

[Podcast Co-host]

Yeah, no doubt. Get rid of federal income tax. Let's get rid of federal income tax. Right? Let's get rid of it.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Podcast Co-host]

Doesn't want taxes. We can all get behind that.

[Podcast Host]

Appreciate everybody for tuning in. Big hug. Signing kisses. I hope you enjoyed this episode. See you next time.

[Diego Pavia]

Subscribe 21 plus and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18/ and present in D.C. opt in required bonus issued as non withdrawable profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply including any token expiration and max wager amount. See [e-mail] gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rg-help.com call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Chattinconenetic Hope is Here gamblinghelplinema.org or call 800-327-5050. For 24. 7 support in Massachusetts, visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org. in Maryland, call 1-877-8-Hopeny or text hopeny467-369 in New York.

[Podcast Host]

Ah, greetings from my bath festive friends.

[Podcast Co-host]

The holidays are overwhelming, but I'm tackling this season with PayPal and making the most of my money. Getting 5% cash back when I pay in 4. No fees, no interest.

[Podcast Host]

I used it to get this portable spa with jets. Now the bubbles can cling to my sculpted but pruny body.

[Podcast Co-host]

Make the most of your money this holiday with PayPal.

[Diego Pavia]

Save the offer in the app ends 12:31 see paypal.com promoter points can be.

[Podcast Co-host]

Redeemed for cash and more. Paying for subject to terms and approval.

[Diego Pavia]

PayPal Inc. And MLS 910457Amazon Five Star Theater presents real Customer Reviews Performed owned by Ed Helms. Tonight's review Tactical Jacket I was living a simple life. Didn't get out much. Then I bought this jacket and everything changed. Women came flocking to me from lands domestic and foreign. On the 245 day sailboat voyage home.

[Podcast Co-host]

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[Podcast Host]

I knew it was the jacket he.

[Diego Pavia]

Was after after giving up the jacket in exchange for my life. 5 stars Amazon Customer 69 Shop the perfect gift this holiday on Amazon.

[Podcast Host]

What a matchup we got y'.

[Podcast Co-host]

All.

[Diego Pavia]

This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chance echo drum beat everybody showing that school pride.

[Podcast Host]

Game like this.

[Diego Pavia]

Yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there. Yeah, that taste always hits the right note. Just like the band at halftime. And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere and in ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo no matter the.

[Podcast Host]

Sport, no matter the yard.

[Diego Pavia]

Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.

[Podcast Host Jenna Kim Jones]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Odoo Advertiser]

Guaranteed Human.