NCAA

Tennessee Asks for Donations to Replace Torn-down Goal Posts Following Upset Over Alabama

The Volunteers are turning to alumni and fans to restore the stadium ahead of Saturday’s matchup against Tennessee-Martin

USA Today

The University of Tennessee is trying to keep the celebration going by dipping into fans pockets. 

The Volunteers upset Alabama 52-49 last week in epic fashion, keeping their undefeated record alive. Chase McGrath kicked the ball through the uprights from 40 yards away and pandemonium ensued. Fans stormed the field, tearing down the goalposts in the process. 

The win launched the Volunteers into the No. 3 spot in the college football rankings; their highest regular season ranking since 2002.

In the midst of the chaos, University president Randy Boyd was asked how much the celebration would cost. The cigar-smoking Boyd answered, “It doesn’t matter, we’ll do this every year.”

Well, it’s looking like it might matter now. The University is asking for donations to help replace the posts ahead of this week’s game against Tennessee-Martin. 

Athletic director Danny White added a call of his own to #VolNation to “help us out.” 

“We thought this was a fun way to invite Vol Nation to continue in the celebration,” 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 link includes a series of suggested donations including $16 -- for the number of seasons between Tennessee’s last win over Alabama -- and $52.49 -- the final score of Saturday’s game. 

Those feeling particularly spirited were invited to give $1,019.15 -- the attendance of a sold out Neyland Stadium, the sixth-largest stadium in college football. 

Not everyone is as enamored with the University's plea. Some have been quick to accuse Tennessee of hypocrisy as tuition and football funding continue to swell. The football program is consistently ranked among the top-10 most valuable teams in college football, clearing well over $100 million in revenue. 

Head coach Josh Heupel earns $5 million annually. Meanwhile, Boyd -- a businessman and former politician -- made $30.1 million over a two-year stretch from 2015 to 2016. 

As of Monday afternoon, the fund had raised nearly $90,000 – more than half its goal – behind nearly 3,000 donations. 

The University wasn't the only group soliciting donations. A few particularly entrepreneurial fans are auctioning off the grass from Neyland Stadium.

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