Diego Pavia Opens Up About His Brothers Getting Arrested

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Dec 2, 2025 12:09 PM ET

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia had a curious spin on his brothers' unruly behavior this year.

Javier Pavia was arrested for public intoxication during Saturday's game at Neyland Stadium. Police claimed he was "extremely verbally combative" with a trooper and stadium staffer who asked him to stop holding up a flag obstructing the view of other attendees.

It wasn't his first legal run-in at a Vanderbilt game. Javier was also arrested for public intoxication and resisting arrest when throwing food and fans and refusing to leave a season-opening home game at Charleston Southern.

Roel Pavia was also arrested at the Aug. 30 game and charged with assaulting a police officer.

As he closes a Heisman-caliber season, Diego Pavia discussed those family incidents on Bussin' With the Boys. He responded by likening his hometown to the Grand Theft Auto video games.

"The thing is, Albuquerque is like a real-life GTA, so it’s always been kind of like normal to us, you know," Pavia said. "And these have been the first two years where it’s been like, alright, we have to chill out."

'They were running wild'

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 5: Diego Pavia #2 of the Vanderbilt Commodores speaks to the SEC Network after the win against the Alabama Crimson Tide at FirstBank Stadium on October 5, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)Carly Mackler/Getty Images

Pavia didn't stand by that decree for long, suggesting their belligerent behavior was a good-luck charm for Vanderbilt.

The quarterback claimed his brothers were drinking heavily during last year's 5-2 start, which included a massive upset over top-ranked Alabama. However, they began to slow down while the Commodores dropped four of their next five games.

As a result, Pavia didn't encourage his siblings to act like respectable members of society this season. The senior insisted that one of his brothers only refrained from drinking during Vanderbilt's two losses, which obviously had more to do with playing difficult SEC opponents on the road.

"They were running wild too, and then it was like, 'Hey, we need to calm down. Everything is getting out of control. Ever since that day, (before) we were 5-2, we only won one other game against Auburn, and we barely slipped by," Pavia said. "And they weren't drinking, nothing. I was like, 'You know what, f*** it. Next year, get hammered as much as you want. That's the only time we win.' And my brother only stayed sober for the Alabama game and the Texas game."

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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