Podcast Summary: "The Ballad of Saw Man: How to Tear Down (and Steal*) a Goalpost"

Pablo Torre Finds Out – November 26, 2024
Host: Pablo Torre | Correspondents: Wyatt Cenac, Ezra Edelman, Mickey Dujay

Overview: Main Theme and Purpose

In this episode, Pablo Torre and his team embark on a deep-dive "talkumentary" into the raucous, tradition-laden, and somewhat lawless world of tearing down goalposts in college football. What begins as a physical act of celebration by fans after monumental upsets becomes a portal into sports folklore, fan psychology, clandestine sawing rituals, the shadow economy of goalpost replacement, and the unlikely rise of “Sawman” – folk hero and artifact collector. The show seamlessly melds humor, reporting, and cultural commentary on how a piece of stadium hardware becomes a priceless communal relic.

1. Tchotchkes, Tangibility, and Sports Fandom

00:48 – 03:44

• Setting the Stage: Pablo talks about his love of collecting "tchotchkes" and how commemorating events with physical objects gives meaning, paralleling fans' desire for tangible mementos.
  • “My wife…called me…the master of tchotchkes.” – Pablo Torre (00:57)
  • This love for physical relics sets the thematic foundation for why fans risk so much to possess a piece of a goalpost.

2. The Culture of Tearing Down Goalposts

03:44 – 05:27

• Why It Happens: Storming the field and tearing down goalposts is described as the ultimate underdog celebration in college football.
  • “This is essentially the most valuable pelt that you can take down as a big game hunter.” – Pablo (02:53)
  • The act crosses into folk tradition, a form of communal catharsis for fans of often-struggling teams.

3. Case Study: Vanderbilt’s Historic Upset

05:27 – 13:43

• Game Recap: Vanderbilt’s miraculous win over Alabama on October 5 serves as the case study, featuring first-person storytelling from student Luke Rickers.
• Field Storming: Luke details the chaos and spontaneous teamwork involved in storming the field and toppling the goalpost.
  • “If there was ever a Vandy win and you weren’t there, like you messed up big time because that’s not a thing that happened that often.” – Luke Rickers (06:31)
• The Parade: Students parade the goalpost towards the Cumberland River, ultimately dumping it in—a tradition reenacted in other notable upsets.
  • “Everyone’s chanting, in the river, in the river, in the river. There’s a real, almost a hysteria that has taken over everyone.” – Pablo (13:09)

4. The Shadow Art: Tearing Down Goalposts – Step by Step

17:25 – 23:05

• How-To Guide: Correspondent Mickey Dujay (an animator and self-professed “clutter core” collector) delivers a semi-serious, tongue-in-cheek step-by-step guide to deconstructing a goalpost, emphasizing the amount of physics, teamwork, and timing involved.
  • “This is just physics now.” – Pablo Torre (21:12)
• Notable Hazards: Common mistakes (e.g., underestimating the gooseneck’s durability or trying to unscrew it) are discussed for comedic effect.
• Key Quote: “It is really important to know what you’re doing because the clock is ticking.” – Mickey Dujay (20:40)

5. Meet “Sawman” – The Folk Hero of Goalpost Heists

23:08 – 35:15

• Origin Story: Ned Vickers (“Sawman”) recounts his first goalpost artifact at age 12 in 1984 after a fabled Tennessee upset.
  • “I turn to my dad and say ‘I’m going. See you.’ And before he had a chance to say anything, I was gone.” – Sawman, Ned Vickers (25:56)
  • He and a group of strangers cut and claimed pieces of the fallen post as trophies.
• Modern-Day Exploits: The Sawman legend grows in 2022, when he brings his hacksaw to help Tennessee fans divvy up a river-soaked upright, only to break the saw blade and comedically lose his chance.
  • “All of a sudden, I start getting booed by all the college students…It’s just the four of us…standing there alone and just bummed out because we’ve missed our chance at getting a piece of the goalpost.” – Sawman (31:34)

6. The Goalpost Economy: Insurance, Fines & Big Goalpost

37:04 – 46:03

• Industry Insight: An interview with Kevin Deventier of Sports Field Specialties reveals goalposts retail for $8k–$10k, with replacement markets and “goalpost insurance.”
  • “There is a company called Sports Field Specialties that is the number one manufacturer and installer of goal posts…They have now come to recommend that schools actually purchase a second goal post just to have in storage.” – Mickey (37:59)
• Technological Arms Race: Some schools now use $25,000 hydraulic goalposts that can quickly lower to prevent theft.
  • “It’s like watching the Death Star being operational.” – Mickey Dujay (40:14)
• Fines: The SEC fines schools for storming fields: $100k (first offense), $250k (second), $500k (subsequent).
• Capitalism at Play: Schools now auction off pieces of the captured goalposts—sometimes raking in much more than the cost of replacements or fines.
  • “They auctioned off tiny pieces of this incredible goalpost for prices like up to $7,500 per slice.” – Mickey Dujay (44:35)

7. The Culture War: Rebellion vs. Authority

• Crackdown: Universities and conferences try to curb goalpost destruction via improved technology and higher fines, but students find new workarounds.
• Mickey’s On-Air Call: “If anyone has dreamed of doing this…now is the time. Change is coming. Things might not ever be as easy to do this as it is right now.” – Mickey Dujay (43:14)

8. Physical Mementos & Episode Finale

46:19 – End

• On-Air Artifacts: Pablo is presented with actual slices of a vanquished Vanderbilt goalpost (including the dirty, river-worn aluminum) and a fancier, polished piece in a presentation box.
  • “This would look so good on my wall of tchotchkes that my wife is mad at me for.” – Pablo (47:19)
  • Pablo’s “master of tchotchkes” persona comes full circle as he adds to his collection.
• Christmas Card Tradition: Both the Sawman and Mickey commemorate their exploits annually with themed holiday cards—underscoring the folk-art status of the ritual.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “This is essentially the most valuable pelt that you can take down as a big game hunter.” – Pablo Torre (02:53)
• “If there was ever a Vandy win and you weren’t there, like you messed up big time because that’s not a thing that happened that often.” – Luke Rickers (06:31)
• “Everyone’s chanting, in the river, in the river, in the river. There’s a real, almost a hysteria that has taken over everyone.” – Pablo Torre (13:09)
• “This is just physics now.” – Pablo Torre (21:12)
• “I turn to my dad and say ‘I’m going. See you.’ And before he had a chance to say anything, I was gone.” – Ned "Sawman" Vickers (25:56)
• “All of a sudden, I start getting booed by all the college students…It’s just the four of us…standing there alone and just bummed out because we’ve missed our chance at getting a piece of the goalpost.” – Sawman (31:34)
• “It’s like watching the Death Star being operational.” – Mickey Dujay (40:14)
• “This would look so good on my wall of tchotchkes that my wife is mad at me for.” – Pablo Torre (47:19)

Key Segments & Timestamps

• [00:48] – Tchotchkes & sentimentality in sports
• [03:44] – The meaning of goalpost tearing traditions
• [05:27] – Vanderbilt upsets Alabama: anatomy of a field storm
• [13:43] – Mystique & aftermath: goalpost dumped in river
• [17:25] – How-to: Deconstructing a goalpost safely (or unsafely)
• [23:08] – The rise of “Sawman”: legendary goalpost collector
• [37:04] – The business of replacement: “Big Goalpost”
• [40:08] – High-tech defenses: Hydraulic goalposts
• [42:44] – The fines & university auction systems
• [46:19] – Pablo receives his own piece of sports history

Tone and Language

Throughout, the podcast combines journalistic rigor with a playful, tongue-in-cheek tone that nods to both the lawless joy and the nostalgic sentimentality of college traditions. The speakers lean into Americana, mixing awe, analysis, and irreverence (with legal disavowals and “do not try this at home” asides), making for a blend of sports legend, folk history, and subtle social commentary.

Summary

This episode delves much deeper than a single raucous night of celebration. It explores the intangible thrill and communal joy of turning the ordinary into the unforgettable, the strange alliance between collegiate authority and folk rebellion, and the economics of nostalgia–all through the lens of a battered, cherished, and occasionally auctioned-off pole.

For fans of college football, folklore, or simply quirky Americana, this episode is a masterclass in finding the human drama behind the spectacle.

For further context or to re-experience the best moments, the timestamps provided can help listeners or readers jump straight to the highlights.