University of Tennessee seeks $100,000 in donations to replace goalposts after upset over Alabama

The University of Tennessee is scrambling to erect new goalposts ahead of this week’s game against Tennessee-Martin after fans ripped theirs down and tossed them in a river following Saturday’s dramatic upset over rival Alabama.

‘Y’all remember how we tore the goalposts down, hauled em out of Neyland and dumped em in the Tennessee River?’ read a tweet from the Tennessee Football Twitter account. ‘Yeah that was awesome.

‘Anywho,’ the tweet continued, ‘turns out that in order to play next week’s game, we need goalposts on our field. Could y’all help us out?’

The University of Tennessee is scrambling to erect new goalposts ahead of this week’s game against Tennessee-Martin after fans ripped theirs down and tossed them in a river following Saturday’s dramatic upset over rival Alabama. ‘Y’all remember how we tore the goalposts down, hauled em out of Neyland and dumped em in the Tennessee River?’ read a tweet from the Tennessee Football Twitter account

There was a joyous atmosphere among the home fans after their big win over Alabama

There were wild scenes in Knoxville, Tennessee Saturday after the Vols’ huge win over Bama

Tennessee Volunteers fans rush the field after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide 

The goalposts made their way down to the Tennessee River in Knoxville on Saturday night 

The payment options include a $16 donation, commemorating the 16 years since the Volunteers (6-0) last beat the Crimson Tide (6-1), as well as a $52.49 option, in honor of the final score on Saturday: 52-49.

The school was already up to nearly $85,000 by noon EST on Monday.

‘We thought this was a fun way to invite Vol Nation to continue in the celebration,’ athletic director Danny White told ESPN. ‘We had heard before and during the game that the fans would support a celebration, no matter the cost, so we leaned into that enthusiasm.’

The Vols were also fined $100,000 by the Southeastern Conference for allowing fans onto the field after sixth-ranked Tennessee shocked third-ranked Alabama on a last-second field goal Saturday. That penalty will go towards the SEC’s Post-Graduate Scholarship Fund.

Chase McGrath made a 40-yard field goal as time expired to give No. 6 Tennessee a 52-49 victory over No. 3 Alabama on Saturday.

The payment options include a $16 donation, commemorating the 16 years since the Volunteers (6-0) last beat the Crimson Tide (6-1), as well as a $52.49 option, in honor of the final score on Saturday: 52-49

Tennessee place kicker Chase McGrath (40) kicks a last-second field goal to secure the win

Vols head coach Josh Heupel celebrates the win with a cigar as he makes his way off the field

There was a huge invasion of the field after the sell-out crowd watched a last-gasp field goal

Tennessee was fined $100,000 by the SEC for allowing fans to run onto the field Saturday 

As soon as the kick knuckle-balled through the uprights, some of the more than 100,000 fans stormed the field to join the party as the Volunteers (6-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) ended a 15-game drought to the Crimson Tide (6-1, 3-1).

Fireworks went off over Neyland Stadium and it glowed orange as the song ‘Dixieland Delight’ by the band Alabama — a Crimson Tide favorite — blared over the stadium speakers.

And it didn’t take long for the goal posts to go down.

‘This is college football at its absolute best,’ Vols coach Josh Heupel said. ‘We were the best team on the field tonight. That’s all we can control.’

Hendon Hooker drove the Vols 45 yards in 13 seconds to set up the winner. An 18-yard pass to Ramel Keyton and 27-yard hookup with Bru McCoy set the stage for the winner.

‘It wasn’t my cleanest hit,’ said McGrath, who missed a PAT earlier. ‘I didn’t have the best contact on the ball.’

Heupel, his players, and many fans were seen enjoying cigars after the win as the goalposts were toppled, removed and deposited into the Tennessee River in Knoxville.

One fan rides the goalpost as others tear it down in a bid to steal it from the stadium