ESPN analyst Joey Galloway asked fellow network personality Kirk Herbtreit if “he can put in a request” for the broadcast to reduce the cutaways to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s mother, Antoinette Padilla, during Commodores games.
During the latest installment of their “Nonstop” podcast, Galloway explained that ESPN gave Padilla the Taylor Swift treatment with its constant coverage of her in the stands at Vanderbilt’s 45-17 win over Kentucky on Saturday.
“How does this work in TV, game world? Is there a camera on Pavia’s mom the whole game?” Galloway said.
“That’s a director’s decision,” Herbstreit said. “… I see the camera cut to her a lot.”
Galloway likened it to Swift being shown at Chiefs games across multiple networks. The singer is engaged to Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce.
“I’m not saying it gets on my nerves, I’m just asking a question,” Galloway said.
“Is there a camera man that is sitting there the entire game [focusing on her] … I love the story, I love that family. It’s great. But not every play.”
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s mother, Antoinette Padilla, dancing in the stands during Commodores’ eventual win over Kentucky on Saturday, November 22, 2025. X
Herbstreit deferred it to the production crew, adding that he doesn’t know who’s working the cameras for Vanderbilt’s clash with Tennessee on Saturday.
Galloway then asked if Herbstreit can “put in a request” asking the camera crew to not cut to Pavia’s mom so much.
Padilla was shown multiple times while she was in the stands for Pavia’s senior day at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, where the quarterback threw for a school-record 484 yards and five touchdowns.
Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores walks off the field after beating the Kentucky Wildcats in a college football game at FirstBank Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images) Getty Images
A viral video showing Padilla — wearing a “Pavia for Heisman” shirt — dancing made the rounds on social media.
She made headlines in September when comedian Theo Von jokingly tried to shoot his shot with her while on the sidelines of Vanderbilt’s 31-7 win over South Carolina on Sept. 13.
Vanderbilt is 9-2 overall and 5-2 in SEC play entering Saturday’s rivalry game vs. Tennessee.
