Following Vanderbilt Football’s 40-35 victory over the then-top-ranked University of Alabama on Saturday, fans stormed the field at FirstBank Stadium. The Southeastern Conference fined the university $100,000 for breaking its policy on access to competition areas, and the university is looking into disciplinary action against students for “unruly behavior.”
Financial penalties for fans rushing the field are $100,000 for first offenses, $250,000 for second offenses and $500,000 for third and subsequent offenses. Also on Saturday, the University of Arkansas was fined $250,000 for its second offense after its fans stormed the field following the Razorbacks’ victory over the University of Tennessee.
While on the field, Vanderbilt fans removed the field goalpost from the south end zone and carried it out of the stadium. Students transported the goalpost over three miles down Broadway before dumping it in the Cumberland River. Senior Shanay Desai shared his thoughts on the post-game celebrations.
“It was such a surreal experience to see Vanderbilt students rallying together to take the goalpost to the Cumberland River,” Desai said in a message to The Hustler. “Growing up in a strong SEC household, it’s incredible to witness the emerging football presence on our campus and the unity that comes with celebrating a victory, especially after beating [No. 1] Alabama.”
The Nashville Fire Department removed the goalpost from the river around 9:30 p.m. CDT that evening, returning it to Vanderbilt. The university auctioned off pieces of this goalpost for over $1,000 for a four-inch piece of the post upright and over $4,000 for an 8-inch piece of the post crossbar. Signed game-worn jerseys, personalized game helmets, game balls and game pylons were also offered.
A university representative told The Hustler that none of the money raised in the auction will be used to pay the SEC fine.
“The auction presents Vanderbilt fans and the broader Nashville community the unique opportunity to tangibly own a piece of Commodore history,” the university said. “We are pleased with the overwhelming response and support shown for our athletics program.”
The university also told The Hustler that students may face disciplinary consequences for their actions on Saturday night.
“We are reviewing all reports of unruly behavior that occurred after the football victory on Saturday and, as appropriate, will refer any incidents to our disciplinary process,” their statement reads.
John Sloop, professor of communication studies and director of the future sports and society minor, said that despite potential complaints about students being “hooligans” who should be punished, he believes universities will not stop these moments.
“If students did this every game, of course, they’d stop it, but I think this was good,” Sloop said. “These fans have been long-suffering fans. They’re excited. They’re doing what kids do. These are 18- to 20-year-olds having fun, and I don’t think anybody is going to begrudge them for that.”
Sloop emphasized that he does not encourage anything that could lead to people getting hurt but called bringing the goalpost down Broadway “a good moment.”
“Sports at their best are about supporters and community and fanship. At their best, they’re about celebration, and that’s what that was,” Sloop said. “If the police thought this was dangerous, they could have stopped it. This was good for the school. It was good for the city. It was a moment in the sunshine of celebration.”
Sloop described the win against Alabama as “unbelievable” and emphasized that students showed up even when season ticket holders didn’t.
“Vanderbilt students are getting a lot of credit from what I’m reading in the traditional press for showing up,” Sloop said. “To me, that’s why we have these teams. I know they do other things too, but creating that sense of community among students is what I find most important.”
Sloop discussed the differences between Vanderbilt students carrying the goalpost down into the Cumberland River and University of Tennessee students doing something similar in Knoxville in 2022.
“This is different. This is Vanderbilt, who gets kicked around a lot. Winning this game and the symbolic nature of taking it all the way down Broadway — where everyone in the nation has been — to me was beautiful,” Sloop said.
