Vanderbilt students assisted by Predators coach Andrew Brunette during goalpost march

Two Nashville sports teams intersected briefly on Broadway following Vanderbilt's 40-35 upset victory over No. 1 Alabama on Saturday night.

As hundreds of Vanderbilt students carried the goalposts from First Bank Stadium toward the Cumberland River, Nashville Predators coach Andrew Brunette says he briefly took part in the march.

"I actually touched it," Brunette said. "It was coming right down Broadway, just outside the Apple store."

After the Predators played their final home preseason game at Bridgestone Arena, the team held a postgame event across the street near 6th Avenue. Because of the earlier 4 p.m. start, the Predators ended their game right about the time the goalposts were coming down Broadway headed for the Cumberland River.

At one point, he said, the students dropped part of the goalpost on to a car, so he sprung into action.

"The kids dropped it on to a car, so I kind of helped them lift it up," Brunette said. "So that was pretty cool, I at least got a little piece of it."

Brunette said there was some damage to the car, but the chaos made it hard to assess.

The damage "wasn't too bad," he said. "I would have thought it would have been worse."

Vanderbilt's win over Alabama shocked the college football world. Not only was it Vanderbilt's first win over Alabama since 1984, it's one of the biggest upsets in recent college football history, and the first win over an AP No. 1-ranked football team in school history.

BIG WIN: Why Vanderbilt football's win over Alabama is biggest in program history, other overreactions

"I'm just so happy for Clark Lea and his group," Brunette said. "Just an unbelievable win."

Brunette added it's inspiring for the city of Nashville and gives him hope for the Predators to follow suit.

"Obviously I wasn't at the game," he said, "but when you get to be in the city and see (the goalposts) coming down Broadway . . . it makes you want to do something special here on our side."

The Predators' final preseason game Monday night in Tampa, Florida, against the Lightning, was canceled because of Hurricane Milton. The Predators open the regular season Oct. 10 at home against the Dallas Stars.

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com . Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt students assisted by Predators coach Andrew Brunette during goalpost march