Latest news with #Pavia
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer faces big questions, expectations in post-Nick Saban era
ATLANTA — It's all just noise and nonsense, mental stimulation to avoid the reality of what's really playing out. While we get distracted by the chum rumors of Nick Saban returning to college football, let's not forget that the Vanderbilt quarterback called out the Alabama football team earlier this summer. So let's begin with that cold slap in the face, and the undeniable question that follows: has Alabama lost its mojo? 'We fell short at making the playoffs,' said Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer. 'It's as simple as that.' But is it? Is it as cut and dry as Alabama, if it had one more regular season win in DeBoer's first season in Tuscaloosa, would've made the College Football Playoff and all would've been well in the land of The Standard is The Standard? Alabama had a loaded team in 2024, a roster full of four- and five-star recruits and a fourth-year quarterback (Jalen Milroe) who was one of the nation's most exciting players in 2023. A team that won the SEC championship, and advanced (again) to the CFP before losing in overtime on the last play of the game to the team that won it all. So it should come as no surprise that the first question DeBoer heard on the big stage at SEC Media Days, his followup performance to the unthinkable task of replacing Saban, was living up to the standard set by the greatest coach in college football history. With the backdrop of that rumor that the Nicktator was returning to college football. 'We've got to be better in the big moments,' DeBoer said. 'Whether it was the belief or whether it was the confidence.' UNWANTED TALK: Nick Saban rumor is last thing Alabama needs SATURDAY SHRINES: SEC college football stadiums rankings This was never going to be easy for DeBoer, or anyone who decided to jump into the meatgrinder that is Alabama football and replacing Saban. There's a always transition, a buy-in from players recruited by one staff and playing for another. But not like this. Not losing to Vanderbilt, the SEC's annual tomato can. Not losing by 21 to the worst Oklahoma team in nearly four decades — with a spot in the CFP on the line. Not falling to five-loss, one-dimensional Michigan in a bowl game that could've salvaged the season. Ten wins would've looked a whole lot better than nine. Then came the final, inglorious kick to the groin: Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt's dynamic quarterback, went on a national podcast last month and called out Alabama. 'I have no doubt we have the guys to do it,' Pavia said of beating Alabama again. To be fair, Pavia was responding to Tide star receiver Ryan Williams, who told Jon Gruden, 'We don't call them revenge games. We're going to kill an ant with a sledgehammer.' I ask you, who exactly is whistling through the graveyard here? EARLY FOCUS: LSU will have no excuses in opener at Clemson Pavia and his group of overlooked overachievers, or Williams and an Alabama team that had the talent to win it all last year and didn't? An Alabama team that maybe, just maybe, took its foot off the pedal when Saban finally retired. When the coach who demanded perfection and abhorred mediocrity – the foundation of The Standard, the secret sauce of Alabama's mojo – decided he'd had enough and strolled to a comfortable seat in, of all places, the media. Saban talked endlessly about the human condition, and how many opted for doing the easy thing instead of the hard thing. The commitment it took to not only win a national title, but do it again. And again. When the guy pushing and prodding and emotionally and mentally motivating finally walked away, it's only natural to think there would be a letdown. Like a Saban team losing by three touchdowns with the CFP on the line. Like a Saban team getting physically dominated by a five-loss Michigan team with the salve of a 10th win there for the taking. The Alabama season last year, as much as anything, revolves around a 30-minute joy ride against Georgia last September, and 30 more white-knuckle minutes of holding on to beat the Bulldogs in a game that showed what could be. The good, and the bad. What Alabama can be under DeBoer when everything is clicking, and what the Tide will be when the taskmaster is away — and The Standard isn't met. 'The first year is kind of frantic with a new coach, and everybody's unsure,' said Alabama tackle Kayden Proctor. 'I would say (DeBoer) is more comfortable.' How could he not be? He has the most talented team in the SEC, and has his right hand man (offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb) back in the fold to settle an inexperienced and uneasy quarterback room. He has huge contract with a $60 million buyout, and more important, he has a track record of winning big. Why wouldn't it happen at Alabama, even with the shadow of Saban hanging over his every move? 'All disrespect will be addressed,' Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson said. That's not a DeBoer thing. That's a mojo thing. Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.
NBC Sports
7 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
QB Diego Pavia back for Vanderbilt amid battle with NCAA that could reshape eligibility rules
ATLANTA — One way or another, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia might have changed college sports forever last fall. Pavia led Vanderbilt to a 7-6 season on the field highlighted by an upset victory over No. 1 Alabama, but his lasting contribution came in court. The New Mexico State transfer started his career with two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute, a junior college. Under normal circumstances, his collegiate eligibility would have expired after last year. The 2020 season — his first — did not count against eligibility for any athletes due to COVID-19, giving him the four years he ended up playing between one more at the institute, two at New Mexico State and one at Vanderbilt. Last November, Pavia filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, arguing that his JUCO years should not count against his NCAA eligibility, citing the potential losses in earnings from name, image and likeness deals. U.S. District Judge William Campbell Jr. in Tennessee granted a preliminary injunction, ordering the NCAA to allow Pavia to play. The NCAA is appealing Campbell's decision but granted a blanket waiver that will allow Pavia and other athletes who played at non-NCAA Division I schools prior to enrollment an extra year of eligibility if they were going to exhaust their eligibility this year. Pavia is back and ready to lead the Commodores again in 2025. 'I'm just grateful to have him for another year and spend more time with him,' Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said at SEC Media Days. College football eligibility could be completely different moving forward in light of Pavia's lawsuit. Others have followed with lawsuits of their own, and alterations to NCAA eligibility remain one of many issues still evolving in college sports. Pavia is well aware his impact went far beyond just winning games, though. 'I have a lot of teammates, ex-teammates from New Mexico Military Institute who I played with who text me and say, 'Hey, thank you.' A lot of people reach out,' he said. 'It wasn't really me, it was my lawyer who did it.' Pavia said he supports 'a five-for-five kind of deal,' where college athletes would start with five years of eligibility to be completed in a five-year time period, eliminating the use of redshirts or medical waivers to extend a traditional four-year eligibility clock. Whether he gets his wish remains to be seen, but he already won one battle by earning the right to play in 2025. Vanderbilt ended last season with a win over Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl, its first bowl victory since 2013 and the exclamation point on improvement from a 2-10 season in 2023. Pavia gives Vanderbilt an opportunity to sustain momentum from last year's breakthrough campaign. 'I'm in a super blessed position,' Pavia said. 'Because I get to finish something I started.'
San Francisco Chronicle
14-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
QB Diego Pavia back for Vanderbilt amid battle with NCAA that could reshape eligibility rules
ATLANTA (AP) — One way or another, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia might have changed college sports forever last fall. Pavia led Vanderbilt to a 7-6 season on the field highlighted by an upset victory over No. 1 Alabama, but his lasting contribution came in court. The New Mexico State transfer started his career with two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute, a junior college. Under normal circumstances, his collegiate eligibility would have expired after last year. The 2020 season — his first — did not count against eligibility for any athletes due to COVID-19, giving him the four years he ended up playing between one more at the institute, two at New Mexico State and one at Vanderbilt. Last November, Pavia filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, arguing that his JUCO years should not count against his NCAA eligibility, citing the potential losses in earnings from name, image and likeness deals. U.S. District Judge William Campbell Jr. in Tennessee granted a preliminary injunction, ordering the NCAA to allow Pavia to play. The NCAA is appealing Campbell's decision but granted a blanket waiver that will allow Pavia and other athletes who played at non-NCAA Division I schools prior to enrollment an extra year of eligibility if they were going to exhaust their eligibility this year. Pavia is back and ready to lead the Commodores again in 2025. 'I'm just grateful to have him for another year and spend more time with him,' Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said at SEC Media Days on Monday. College football eligibility could be completely different moving forward in light of Pavia's lawsuit. Others have followed with lawsuits of their own, and alterations to NCAA eligibility remain one of many issues still evolving in college sports. Pavia is well aware his impact went far beyond just winning games, though. 'I have a lot of teammates, ex-teammates from New Mexico Military Institute who I played with who text me and say, 'Hey, thank you.' A lot of people reach out,' he said. 'It wasn't really me, it was my lawyer who did it.' Pavia said he supports "a five-for-five kind of deal,' where college athletes would start with five years of eligibility to be completed in a five-year time period, eliminating the use of redshirts or medical waivers to extend a traditional four-year eligibility clock. Whether he gets his wish remains to be seen, but he already won one battle by earning the right to play in 2025. Vanderbilt ended last season with a win over Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl, its first bowl victory since 2013 and the exclamation point on improvement from a 2-10 season in 2023. 'I'm in a super blessed position,' Pavia said. 'Because I get to finish something I started.' ___
Fox Sports
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
QB Diego Pavia back for Vanderbilt amid battle with NCAA that could reshape eligibility rules
Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — One way or another, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia might have changed college sports forever last fall. Pavia led Vanderbilt to a 7-6 season on the field highlighted by an upset victory over No. 1 Alabama, but his lasting contribution came in court. The New Mexico State transfer started his career with two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute, a junior college. Under normal circumstances, his collegiate eligibility would have expired after last year. The 2020 season — his first — did not count against eligibility for any athletes due to COVID-19, giving him the four years he ended up playing between one more at the institute, two at New Mexico State and one at Vanderbilt. Last November, Pavia filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, arguing that his JUCO years should not count against his NCAA eligibility, citing the potential losses in earnings from name, image and likeness deals. U.S. District Judge William Campbell Jr. in Tennessee granted a preliminary injunction, ordering the NCAA to allow Pavia to play. The NCAA is appealing Campbell's decision but granted a blanket waiver that will allow Pavia and other athletes who played at non-NCAA Division I schools prior to enrollment an extra year of eligibility if they were going to exhaust their eligibility this year. Pavia is back and ready to lead the Commodores again in 2025. 'I'm just grateful to have him for another year and spend more time with him,' Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said at SEC Media Days on Monday. College football eligibility could be completely different moving forward in light of Pavia's lawsuit. Others have followed with lawsuits of their own, and alterations to NCAA eligibility remain one of many issues still evolving in college sports. Pavia is well aware his impact went far beyond just winning games, though. 'I have a lot of teammates, ex-teammates from New Mexico Military Institute who I played with who text me and say, 'Hey, thank you.' A lot of people reach out,' he said. 'It wasn't really me, it was my lawyer who did it.' Pavia said he supports "a five-for-five kind of deal,' where college athletes would start with five years of eligibility to be completed in a five-year time period, eliminating the use of redshirts or medical waivers to extend a traditional four-year eligibility clock. Whether he gets his wish remains to be seen, but he already won one battle by earning the right to play in 2025. Vanderbilt ended last season with a win over Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl, its first bowl victory since 2013 and the exclamation point on improvement from a 2-10 season in 2023. Pavia gives Vanderbilt an opportunity to sustain momentum from last year's breakthrough campaign. 'I'm in a super blessed position,' Pavia said. 'Because I get to finish something I started.' ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and recommended Item 1 of 3 in this topic
Winnipeg Free Press
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
QB Diego Pavia back for Vanderbilt amid battle with NCAA that could reshape eligibility rules
ATLANTA (AP) — One way or another, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia might have changed college sports forever last fall. Pavia led Vanderbilt to a 7-6 season on the field highlighted by an upset victory over No. 1 Alabama, but his lasting contribution came in court. The New Mexico State transfer started his career with two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute, a junior college. Under normal circumstances, his collegiate eligibility would have expired after last year. The 2020 season — his first — did not count against eligibility for any athletes due to COVID-19, giving him the four years he ended up playing between one more at the institute, two at New Mexico State and one at Vanderbilt. Last November, Pavia filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, arguing that his JUCO years should not count against his NCAA eligibility, citing the potential losses in earnings from name, image and likeness deals. U.S. District Judge William Campbell Jr. in Tennessee granted a preliminary injunction, ordering the NCAA to allow Pavia to play. The NCAA is appealing Campbell's decision but granted a blanket waiver that will allow Pavia and other athletes who played at non-NCAA Division I schools prior to enrollment an extra year of eligibility if they were going to exhaust their eligibility this year. Pavia is back and ready to lead the Commodores again in 2025. 'I'm just grateful to have him for another year and spend more time with him,' Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said at SEC Media Days on Monday. College football eligibility could be completely different moving forward in light of Pavia's lawsuit. Others have followed with lawsuits of their own, and alterations to NCAA eligibility remain one of many issues still evolving in college sports. Pavia is well aware his impact went far beyond just winning games, though. 'I have a lot of teammates, ex-teammates from New Mexico Military Institute who I played with who text me and say, 'Hey, thank you.' A lot of people reach out,' he said. 'It wasn't really me, it was my lawyer who did it.' Pavia said he supports 'a five-for-five kind of deal,' where college athletes would start with five years of eligibility to be completed in a five-year time period, eliminating the use of redshirts or medical waivers to extend a traditional four-year eligibility clock. Whether he gets his wish remains to be seen, but he already won one battle by earning the right to play in 2025. Vanderbilt ended last season with a win over Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl, its first bowl victory since 2013 and the exclamation point on improvement from a 2-10 season in 2023. Pavia gives Vanderbilt an opportunity to sustain momentum from last year's breakthrough campaign. 'I'm in a super blessed position,' Pavia said. 'Because I get to finish something I started.' ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and
