Hugh Freeze on Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia: ‘I’m Sick of Seeing That Quarterback’
Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze is all too familiar with Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, and not in a good way. Over the past few seasons, Pavia has been a recurring nightmare for Freeze, dating back to their matchups when Freeze coached at Liberty.
Three seasons ago, while leading Liberty, Freeze faced Pavia, who was then at New Mexico State. Pavia defied expectations, leading the Aggies to a shocking 49-14 win with 214 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 125 rushing yards with three more scores. The performance left a lasting impression on Freeze.
In 2023, Pavia delivered another blow, leading New Mexico State to a 31-10 victory over Auburn, passing for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Now, Pavia has transferred to Vanderbilt and faces Freeze once again as the Commodores prepare for a showdown with Auburn. Clearly exasperated, Freeze joked during a press conference, “I’m sick of seeing that quarterback.”
Despite Pavia being banged up in a recent loss, Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea is optimistic about his return, leaving Freeze and Auburn aware of the challenge ahead.
