Student Attorney General Brad Newcomb said he will attempt to identify the students involved in breaking the $11,500 goalpost. The damage occurred Saturday during the celebration in Kenan Stadium's west end zone after the Tar Heel football team's victory over Florida State University. Newcomb said the incident was a "senseless act of violence."
"It was not a proper way to show school spirit," he said. "I am surprised University police didn't try to stop them."
UNC Police Chief Derek Poarch said officers tried to protect the goalpost but pulled back when the fans' determination became obvious. "It would have involved a use of force that I was not comfortable in using," he said. "Clearly everyone was in a festive mood, but it made for a very dangerous situation."
Poarch said his department is not investigating the incident because no complaint has been filed. He indicated that someone from the Department of Athletics would have to file a charge.
But Steve Kirschner, director of athletics communications , said the department will not pursue the case, although he does not condone destruction of property. "I don't think anything criminal was done," he said. "If you were going to arrest every kid who tore down a goalpost, you would have half of college campuses in jail."
But Newcomb said destruction of University property is an Honor Code violation. However, he added that unless evidence is gathered regarding a student's involvement, the court cannot take action.
Kirschner said he doesn't view the incident as destruction of University property. But he said he was worried about student safety, mentioning an incident at a Harvard-Yale football game 10 years ago in which a female student died from head injuries resulting from students tearing down a goalpost.
Safety also was a concern on campus after UNC's basketball win over Duke University on Feb.1, when UNC students' celebrating got out of hand and a group of revelers flipped a car on Franklin Street.
Kirschner said the destruction of the goalpost was different than the car-flipping situation because the students confined their celebration to the stadium Saturday. "I think (the students) demonstrated with school spirit and exuberance," he said.
