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Vanderbilt

Diego Pavia reflects on celebration following Alabama win

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•06/19/25•

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Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

The most famous night in Vanderbilt football history took place in Nashville last season. Diego Pavia led the Commodores to a win against No. 1 Alabama. A result nobody in the college football world expected, once the clock hit zero, the party was on.

Not just at FirstBank Stadium, where fans rushed onto the field. Broadway was the spot to be on Oct. 5 as Vanderbilt fans in the city were ready to celebrate. Players were no different as Pavia went out with a ton of teammates.

“That night, it was jumping, for sure,” Pavia said via Bussin’ With The Boys. “We all went to Barstool. The whole top was rented out for us. And then we stayed up so late that night that they thought we were going to lose to Kentucky the next week. Beat them too.”

Pavia famously had a ton of family in town for the Alabama win, too. He said they enjoyed themselves for a couple of days, even as Pavia had to get back to football activities. You have to assume the same can be said for every Vanderbilt fan out there.

Thankfully, there was no hangover game — literally or figuratively for Vanderbilt — they got a win against Kentucky to start SEC play with two wins in three games. Bouncing back against UK was something Pavia took as a sign moving forward, especially after getting hurt early in the ball game.

“I feel like God kind of gave me a signal right there,” Pavia said. “You can’t just go out there and party when you get big wins. I’m going to give you more big wins, you can’t party like that. For this year, that’s why he gave me another year. So, get it right this time.”

Vanderbilt is hoping Pavia is correct and plenty more massive wins are on the way. This year’s Alabama game will be one everyone circles as a return trip to Tuscaloosa is on deck. Not many times have you been able to say Bryant-Denny Stadium will be ready for the Commodores to be in town. But after last year’s loss, Alabama fans may have some extra juice.

On the home side, Vandy will host the likes of LSU and Auburn throughout the season. Pavia hopes he can once again send Nashville into a frenzy and continue to stack up nice wins for the program in his final year with the Commodores.