Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia has publicly apologised for a series of expletive-laden social media posts made in the immediate aftermath of his Heisman Trophy disappointment on Saturday night.
Heisman Heartbreak Leads to Social Media Fury
The coveted college football award was won by Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who made history as the first player from his university to claim the Heisman after an undefeated regular season. Mendoza secured a decisive 2,362 points, including 643 first-place votes. Pavia, the Vanderbilt signal-caller, was the runner-up with 1,435 points, ahead of Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love (719) and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (432).
Stung by the narrow defeat, Pavia took to Instagram shortly after the ceremony, reposting a picture with his offensive line captioned, 'F-ALL THE VOTERS, BUT.....FAMILY FOR LIFE.' He also shared comments from pundit Skip Bayless that argued he deserved the award, in a move perceived as a slight against Mendoza. The controversy escalated when Pavia was later photographed in a club section featuring a sign that read 'F— Indiana.'
A Public Apology and Praise for the Winner
The Heisman runner-up has now issued a full mea culpa on social media. "Being a part of the Heisman ceremony last night as a finalist was such an honour," Pavia wrote. "As a competitor, just like in everything I do, I wanted to win. To be so close to my dream and come up short was painful. I didn't handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to."
He explicitly apologised to the voters, stating, "I have much love and respect for the Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake, and I am sorry." In a show of sportsmanship, Pavia went on to label Mendoza an "elite competitor" and a "deserving winner," applauding his achievements while also shouting out fellow finalists Sayin and Love.
Looking Ahead to the Final College Game
Pavia reflected on his hard-fought journey in football, writing, "I've been doubted my whole life. Every step of my journey I've had to break down doors and fight for myself." He expressed gratitude for his family, teammates, and coaches. The statement concluded with his focus turning to his final collegiate appearance: Vanderbilt will face Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl on December 31.
Meanwhile, winner Fernando Mendoza's victory was notably comprehensive. He became the first player since Caleb Williams in 2022 to finish first in all six Heisman voting regions, appearing on 95.16% of ballots and earning 84.6% of total possible points—the seventh-highest percentage in the award's long history.
