Clark Lea addresses 'chippy' Birmingham Bowl between Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt

Tensions were high between Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech in the third quarter of the Birmingham Bowl. Ahead of the final frame of the game, Commodores head coach Clark Lea addressed the extracurriculars between the two teams.

“It’s two competitive and tough teams,” Lea said. “Obviously, it’s getting a little chippy, but they’re playing hard. Both sides want to win, so that’s the first thing.

“It is about focusing. It is about the discipline, respect and spirit for us. We got to close the game out, which means we have to focus on our end, on execution, and doing things we need to do to finish against really good team.”

Chippy doesn’t begin to describe it. The third quarter was laced with unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on both teams, heated exchanges after plays and physical altercations during them.

Vanderbilt channeled the bad blood better than Georgia Tech, rattling off 14 unanswered points to begin the fourth quarter. Now, Clark Lea and Co. will look to close out the game against the Yellow Jackets, with hopes of securing Vanderbilt’s first bowl win since 2013.

Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia granted extra year of eligibility

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia helped set in motion the granting of a waiver from the NCAA that will allow players who previously played at the JUCO level an additional year of eligibility for the 2025-26 season.

Pavia was previously granted an additional season of eligibility after his motion for a preliminary injunction was approved by the U.S. District Court of Middle Tennessee. Monday, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors granted a waiver that will apply to athletes across every sport. 

Amid the credit he was receiving for the ruling, Pavia took to social media to react to the news.

“Don’t thank me, THANK GOD,” he wrote.

Pavia transferred to Vanderbilt this offseason after playing the past two years at New Mexico State. He would go on to lead the Commodores to a 6-6 record, including an upset win against Alabama, to reach bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018. 

Pavia threw for 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns to four interceptions while also rushing for another 716 yards and six scores this past season. 

With the quarterback beginning his career at New Mexico Military Institute in 2020, this was thought to be his final season of eligibility. However, the motion granted now allows him to play a sixth season and return to Nashville.