In a spectacle befitting a historic upset, Vanderbilt fans carried the match goalposts through the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, after defeating top-ranked Alabama 40-35 on Saturday night.
The unranked Commodores took down the top-ranked Crimson Tide at FirstBank Stadium, sparking scenes of exuberance across the city.
After rushing the field and tearing down the goalpost, fans managed to take it on a journey that stretched more than three miles down Nashville’s Broadway before giving it a watery farewell in the Cumberland River.
Vanderbilt Commodores fans take down the goalposts at FirstBank Stadium following a historic victory against and Alabama Crimson Tide on October 5, 2024, Nashville, Tennessee. The exuberant fans then took the posts on a triumphant three-mile march through the city.
Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via AP Images
“The goalpost has left the stadium,” X user @billyderrick10 posted at 7:05 p.m., accompanied by a video of the crowd of fans, with one riding atop the posts. The video had amassed 1.4 million views by Sunday morning.
The party continued down Broadway, with the procession of Vanderbilt fans parading their trophy through the city.
Another X user @shamnadoes captured the excitement, writing, “Looks like the Vandy goalposts are heading down Broadway,” alongside a picture of the festive crowd viewed from a high-rise building. The post had reached 860,700 views by Sunday.
Another user @katiewindham posted a video of the Broadway procession from the street.
The Commodores’ victory was anchored by quarterback Diego Pavia, a transfer from New Mexico State, who completed 16 of 20 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for an additional 56 yards on 20 carries.
“Games like this change your life,” Pavia told ESPN, in an exuberant interview after the match.
Vanderbilt’s offense dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 42:08 compared to Alabama’s 17:52, and outgaining the Crimson Tide in total yardage, 418 to 394.
After marching down Broadway, the fans gave the goalpost a send-off. X user @gcotham21 posted, “IT IS IN. THE GOALPOST MADE IT INTO THE CUMBERLAND RIVER!” The accompanying video, showing a crowd cheering as they tossed the post into the water, had been viewed 2.4 million times by Sunday morning.
Two years ago, fans of the University of Tennessee Volunteers took the goalposts after their victory over Alabama.
Saturday’s upset, however, was even more remarkable for Vanderbilt fans, whose team had not defeated Alabama since September 29, 1984.
The Commodores improved to 3-2 with the win, while Alabama suffered its first loss of the season.
Later, the Nashville Fire Department had to retrieve the goalpost from the river, which X user @DavidSEwing reported, posting, “Nashville Fire Department retrieves the goalpost from the Cumberland River and it is being turned over to Vanderbilt where it will probably be cut up for fans for a donation for the SEC [civil] fine.” By Sunday morning, the post and accompanying video had been viewed 1.9 million times.
