Paul Finebaum rips Diego Pavia for trash-talking Alabama before Saturday’s loss
By David Wasson
Published:
Diego Pavia and the Vanderbilt Commodores made headlines last season for upsetting the then-No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide in 2024 and were riding high at 5-0 entering Saturday’s rematch with the Crimson Tide.
Pavia became a media darling in the process, and even drew a bit of attention before Saturday’s 30-14 Commodores loss by practicing kneel-down victory formations at Bryant-Denny Stadium. But Pavia underperformed against the Tide, completing 21-of-35 pass attempts for 198 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 red-zone turnovers.
That drew the ire Sunday of ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum, who criticized Pavia for talking the talk before facing Alabama without walking the walk against the Crimson Tide.
“Everyone wants to tell you their favorite Diego Pavia story, and maybe I am too old school – because I really like him – but I think he talked way too much,” Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show. “He likes to play with a chip on his shoulder, but he set himself up for failure in this game by running his mouth.
“It is one thing to talk trash, another thing to be confident or cocky or even downright arrogant. But he was just downright disrespectful, and he paid for it (Saturday).”
Barrie also asked Finebaum about Pavia’s relationship with former Texas A&M quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel – who led the Aggies to a 29-24 upset over No. 1 Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2012.
“It is a good connection, but the only difference is that in 2012, in that very same stadium Manziel was hanging out in on Saturday, that Johnny Manziel delivered,” Finebaum said. “Diego Pavia did not.”
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
