Over the weekend, an arrest at Neyland Stadium added a familial twist to the heated Vanderbilt-Tennessee football rivalry. Javier Pavia, the brother of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, was taken into custody during the game. According to WVLT News, the argument escalated after event staff at the stadium requested that Pavia stop obstructing the crowd's view with a flag he was holding up.
During the dispute, it's claimed by a trooper that Pavia "appeared to be extremely intoxicated as he slurred his speech and was unsteady on his feet," in a statement obtained by WVLT News. Arrest records describe Pavia as "extremely verbally combative" engaging in a confrontation during the fourth quarter of play, incidentally when Vanderbilt secured its first win over Tennessee since 2018.
Shortly after 4 a.m. on Sunday, Pavia was released from custody, with his arraignment scheduled for December 9. As reported by WATE, this incident isn't isolated; earlier this season, during a game against Charleston Southern, Javier had a similar run-in with the law, and his brother, Roel, was arrested for assaulting an officer.
While the Pavia family drama unfolded, Vanderbilt triumphed over Tennessee 45-24. On the heels of the victory, the team, and particularly quarterback Diego Pavia, may have to navigate familial distractions alongside the on-field challenges. Having his release set on a recognizance bond, Javier Pavia is spared the bail payment, provided he attends all court dates, said to be "extremely intoxicated" during his encounter with the event staff and the trooper, according to the same arrest records, as per WATE.
