Saban Reacts Strongly to Pavia’s Warmup Routine Ahead of Alabama Game

Tuscaloosa, Alabama – Alabama coach Nick Saban expressed his frustration with Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia during a segment on The Pat McAfee Show. Saban was upset over Pavia practicing a kneel-down play in warmups before their game on October 14.

“I love Diego, but that would have been a catastrophic player-coach relationship moment before the game,” Saban said, referencing the potential impact on player motivation. He emphasized the importance of not giving the opposing team any additional motivation to win.

Saban’s approach is rooted in his philosophy of keeping players focused. “I never wanted our players to ever do anything,” he stated. “I didn’t even let them talk to the other team. Don’t ever say anything. They have enough reason to beat us without giving them more.”

In the game that followed, Alabama defeated Vanderbilt 30-14. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson had a standout performance, throwing for 340 yards and two touchdowns, leading the team to victory.

Pavia completed 21 of 35 passes for 198 yards in the loss and mentioned the challenges of facing Alabama’s defense. Despite the defeat, he demonstrated resilience on the field, throwing for 183 yards and rushing for 58 yards earlier in the season.

Alabama improved to 4-1 on the season, while Vanderbilt fell to 5-1. The game highlighted the intense rivalry and competitive spirit between both teams.