University of Tennessee grovels for funds to replace goalposts

After the Vols’ historic win against Alabama, philanthropic annual gifts made to the My All Campaign will go towards the purchase of new goalposts.

Not sure how you want to celebrate the Vols victory? Check out these ways to show your Big Orange love.

Tennessee’s athletics department operated at a six-figure surplus during the 2021 fiscal year, weathering the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic because of a $23 million league-wide supplemental bailout from the SEC.

The 2021 fiscal year ended June 30. Universities were required to submit their annual fiscal reports to the NCAA this week, and Knox News obtained the report via public records request.

The 2021 fiscal year featured an operating surplus of $757,598.

That’s better than the $488,857 deficit for the 2020 fiscal year and similar to the $789,730 surplus for the pre-pandemic 2019 fiscal year.

UT paid $5.4 million, or 4% of total operating expenses, in severance to coaches and administrators, including former athletics director Phillip Fulmer and assistants on former football coach Jeremy Pruitt’s staff.

The fine was levied as a second offense under the SEC’s access to competition area policy. Tennessee’s first offense was when fans stormed the court in a 2006 basketball game against Florida.

Financial penalties are imposed for violations in all sports sponsored by the SEC. They range from $50,000 for a first offense to fines of up to $100,000 for a second offense and up to $250,000 for a third and subsequent offenses.