Jackets fans hurt in goalpost teardown

By Kristi E. Swartz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia Tech President Dr. G.P. "Bud" Peterson has called for a review of the "safety procedures" during football games after Saturday night's tearing down of the goal posts resulted in injuries, a campus spokesman said.

A possible broken arm, asthma attack and "hurt" ankle are on the preliminary list of injuries from Saturday's victory celebration after Tech beat then-No. 4 Virginia Tech 28-23, spokesman Matt Nagel said in a statement.

Students tore down a goal post at the end of the game. They carried the post to the president''s house and used a hacksaw to cut it into pieces.

Nagel said the university has to consider safety before what's considered a long-standing college tradition.

"The tearing down of the goal posts is unusual at Georgia Tech, and while it is a long standing college tradition, we cannot either condone or support it," Nagel said. "The President has asked that the officials that oversee the game environment review safety procedures following (Saturday) evening's activities to ensure that in the future, all appropriate precautions are in place."

Tech student Ajai Karthikeyan said while it's rare that the students remove the goal posts, it is a tradition to carry them to the president's house and give it to him as a gift.

Peterson met the post-carrying crowd at the corner of State Street and 10th Avenue, Karthikeyan said.

"He said, ‘Follow me,'" Karthikeyan said. Peterson then gave a short speech, congratulating the team on their win, said Karthikeyan, who added he was too far away from the president to hear his exact words.