Joel Klatt explains why Vanderbilt fans are 'more committed' than Tennessee fans

It just means more in the SEC and, according to analyst Joel Klatt, Vanderbilt Commodores fans have recently shown that they’re more committed than Tennessee Volunteers fans.

The comparison for Klatt between Tennessee and Vanderbilt fans came when he was previewing the Third Saturday in October on The Joel Klatt Show. There, he looked back fondly on the two fanbases getting their chances to tear down the goalposts in recent seasons.

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“This is the first meeting since that incredible game that we saw in Knoxville a couple of years ago in 2022, the 52-49 win for Tennessee,” Joel Klatt said. “They carried the goalposts out. They threw them in the river. Although, credit Vandy and their fans. Vandy’s fans actually walked like three miles with the goalposts. They didn’t just walk out and throw it right outside the stadium.”

There are a few notable similarities between how Tennessee and Vanderbilt tore down the goalposts in recent years. Both of those games were home wins over Alabama and broke long losing streaks against the Crimson Tide. In each case, fans stormed the field and were able to take a goalpost from the stadium. Then, in both incidents, fans carried and dumped the goalposts into a river.

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For Klatt, the notable difference between Tennessee fans and Vanderbilt fans was just how long it was from the stadium to the dumping site. After all, the Tennessee River runs near Neyland Stadium while the Cumberland River is miles from FirstBank Stadium.

“Listen to me, Tennessee fans,” Klatt said. “Vandy fans [are] more committed. Granted, there was 70 percent Bama fans in the stadium that day when Vandy won, but they walked the goalpost three miles. So, if you win this weekend, let’s see what you got. Where are you taking the goalposts? How far can you walk them? I’m just saying, it better be more than three miles. It better be more than three miles.”

The SEC would fine Vanderbilt $100,000 as a first offense for charging the field following the game. That came under the new system of fines for SEC programs. In 2022, the Volunteers were also fined $100,000 for their field storming incident. However, that was a second offense under the old system. The goal of those fines is to discourage moments where athletes and fans come into close contact.

Tennessee will get that chance to respond to Vanderbilt fans on Saturday when the Volunteers once again play the Alabama Crimson Tide. Whether or not fans storm the field remains to be seen, but most Volunteers fans would be happy to end the night with a cigar.