2025 Vanderbilt Football Mailbag #12: Answers to Your Questions – Anchor Of Gold

Letters… we get letters… we get stacks and stacks of letters…
A friend of mine told me a story about him going on a dream vacation, one he’d saved up for and anticipated for a long time. He got there, and while leaning on the balcony rail, looking at the beautiful view, said to his wife, “This is great, I can’t wait to come back next year.”
That story, to me, illustrates 1) a fundamental part of the human experience, and 2) how I’ve felt all season – “This is great, I hope we can do this again next year without Pavia, etc.”
Is this just a fundamental part of sports fandom, or is it us hedging our hopes as Vandy fans? Are we doing this right by constantly looking ahead to CFP, next season, and beyond, or should we just be enjoying how awesome the moment is?
PatrickSawyer: I think there is certainly a concern about “Is this the peak?” along with repeatability. Missing the CFP would be a minor disappointment, especially with a loss to THEM. Losing a rivalry game to end the regular season will always sour things a bit. Still, this is the best season of Vanderbilt football since World War I.
Enjoy the hell out of it though. We have not had a game this year that wasn’t fun for some significant portion. They were in the Alabama game until the end. The Texas game got fun at the end then hurt. Never get to a point in life that you cannot enjoy the wins. Even in bad seasons, enjoy the wins. In the good seasons, be extra excited about what those wins piling up can mean. Just don’t let the big picture crowd out the moments.
Cole Sullivan: First off just let me say thank YOU for caring about Vanderbilt sports enough to read this and comment and have a good time with all of us.
Second, I try really hard to stay in the present with sports, at least when my team is doing well. We are promised nothing from the future, but everything we see in front of us today is already reality. I spend a lot of time outside of sports worrying about every little thing, so when it comes Saturday, I push all of that away and just enjoy the ride with friends. And beer. But mostly friends.
I’m so thankful for this year, and maybe we’ll get more like it sooner rather than later. If not, oh well. We’ve sucked before. It won’t be the end of the world.
Andrew VU ‘04: A-freaking-men. Enjoy the ever-loving hell out of this. We’ve earned it.
In fact, my department just did a pre-Thanksgiving lunch where we all went around saying what we’re thankful for. Aside from the obvious (Pinman, Jobu’s rum, family, Ted Skuchas…), I honestly said, “The 2025 Vanderbilt football team.” I then forced them to listen to what amounted to a far too long history lesson on the pain of Vanderbilt football fandom and that this season has served as an unexpected joy in my life.
Their fault for asking, honestly.
Shall we end the season the way we started, by emptying another stadium on the road? Because Diego Pavia has no intention of leaving Vanderbilt without having beaten Tennessee?
How about this scenario? Pavia goes undrafted, signs with a CFL team (as did Warren Moon), dominates the CFL for a few years, then signs with an NFL team (as did Moon), reaches the playoffs, retires to become head coach at New Mexico State, beats Tennessee AGAIN in Knoxville.
PatrickSawyer: Technically, we started the season by packing out FirstBank Stadium to wallop Charleston Southern. Yes, I would like to repeat the whippings we gave Virginia Tech and South Carolina.
I would not be surprised to see Pavia back on the staff sooner rather than later if he cannot stick on an NFL roster. It would likely be some sort of recruiting or “player development” role where it is more about his energy and personality than actually football coaching. Going to the CFL is an interesting option, too.
Cole Sullivan: You forgot the part where Diego Pavia leads an otherwise middling Argonauts team over a Hugh Freeze-coached Alouettes in the Grey Cup, because the two are destined to collide again. Pavia must fight this battle into eternity. It is Hugh Freeze’s punishment on this earth for…. something. And then he will become an NFL Hall of Famer along the way.
Andrew VU ‘04: (Throws Pavia into the Cumberland)
Q1: What concerns you most about the Tennessee game?
Q2: Favorite moment of the season so far?
Q3: After very fair criticism of the defense the past few weeks, they stepped up and had one of their best games of the season. Which defensive player stands out to you the most and why?
PatrickSawyer: Their offense versus our defense. And maybe a bit of concern for the emotions. The emotions got to them some against Kentucky. Oh, and me getting into a fight with their fans. Probably a brawl involving one of those losers spouting off to Pavia’s mother.
The second half against South Carolina. At that point, it felt like this season would go about like it did. Winning in that stadium to end the 16-game losing streak was magical.
Bryan Longwell. His instincts and athleticism can absolutely ruin other team’s plays before they get going. He is also a very good tackler, so he makes the play when he gets there.
Cole Sullivan: What concerns me is avoiding an epileptic fit from all that orange flashing on and off my screen as the cameras cut around. The worst! How do people live like this?
Andrew VU ‘04: I’ll try to answer these one by one:
A1) The fact that there will be a sea of Buttchugger Orange in the stands, and, presumably, wine stains in their boxers.
A2) Honestly, all of them (except for the first half against Tejas). Other than that, when we came back in the 2nd half and absolutely demolished Virginny Tech, it set the tone for the entire season. That, or Tre Richardson just time and again roasting the Jamal Mashburn Wedding Jersey secondary.
A3) Kolbey Taylor, as he’s started to bait QBs into picks.
How much of our recent success can be attributed directly to the new logo?
Also, is Diego’s Heisman campaign in some stupid way tied to Vandy making the CFP? i.e. are his Heisman odds worse if the Committee looks like leaving Vandy out of the playoffs due to back-room cigar-smoke-clouded wheelings and dealings?
PatrickSawyer: If you ever say a good thing about the logo again, I will start a campaign to get you banned.
They probably are connected in that Pavia having a big game to increase his Heisman hype/odds will likely coincide with the type of result that improves Vanderbilt’s CFP odds. The “story” of Pavia’s Heisman campaign may be a slight boost as the CFP committee is obviously a big fan of brands and storylines.
Cole Sullivan: Maybe we succeeded in spite of the new logo? Imagine all the winning we could do if we just changed it back?
As for Diego, it seems like the other Latino QB transferred over from the West has it wrapped up. I think Diego probably is the single best player in football this year, and if he doesn’t turn the ball over twice against Alabama, is neck-and-neck with Mendoza right now. He’ll be in the room where it happens, and I still would be fine building a statue of him (hopefully starting a tradition of a Heisman finalist receiving a statue every few years), but I’m afraid there’s not really a chance he brings home that specific piece of hardware regardless of our result against The Worst Bunch of Idiots in the World.
Andrew VU ‘04: None, but so much of it can be attributed to those who decided to spend gobs of money on a logo shift. Chancellor Werner Herzog and ADCSL (aka The GoldMother) have fully bought into Vanderbilt athletics. That is not a sentence undergrad me thought would ever be uttered, and not just because he wouldn’t know the references.
As for the CFP Stonecutters, I have no earthly idea, but they did make Steve Gutenberg a star.
The college football playoff era is here to stay but is far from perfect. How would you structure your ideal playoffs? (Games on campus vs pro stadiums, auto bids, etc)
PatrickSawyer: I think the current format is fine. I would add the requirement that the conference champion auto-bids must be ranked in the Top 25, but that is a very minor gripe that I doubt ever becomes an issue. The only major revamp should be the Committee. I would rather have figures from the sport who are not currently employed at universities. ADs should not be on the Committee even with the recusal rules. It is impossible that they do not sway the other members in some way.
Cole Sullivan: Honestly? I don’t care about college football (or any college sports) outside of Vanderbilt, so I don’t care all that much unless we’re in the field. Every year the tournament should be as big as it takes for us to get in, maybe with a few teams below us. Our first round game should be played in a camps site or an NFL stadium within a drivable distance of wherever I am living or, since I travel for work a lot, somewhere I can finagle my travel to get me cheaply and easily. And we should win. And the stadium should supply me with free beer. And Mr. Commodore should always cone take a photo with me in my box supplied to me by the school for some reason. And did I mention free beer?
Andrew VU ‘04: All Magnolia League teams, free booze and pie, and we all get to make Butch Jones the Vol Coach for Life. VandyImport and I get free tickets, travel, accommodations, and, again, booze and pie. Both dressed as The Vandy Pimp.
*Note: I will settle for Derek Dooley.
It’s been just a great year. But Pavia and Stowers will leave – what does that mean for Kill (retirement?) and Beck (head coach somewhere?)? And would the recruitment of Jared Curtis help persuade these two to stay?
PatrickSawyer: I think Kill loves his job as basically a football coach with none of the responsibility or pressure. As for Beck, I do not think he is going to get HC looks at his age. Worry about it after the season is over, but I don’t think it is something we will have to worry about at all.
Cole Sullivan: Cared Jurtis
Andrew VU ‘04: We’ll deal with all that if/when we have to. Enjoy life!
What is the most likely path that we have to make the playoffs?
PatrickSawyer: 1) Destroy THEM by a lot. 2) Root for Auburn, Mississippi State, Ohio State (yes, the committee WILL try to jump Michigan over us), West Virginia, Pitt, UCF, LSU, and Stanford. Most of those are highly unlikely, but we will need help to get to #10 (or #11 if the ACC champion gets into the the Top 10). But, seriously, just enjoy Saturday then let the cards fall where they may. Tailgate whever you are. Have fun. Expect to win.
Cole Sullivan: Step 1) Win. Step 2) Hope.
Andrew VU ‘04: 1) Beat The Chuggers. Badly. Cause them to rethink their life decisions. 2) Umm, see 1.
What real chance do we have to score enough points to beat THEM ? I know our D played an excellent game yesterday, but UT’s offense is hard to stop, with their fast pace and passing game. I’m really worried how we will fare against them.
PatrickSawyer: A good one. Tennessee’s defense is 85th in points allowed. Vanderbilt is 43rd. This could be a game where the offense, at times, slows it down a bit to keep the defense fresh, too.
Cole Sullivan: What real chance do THEM have to score enough points to beat us? I know their D played an excellent game against New Mexico Stare a few weeks ago, but Vandy’s offense is hard to stop, with their (as of this month) fast pace and passing game. I’m really worried how THEM will fare against us.
It goes both ways.
Andrew VU ‘04: You saw us absolutely light up Kentucky, right? Just do that again.
Considering these last 3 games. Has Pavia played his way into an NFL position?
PatrickSawyer: Draft? I doubt it. The measurables are still a massive problem. He will get a camp invite.
Cole Sullivan: It’s crazy to me (admittedly I know nothing) that he is not projected in the draft. Certainly he has to have SOME value to SOME team or another. It’s crazy that he wouldn’t at all.
Andrew VU ‘04: No idea. I mean, I’d say he’s better than Dylan Gabriel, and that guy went in the 4th round. They’re similar in measurables, no? In short, I do expect an NFL team to see that Baker Mayfield craziness/competitiveness in Diego, so someone should take him in the Draft. It’s been a long time since you’ve had to be 6’2” and up to get drafted at QB in the league.
What will it take for the national media to take Pavia and Vanderbilt serious.
It seems Vanderbilt AD has failed to appropriately establish an actual marketing campaign (public or behind the scenes) to advance Vanderbilt’s interest.
Podcasts and and TV folks are not talking about or considering Vandy. Even if people bring up Pavia, they’re letting folks pivot and change subject. ESPN power index still has Vandy low because they’re still predicting Vandy to not reach 10 wins.
Pavia is not a cute story about a cocky personality at lil Ole Vanderbilt. Pavia is hands down the most valuable player in the country. He has made the biggest impact on any team or program in the country. He is the most dynamic and entertaining player in the country. And, he is among the best QBs in the country and while the O-line has worked hard, he has the weakest O-line of all the top QBs while having played some of the top defenses in the country: Mizzou, Bama, LSU, and Auburn are very good defenses. Throw in Dylan Stewart at SC and the narrative around Pavia needs to change.
Among the nation’s top FBS QBs:
Pavia is #7 in completions (Sayin #1, Mendoza #3, Moore #4,) Consider WR weapons and pressure rates for each school. All are over 70%. [Simpson is #32]
Pavia is #14 is passing yards (Simpson #13, Sayin #16, Mendoza is #31, Moore is #47)
Pavia is #7 in average yards per completion (Mendoza is #3, Sayin is #5)
Pavia is #5 in Passing TDs (Mendoza #1, Sayin #4, Moore #17)
Pavia is #3 is QBR (Sayin #1, Mendoza #2, Moore #5)
Sayin has 4 interceptions in the year, Mendoza 5, and Pavia and Moore have 6.
Pavia has more rushing yards and TDs than Mendoza, Moore, and Saying combined. Pavia has 661 yards rushing and 8 rushing TDs.
Sayin has 44 total rushing yards and no rushing TDs.
Mendoza has 216 total rushing yards and 5 rushing TDs.
Moore has 180 total rushing yards and 0 rushing TDs.
Forget swag and personality, Pavia, by the numbers, is one of the best 4 QBs in the country. Consider context and circumstances and he should be the Heisman favorite alongside Jeremiah Love.
PatrickSawyer: The stats say he should be right in there with Mendoza and Sayin. I am not sure where Love fits as a non-QB. It can be hard to assess that. He is behind Sayin in all of them, but there is a clear gap between supporting casts at Ohio State and Vanderbilt. I think Mendoza probably has a similar cast. I am all for the campaign though. #2Turnt
Cole Sullivan: “His numbers are great, but he plays at Vanderbilt.” -some voter who, I can only assume, is a moron
Really though, I completely agree. He is arguably the best quarterback in the country even before you adjust for the team and program around him. To do what he’s done, here, with, no offense, not exactly a death lineup of talent around him, makes him the best college football player in the country.
Andrew VU ‘04: He’s got my vote. Also, it appears to me that he is getting serious consideration now. If he’s not invited to the Heisman Ceremony, I’ll eat my words, but he’s getting talked about by all the various talking heads, save for the band, The Talking Heads. Actually, I shouldn’t assume. Go ask David Byrne what he thinks. While we wait for a reply, let’s all get in absurdly large suits and dance.
*Note that none of us actually gets a vote.
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