KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE/WKRN) — Stop us if you've heard this before: the goal posts at Neyland Stadium were torn down on Saturday by jubilant Volunteer fans after a dramatic win over the Alabama Crimson Tide.
After entering halftime trailing 7-0, the Tennessee offense came alive in the second half and the defense held strong on the way to a 24-17 win over No. 7 Alabama. It's Tennessee's second win in the Third Saturday in October Rivalry in the last three seasons.
Fans streamed onto Shields-Watkins Field and couldn't resist tearing down the goal posts as they did in 2022 after ending a 15-game losing streak against Alabama.
This time, though, the goal posts did not make it out of the stadium and into the river as they did in 2022. After urging fans to safely exit the stadium, the University of Tennessee Police Department confirmed they were kept inside Neyland Stadium.
@Vol_Football wishes to keep them… so we greatly appreciate our fans celebrating and then…leaving them behind. #GoBigOrange
University of Tennessee Police Department post on X
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KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 19: Tennessee Volunteers fans tear down the goal post after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide 24-17 at Neyland Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) ![]()
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 19: Tennessee Volunteers fans tear down the goal post after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide 24-17 at Neyland Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) ![]()
Credit: University of Tennessee Police Department ![]()
Officers escort the torn-down goalposts at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 19, 2024. Credit: University of Tennessee Police Department ![]()
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 19: Tennessee Volunteers fans tear down the goal post after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide 24-17 at Neyland Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
The Volunteers won't play again until Nov. 2 when they host Kentucky.
This news comes just two weeks after Vanderbilt University's historic 40-35 win against Alabama. Commodore fans swarmed the field, tore down a goal post, carried it for miles through downtown Nashville, and dumped it in the Cumberland River.
A few hours later, University of Arkansas fans followed Vanderbilt’s lead by rushing the field and taking down their goal post following the Razorbacks' victory over the Vols in Fayetteville.
The next day, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) announced Vanderbilt would be fined $100,000 for a first offense under the league’s current access to competition area policy due to fans entering the field after the football game. However, the SEC fined Arkansas $250,000 for a second offense.