After the Tennessee Volunteers’ thrilling upset over the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday night, fans reached out to the athletic department asking how they could keep the party going.
The response: help replace the goalposts that were dismantled following the game-winning field goal, an athletic department spokesperson told Front Office Sports. The school launched an official campaign hoping to raise more than $150,000 for new ones.
“Y’all remember how we tore the goalposts down, hauled em out of Neyland and dumped em in the Tennessee River?” the football team tweeted on Sunday. “Yeah that was awesome. Anywho, turns out that in order to play next week’s game, we need goalposts on our field. Could y’all help us out?”
In less than 24 hours, the campaign raised more than $80,000 — more than half of the total.
The school had fun with donation amounts, suggesting that fans give $52.49 (the final score), $1.019.15 (the sold-out capacity of Neyland Stadium), or $16 (the number of years since the Vols beat the Crimson Tide).
The last number was the most popular among fans as of midday Monday, with close to 58% donating $16 each, according to the athletic department.
The Vols athletic department owes more than just new field equipment, however. The SEC is fining the school $100,000 for allowing fans to storm the field.
Perhaps the “significant” spike the department has seen in merchandise and donations could help bridge that gap.
