What Really Happened to the Goalpost After USL Upset Texas A&M in 1996?

In the wake of Vanderbilt’s recent upset over #1 Alabama, which saw fans rush the field and carry the goalpost to the river, many locals were reminded of a legendary night in Lafayette—the 1996 upset of Texas A&M by the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now UL Lafayette). The Ragin’ Cajuns shocked the Aggies 29-22 at Cajun Field, and while the program's first-ever victory over a Top 25-ranked team itself was monumental, nearly three decades later, the fate of the goalpost that came down after the game has turned into a mystery of folklore proportions.

Rumors have swirled for years, suggesting that the goalpost ended up in the Vermilion River, was abandoned near fraternity row, or was marched to one of the city’s iconic college bars like Pete’s or The Keg. But no one seems to know for sure—until now. Sort of.

To find out what really happened, we spoke to some of the key figures who were there that night, including Jay Walker, now the voice of the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, George Favaloro, who managed The Keg at the time, and legendary Lafayette photojournalist Brad Kemp, whose never-before-seen photos from that night shed new light on the chaos and joy that followed the upset.

“I remember when they took the goalpost down,” said Walker, who provided color commentary for the game in 1996. “Folklore says it was marched to Pete’s on the strip after they got it out. But, in all actuality, no one has any clue what happened to the actual physical goalpost.”

Favaloro, who managed The Keg on the McKinley Street strip known for being a hub for post-game celebrations, dismissed the idea that the goalpost made it to The Keg. “It’s a bad rumor,” he said. “It never made it off Congress Street. From what I heard, a lot of people lost their buzz when it got to Congress.”

But Kemp, who captured the iconic photo of fans carrying the goalpost, suggests a different destination. “I’ve always heard it went to Ray’s Sports Bar,” Kemp said. “I remember losing a piece of gear that night, trying to capture everything.

The students tried to take down the goalpost in the south end zone first, but they couldn’t, so they ran to the other side and took down the one from the north end zone. It was pure chaos.”

Kemp’s photos, discovered after digging through his archives, seem to lend some credibility to Ray’s Sports Bar theory. His images show the goalpost being carried in a direction consistent with that route—toward Bertrand Drive, where Ray’s was located at the time.

That area has since evolved, with Ray’s becoming Fast Eddie’s behind what would eventually be known as Graham Central Station and, ultimately, Rouses Markets. But back then, the entire area was a popular post-game destination for revelers.

Even with Kemp’s photographic evidence, the ultimate fate of the goalpost remains a subject of debate. Some claim to have pieces of it, while others swear it never left the field. Then there’s the story of a plaque at Cajun Field, rumored to be made from the actual goalpost, adding yet another layer to the mystery.

As with any good piece of history, the truth may never be fully known. But thanks to these firsthand accounts and Kemp’s newfound photos, we’re closer than ever to understanding what happened that unforgettable night.

Whether the goalpost made it to Ray’s, ended up in someone’s garage, or was lost to the night like many a college memory, one thing is certain: the legend of the 1996 USL upset and its wandering goalpost will continue to be retold for years to come.

Watch the full game below.