PHOTOS: Vanderbilt goal post torn down, thrown in Cumberland River following victory over Alabama

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — After a historic win against the University of Alabama’s top-ranked football team, Vanderbilt University fans swarmed the field and tore down a goal post before carrying it out of the stadium and tossing it in the Cumberland River Saturday night.

The Commodores shocked the Crimson Tide by winning 40-35, marking Vandy’s first victory over the nation’s number one team.

According to SportRadar, Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) had lost all 60 games against AP top-five teams. In addition, the Associated Press said the Commodores hadn’t beaten Alabama on the field in 40 years, but they snapped a 23-game skid on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Following the game, a few Vandy fans climbed on top of the goal post while numerous others pulled it to the ground, as seen in videos sent to News 2 Saturday night.

Vanderbilt Football shared a video of the goal post coming down in a sea of students, saying, “DOWN GOES THE FIELD GOAL POSTS!!!”

About 30 minutes later, another X post from the team said, “drop the goal post location. where it at?”

Meanwhile, multiple people posted pictures and videos on social media of the goal post being carried down Broadway and dropped in the Cumberland River.

Even Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell posted about it, writing, “I’m hearing reports that the Cumberland River is experiencing low tide.”

News 2’s Nissan camera captured the goal post poking out of the river and then crews showing up to pull it out:

A similar situation happened in October 2022 when University of Tennessee fans celebrated the Volunteers’ first win against Alabama in 15 years. Immediately after the game ended with a last minute 40-yard field goal, fans flooded the field — for which the Southeastern Conference (SEC) can fine up to $250,000, according to ESPN — and tore down the goal posts, which they carried through the streets and then threw into the Tennessee River.

Following that incident, the SEC announced Tennessee would incur a $100,000 fine for violating the league’s access to competition area policy. Meanwhile, school officials set up a fundraiser and managed to hit their goal of $150,000 to install the new posts , as well as cover installation fees and other repairs.

The SEC announced on Sunday, Oct. 6 that Vanderbilt will be fined for violating the league’s access to competition area policy due to fans entering the field after the football game. Officials said the university will incur a fine of $100,000 for a first offense under the league’s current policy, which was revised at the SEC Spring Meetings in 2023.

However, there is no word on whether Vanderbilt will be fined by Nashville for the goal post being dumped in the Cumberland River or forced to raise funds for a new goal post following Saturday night’s antics.

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