Vanderbilt has been running circles around their opponents this season. In Week 3, it was South Carolina’s team. It didn’t matter that the Gamecocks were at home. It also didn’t matter that they were the ranked team out of the two. The Commodores came and conquered. A 31-7 score. The home side may feel that the result would have been different if LaNorris Sellers were there. Diego Pavia wasn’t complaining as he added to his list of big programs he has taken down. The game also had a side track going on, and it featured the Vandy QB1 and Theo Von.
At the end of the 3rd quarter, the game broadcast showed podcaster Theo Von on the sidelines. Cole Cubelic of the SEC network mentioned to the booth an interesting bet involving Von and Pavia. Before the game, Vandy apparently told the podcaster that if Vandy defeats South Carolina, the latter can ask the QB’s mom out for a date. We all know the result, and Von took it upon himself to ask Pavia about the bet.
In a recent post on X, Theo Von shared a picture of Diego Pavia’s mom, Antoinette Padilla, in the crowd with a heart drawn around her face. The caption? A simple, “Where should I take her??” It’s ridiculous. It’s hilarious.
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During the broadcast, when Cubelic asked Von about the bet, he gave a long answer. “She’s a nurse, and my goal is I would like to marry a nurse one day.” “I don’t know, I like being his friend, I don’t want to end up being like his stepdad or something, you know.” In a way, it’s all planned in his head. We don’t know for sure whether the date has happened yet.
where should i take her?? https://t.co/d7SM23Eu3X pic.twitter.com/MGdxeBEowT
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— Theo Von (@TheoVon) September 15, 2025
The comment section of Theo Von’s post has people suggesting all sorts of places for a perfect date place. He even reacted positively to a comment mentioning a Casino data. Not so much to the suggestion about going to have Buffalo Wild Wings. Apparently, it’s “too loud in there” for Theo Von.
Shannon Sharpe’s one-word reaction
The whole situation also found a mention on Shannon Sharpe and Ocho’s Nightcap podcast. “If Vanderbilt beat South Carolina, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia promised Theo Von a date with his mom. And they beat Carolina 31 to 7… a date with his mom,” Shannon Sharpe said.
The HoFer had a one-word reaction to the possibility of Theo Von taking Pavia’s mom out for a date. “Goddamn.” That’s all he could muster.
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This isn’t just a random clickbait celebrity stunt, though. Von has a much deeper relationship to Vanderbilt football than just a passing joke. Theo has developed a genuine interest in the team after purchasing the Nashville home of the previous coach, Derek Mason. He built friendships with a number of players and the current head coach, Clark Lea. He has fit into the team’s culture in ways as surprising as this whole dating fiasco.
Even for a comedian who thrives on awkward and strange circumstances, this one could be downright bizarre. It’s one thing to cheer on your friend’s team, but dating his mother? That is a whole different matter. Although Pavia’s mother likely assumed that her main worry would be supporting her son’s touchdown passes, she is now at the center of one of the oddest yet hilarious subplots in college football.
