Diego Pavia isn’t the first Vanderbilt player to call out Alabama ahead of a game with the Crimson Tide.
Back in 2017, Vanderbilt was 3-0 heading into a home game against Alabama and coming off the school’s first win over a ranked non-SEC opponent since 1946.
Vanderbilt defensive lineman Nifae Lealao, after Vanderbilt’s 14-7 home win over then-No. 18 Kansas State, went viral for this little gem.
“We expected to get this,” he said. “When you come to our house, we show you how to play some SEC ball. It don’t matter where you from. You’re going to know what ball we play. We’re going into next week ranked. That’s fine. Alabama, you’re next.”
Final: Alabama 59, Vanderbilt 0.
Nick Saban, who coached the Tide to that win, said Friday Lealao did him a favor that week.
“I was happy for him at the time because I was losing sleep on how I was going to motivate our team to play Vandy,” Saban said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“And he did it for me. So, that was a good thing. If I was him, I’d be proud of the fact that the Vanderbilt program has elevated itself to 5-0, ranked and has a chance to do something spectacular again.”
McAfee asked if he should make another statement this year.
“I wish he would,” Saban quipped.
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