Vanderbilt Stuns No. 11 South Carolina – and Theo Von Steals the Spotlight
Vanderbilt’s shocking 31-7 win over No. 11 South Carolina on Saturday night at Williams-Brice Stadium had more than one unexpected storyline — comedian Theo Von emerged as one of the night’s surprise winners.
Von was spotted on the Commodores’ sideline during the SEC Network broadcast in the third quarter, when sideline reporter Cole Cubelic revealed a quirky detail involving Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.
According to Cubelic, Pavia told Von that if Vanderbilt managed to upset South Carolina, Von would earn the chance to take Pavia’s mother out on a date. Von didn’t deny it, confirming the story with an emphatic “yes.”
“She’s a nurse. My goal is I would like to marry a nurse one day, so that’s why I think that he was thinking about that,” Von explained. “I don’t even know if I’m gonna do it. I don’t know. I like being his friend. I don’t want to end up being, like, his stepdad or something, you know?”
Pavia’s mother, Antoinette Padilla, isn’t new to the spotlight. She drew attention last season after being shown on television during one of Vanderbilt’s games.
Meanwhile, Pavia delivered another strong performance, completing 18 of 25 passes for 177 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. His consistent play has been a driving force behind Vanderbilt’s 3-0 start to the season.
The game’s outcome was also shaped by the loss of South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who exited in the second quarter after a helmet-to-helmet hit. Without him, the Gamecocks’ offense sputtered and never recovered.
As for Von, it seems he and Pavia may need to sit down for a serious conversation — one that might be as entertaining as Vanderbilt’s upset win itself.
