Vol fan celebrates too hard, tears ACL after Tennessee win over Alabama

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - A Tuesday MRI has confirmed that a Vol fan tore his ACL while celebrating Tennessee’s winning field goal over Alabama.

Saturday, the Vols managed a 52-49 victory over the Tide in a last-second field goal. After the game, fans rushed the field, tearing up the turf and even taking the goalposts to the Tennessee River. Matt Wheeler wasn’t at the game, but his celebrations ended in some damage of his own.

“It’s kind of like a knife being shoved in the side of your leg. Maybe a really sharp and intense pain, and then I don’t know if it was the adrenaline or me being so happy but I didn’t really feel it until I went to bed that night,” said Wheeler, who added that he hasn’t jumped in the air that much in likely the last 15 years.

Wheeler went a little too hard after the win, jumping in the air while watching the immediate aftermath of the historic game. He sent in a video to WVLT News and said, after an x-ray, his doctor believes he tore his ACL.

“I guess I’ll be more calm going forward unless they beat Georgia and then it’ll break the other one.” said Wheeler.

He wasn’t the only fan to take celebrating seriously. Fans swarmed the field, and some took to eBay to try and profit off the win.

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