On Saturday, Dec. 13, Diego Pavia and fellow Heisman finalists, Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love and Julian Sayin, spoke to the media with the Heisman Trophy Ceremony in just a few hours.
The graduate quarterback currently sits second in the odds (+600), only behind Mendoza (-1000), who has been the odds-on favorite since the Hoosiers beat Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game a week ago.
Pavia participated in the first Heisman media availability on Friday, expressing his gratitude for being selected as a finalist to represent Vanderbilt in New York. Saturday’s press conference consisted of both a panel and individual breakout sessions with each of the finalists.
The Hustler laid out exactly what Pavia said in both availabilities on Saturday, as the Heisman Trophy Ceremony airs tonight at 6 p.m. CST on ABC.
Panel
Q: Knowing that one of you will take [the Heisman Trophy] home, do you wake up believing “this is mine?”
Pavia: I think as leaders on our team, we all want to have confidence that resonates throughout the whole team. That’s what uplifts a program. What makes programs great is when everyone’s playing at their full potential; that’s when teams are unbeatable, you know. Everyone wants to win the Heisman. One through four wants to win that. But it’s an honor to be up here to share this podium with these guys. You look down the road, all these guys look down the road, and they’ll be remembering this day for the rest of their lives. And as far as winning it, everyone wants to win it. I want to win it, but one guy gets that opportunity, and we’ll find out tonight.
You’ve all been on a unique path from where you grew up to where you are today. What do you think you might tell your 10-year-old self?
As far as my 10-year-old self, I would say that God has a plan and no one’s perfect. I wish I would have gotten to know Christ sooner. The first time I really prayed was in junior college. So that’s why I felt it took me so long to finally get to the SEC and to play on the biggest stages. I would just tell my 10-year-old self to just find my faith. I’m still learning every single day.
What coaches from your school do you feel haven’t gotten the love or attention they deserve?
Someone who I kind of want to point out [is] the recruiting department. Nowadays, with NIL [and] the transfer portal, everyone’s getting in. You’ve got to be on these guys. You’ve got to get them in the facility. You’ve got to show them around. And I think someone for me that I see just overshadowed is Kendall Lawson. He really works in the shadows. He builds relationships with players. The players love him when they come in and they commit. [We’ve] got a tight knit group at Vanderbilt, and I think we’ll continue the success.
Individual
If you win the award tonight, how are you going to celebrate? Even if you don’t win the award, will you celebrate nonetheless?
Well, I [I like to] think positive. So, I’ll celebrate with my brothers, my teammates, my family and my coaches. Coach Kill — it’ll be probably one of his last events ever. So, I’ll stop by there with those guys. We’ll have a really good time.
Are there any other Heisman Trophy winners that you idolize or model your game after?
Johnny [Manziel] was a big one. Marcus Mariota was a big one. I would say those two the most. But Johnny [Manziel] is the most important. I think what he did as a freshman [at Texas A&M] is through the roof and it’s nuts. I talked to him, too. He’s in good spirits. I think he’s said he’s coming in on a chopper here soon.
How do you attribute New Mexico State to your journey to the Heisman?
They kind of built me. I’m thankful for teammates that I had at New Mexico Military [Institute], New Mexico State and Vanderbilt. All the past coaches. They mean so much to me because they shaped me into the man I am today.
Is there anything you’ve taken away from your fellow finalists?
They’re great guys. Julian [Sayin] comes from an awesome family. His mom is great, and his dad is great. I got to meet his high school quarterback coach and head coach. I asked him [about his] great mechanics [because] I wanted to learn to take away something that he does so great. If he wants to pick my brain, he can. And he knows that. Obliviously, Fernando [Mendoza] is a great talent. That kid is so positive over there.
If it doesn’t go your way tonight, how are you going to look back on this experience?
I’m just having a good time. At the end of the day, I did everything I could do to win the award, so it ain’t up to me. There’s no game that I can play, there’s no result that I could influence to win the award. It’s all up to someone else.
Answers have been edited for length and clarity.
