Commodores HC Clark Lea reveals main reason behind Diego Pavia’s absence from Spring Game

Diego Pavia is expected to be the unquestioned leader of the Vanderbilt Commodores heading into the upcoming NCAAF season. However, his unexpected absence from the Spring Game raised some eyebrows. While head coach Clark Lea addressed the situation publicly, the question remains — what was the real reason the quarterback didn’t take the field?

While there was speculation that Pavia may have sat out due to a potential injury, head coach Lea clarified that the decision was purely strategic. He explained that the goal was to give more reps to some of the other quarterbacks on the roster, opting to rest Pavia during this type of event.

“There were a few players that we wanted to at least give the option, and really on our end, there’s more to lose than to gain,” Lea said. “Diego’s had a good spring. We’ve limited him a bunch in scrimmage opportunities. I think getting through the bulk of the work was important, but there was nothing he was going to do today that was going to help us win in the fall. That was the reason.

“There were other guys that, if I had it my way, we wouldn’t have played either, but some of the guys just wanted to be out here and play. So we honored that. I’m happy that we were able to stay relatively healthy today.”

Head coach Clark Lea of the Vanderbilt Commodores looks on in the second quarter of a game against the UNLV Rebels at Allegiant Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Rebels defeated the Commodores 40-37.

Since transferring from New Mexico State, Pavia has made a strong impact — passing for 2,293 yards with 20 touchdowns and only four interceptions. On the ground, he added another 800 yards and eight scores, showcasing his dual-threat ability. Without a doubt, keeping the quarterback healthy and in top form will be one of the program’s biggest priorities moving forward.

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Pavia’s role from the sideline

Although Diego Pavia was held out of the Spring Game by the coaching staff, the talented quarterback still made his impact felt in a different way. Head coach Clark Lea praised Pavia for stepping into a leadership role on the sidelines — helping his teammates fine-tune their mechanics and offering valuable guidance throughout the game.

“Those guys that aren’t participating—we want them to be engaged,” Lea continued. “I saw a number of guys doing this. Diego wasn’t dressed today, so for him to take a role where he’s putting his energy toward the field, that matters. He’s a leadership presence for us. We wanted him paying attention, helping the quarterbacks, and just being engaged in the day. I appreciate him for doing that.”

The Commodores are going all-in for the upcoming College Football season, and that means they’ll need their full roster at peak physical condition. Diego Pavia is aiming to improve on last year’s performance, fully aware that he has a head coach in Clark Lea who can help elevate his game to its highest level.