Just recently, Diego Pavia’s mother, Antoinette Padilla, was right at the center of a brewing romantic speculation with Theo Von. The bizarre speculation between the stand-up comedian and Padilla originated from a bet. The story started when Pavia promised Theo Von a date with his mom if Vanderbilt beat South Carolina, which they did.

Even though the date didn’t happen, Theo’s appearance with Antoinette during a Vanderbilt senior night event against Kentucky fuelled the chatter. But guess what the 45-year-old had to say to that? “Never got the date, but did develop a friendship with the greatest family in college sports! God Bless the Pavias!” Theo wrote on X. It’s one of those bizarre, heartfelt moments in college sports that instantly diverts your attention from the competition.

Antoinette Padilla is a nurse and a single mom who held down a big household with a ton of sacrifice. Because of all that she’s been through, people were rooting for her way before anything went viral. And honestly, it doesn’t hurt that she’s absolutely stunning. How? Padilla definitely made her mark during the Commodores’ senior day game. She turned quite a few heads in her signature cowboy boots and a Vanderbilt jersey. Strutting confidently down the field alongside Theo Von, she was a standout figure rocking the atmosphere before the game.

The 23-year-old also played his part, sincerely trying to compete for the spotlight with his mom. Diego Pavia made history, shattering Vanderbilt’s single-game passing record with 484 yards and six touchdowns. It’s a mark set way back in 1981. The Commodores rolled to a dominant 45-17 win, keeping their playoff hopes alive with a strong 9-2 record. With all this success, Pavia never fails to give credit to his mother. “I didn’t grow up with a whole lot,” Pavia admitted before Vanderbilt’s showdown against Alabama. “My mom’s a single mom, and she’s the backbone of our family. When I didn’t have a whole lot, it was like, ‘What’s my way out?'”

Coming back to Theo Von, the comedian never admitted to being romantically involved with Antoinette. Instead, he is a long-time friend of Pavia and now his mom, so he wants to keep it that way, saying, “I’d only be friends, I don’t want to be his (Pavia’s) stepdad or anything.”

Antoinette Padilla sidelining son from the spotlight? 

ESPN’s obsession with Diego Pavia’s mom, Antoinette Padilla, hasn’t gone unnoticed. But not everyone’s loving it. During Vanderbilt’s big season, the TV cameras can’t seem to resist zooming in on her at every instance. But for some, especially ESPN’s Joey Galloway, the non-stop coverage has started to grate on their nerves. Galloway vented his feelings on the “Nonstop” podcast with Kirk Herbstreit, jokingly questioning, “Is there a camera on Pavia’s mother the entire game?”

The playful jab landed with a bit of truth. Antoinette Padilla has become almost as visible as her son. Galloway didn’t stop there. He half-teased Herbstreit to put in a request to the production crew to pull the cameras away from Padilla for a change. “Not every play,” he said, “I love the story. I love the family. Not every play.” There’s no doubt Antoinette brings a lot of charm and support to the stands.

Plus, strutting in cowboy boots with Theo Von or celebrating a big win is all good. But the day is all about football, and viewers tune in for Diego’s game-breaking throws, not always for the likes of his mom. Some say the broadcasts get sidetracked when the real draw is on the field. Galloway made clear his remarks weren’t personal, repeating, “Not saying it gets on my nerves, just asking a question,” but the point stuck.