Bussin' With The Boys – Episode 352

Vandy HC Clark Lea On Pavia For Heisman + Tristan Wirfs On The Bucs & QB1 Baker Mayfield | October 28, 2025

Overview

This episode of Bussin' With The Boys, hosted by Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, is packed with energy and features a blend of sports insight, honest storytelling, and off-the-cuff humor. The main focuses are:

• An intimate look at Tristan Wirfs’ career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his experience with Tom Brady, and the emergence of Baker Mayfield.
• Coach Clark Lea of Vanderbilt discusses Vandy’s historic rise, quarterback Diego Pavia’s case for the Heisman, handling player personalities, and college football's evolving culture.
• The hosts chat about family, theme parks, locker room stories, and fan-driven segments (“Tear Talk”, “Fresh Set of Downs”).
• Lighthearted debates on horror movies and amusement park rides keep the mood fun and relatable.

Key Discussion Points & Highlights

1. Weekend Recap & Life Updates

[03:29–12:22]

• Will recaps attending friend Brad LeBrock’s wedding in Sleepy Hollow, NY, and all the challenges (travel, football FOMO).
• Eli counterpoints with a glowing review of a 48-hour Disney World family trip, sharing heartfelt moments with his wife and kids:

  “This is why you do it… this is why you spend the money. This is why you go and get the lightning pass and all that.” – Eli [14:30]

• Both hosts discuss the importance of balancing the highs and lows of busy weeks.

2. Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, and Dad Moments

[16:15–33:37]

• Detailed anecdotes about Disney, Universal, and Dollywood.
• Humorous debate about the scariest rides and what makes for the perfect theme park day.
• Eli describes his “dad moment” staking out parade spots for his kids:

  “It’s a true, like, I’m earning my stripes as a father moment… I’m holding ground down.” [16:15]

• Roller coaster nostalgia and shout-outs to parks across the U.S.

3. TV Segment: Chad Powers

[40:00–49:27]

• The crew raves about the Hulu show Chad Powers, refusing to spoil the latest episode but digging into why the show stands out.
• Discussion of favorite moments, football-related accuracy, and hope for a second season.
• Notable quote:

  “You go into it thinking, this is going to be probably corny... It is a very good show.” – Will Compton [46:00]

4. Fresh Set of Downs Player Highlight

[47:17–47:51]

• Weekly segment uplifting a transfer portal player who’s found new life.
• This week: Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt QB – stats, underdog journey, and momentum in the Heisman conversation.

  “That boy has taken over an entire program and they have fully embraced his mentality.” – Eli [47:27]

5. Scariest Movie Tear Talk

[53:00–54:45]

• Debates on the scariest horror film: Sinister, Paranormal Activity, Blair Witch, The Conjuring, and more.

  “The budget for [Paranormal Activity] was $10,000… One of the greatest business moves of all time.” – Will [53:54]

• Tangents on living inside a scary movie universe ("No way would I survive Final Destination …").

6. Feature Interview: Tristan Wirfs (Tampa Bay Buccaneers OT)

[62:03–112:55]

Early Career and Combine

• Wirfs reflects on his unique athleticism and viral shallow pool jump video from college.

  “I knew the vertical was gonna be pretty decent… I had some bunnies.” – Tristan [65:25]

• Only received two D1 offers out of high school (“Iowa and Iowa State – that was it.” [71:26]), which shocks the hosts.

Life in the NFL; Tom Brady Era

• Stories from joining the Bucs, blocking for Tom Brady, and the pressure of not wanting to be “the guy to end Brady’s career.”

  “Tom told me… Don’t get beat fast and don’t get beat inside, and we’ll be okay.” – Tristan [74:10]

• Honest breakdown of rookie stress, Khalil Mack’s “flipping” of Wirfs on national TV (“…It was COVID, Thursday Night Football, everyone in the world’s watching.” [76:08])
• Giving up only one sack his rookie year. Huge respect from the hosts.

Locker Room, Baker Mayfield, Team Vibes

• Wirfs talks about transitioning from Brady to the Baker Mayfield era – the infectious confidence, gift-giving (watches & margarita mixers), and locker-room culture.

  “That’s him though. Like, that’s him to a T. His aura is insane.” – Tristan on Baker [83:02]

Teammate Stories, Mike Evans, & Celebrations

• Shares fun moments: Mike Evans pro’s pro, AB’s infamous mid-game exit, O-line inside jokes.
• Would do anything for “a clean game of pass pro” [106:10], and dreams of scoring a big-boy touchdown (with a hip-thrust celebration).

Quickfire Round

• Favorite sunflower seed flavor: “Buffalo Style Ranch.”
• Dream Bud Light beer partner: “Albert Pujols. I was obsessed with him as a kid.” [110:53]
• Acknowledges pride but humility about his contract and career leap.
• Advice to young players: “Keep working. People will find you… Coming from a small town, I know the feeling, brother.” [100:29]

7. Interview: Clark Lea – Vanderbilt Head Coach

[118:27–149:48]

Vibes at Vandy & Heisman Campaign

• Coach Lea opens describing the transformative energy around his program after big wins.

  “Success brings a different kind of adversity… it just feels good to have something at stake every weekend.” [119:00]

The Diego Pavia Effect

• How he manages a charismatic quarterback who speaks boldly in media, sometimes providing “bulletin board material.”

  “The world doesn’t need a watered-down Diego Pavia. The world doesn’t need that. This guy has charisma, belief…” – Lea [121:10]

• Balancing individual flair with respect for opponents.
• His kids get to walk into school with their chests out now, thanks to Pavia.

On Handling Rumors & College Football Landscape

• Addresses rumors about being courted by other big programs:

  “My only focus is on getting the most out of this season... My heart is with this program.” – Lea [128:52]

• How early/midseason coaching changes affect the college game, referencing his respect for former mentor Brian Kelly.

O-Line Culture & Cade, The Intern

• Praises his offensive line, especially transfer Cade, who interned with Bussin’ With The Boys over summer:

  “Your program’s culture is going to ultimately be set by your offensive line. The two most important position groups in the building are the O-line and the D-line.” [142:13]

• On flipping guards/tackles—philosophy of versatility but acknowledges challenges.

Looking Forward: Texas Matchup

• Previews the Texas game, recognizing the Longhorns’ skill but emphasizing Vanderbilt’s identity as “a team of misfits.”
• Ends with gratitude for the show (and a promise to ride the bus in-person during offseason).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Don’t get beat fast and don’t get beat inside, and we’ll be okay.” – Tom Brady’s advice to Tristan Wirfs [74:10]
• “I want people to bring their personalities… when it’s aligned with us, we amplify Vanderbilt football. That way it’s the collective spirit that makes us dangerous.” – Clark Lea [127:50]
• “We call it bucks picking up bucks—go get your quarterback.” – Tristan Wirfs on O-line standards [88:10]
• “That boy [Pavia] has taken over an entire program and they have fully embraced his mentality.” – Eli [47:27]
• “This is why you do it… this is why you spend the money. This is why you go and get the lightning pass and all that.” – Eli on Disney [14:30]
• “You go into [Chad Powers] thinking, ‘this is going to be corny’… It’s a very good show.” – Will Compton [46:00]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Will’s Sleepy Hollow wedding recap: [03:29–07:27]
• Eli’s Disney trip: [12:37–22:12]
• TV Segment: Chad Powers: [40:00–49:27]
• Fresh Set of Downs (Diego Pavia): [47:17–47:51]
• Scariest Movie Discussion: [53:00–54:45]
• Tristan Wirfs Interview: [62:03–112:55]
  • Viral video/NFL journey: [63:28–67:07]
  • Bucs/Brady era: [73:29–77:14]
  • Baker Mayfield & Locker Room: [82:06–87:37]
• Clark Lea Interview: [118:27–149:48]

Tone & Style

The episode is informal, playful, and honest, mixing deep football analysis and mentorship with light-hearted, genuine banter. Guests are treated as old friends, and the show frequently embraces the weird and wonderful—in theme parks, in horror movies, and in football life.

Conclusion

Episode 352 of Bussin’ With The Boys covers a remarkable range—from emotional family moments and theme park dad duty to inside stories from the Bucs’ locker room and Vanderbilt’s Cinderella story. You’ll come away entertained, a bit wiser on football culture, and—for sure—sold on the legend of Diego Pavia and the camaraderie of the bus.

For those tuning in late, don’t skip the interviews with Tristan Wirfs and Coach Clark Lea—they’re insightful, motivational, and full of laughs.