Daily Mississippian

OXFORD, Miss. - Fans interested in owning a little piece of Ole Miss history can now do so.

The Ole Miss Loyalty Foundation has started selling six-inch portions of the north end zone goalpost that was leveled by students following Ole Miss Oct. 5 victory over Florida.

The souvenirs, which are still under production, will be mounted on wood plaques showing the game's name, date and score, and are being sold for $100 a piece plus $10 for shipping, said Brad Teague, associate director of the Ole Miss Loyalty Foundation.

"After the game, a lot of fans were offering thousands of dollars for the goalpost," Teague said. "The athletic department decided that selling pieces of the goalpost would be a better option so that everyone could have a chance to commemorate the game."

Teague said interest in the souvenirs has been generated entirely by word-of-mouth. He added that the Loyalty Foundation expects to sell all of the 100 trophies being produced, generating $11,000 for the athletic department and an $8,000 profit over the cost of the $3,000 replacement goalpost.

The additional money will be used to help fund coaches' salaries, athletic scholarships and facilities maintenance.

The original goalpost, which has been remounted in the north end zone until the replacement arrives, was the focal point of controversy following the Florida game. Members of the University Police Department sprayed several students with mace as they attempted to ride the pole to the ground.

After the pole was finally torn loose, it was carried to the Union, where hundreds of fans wrote messages on its bright yellow surface. From there, the pole was handed over to the athletic department because it was still needed on the football field.

Justin Miller, a freshman history major, jumped on the goalpost after the game and was sprayed with mace by UPD officers, Mills said. Despite his painful experience, he said he sees nothing wrong with the Loyalty Foundation's effort to profit from the goalpost.

"It's money for the football team, so I don't have a problem with it," Miller said. "I would definitely like a piece of the goalpost, but I can't afford it. I'm just glad we knocked Florida out of the national championship race. That's what the game was really about for me."

The goalpost's sell-off will be considered a highly successful fundraiser for the Loyalty Foundation, the fundraising arm of the athletic department and a yearly contributor of one-fifth of Ole Miss's $25 million annual athletic budget.

The foundation raises the bulk of its money through preferred seating options at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Pictures of the completed goalpost trophies are expected to be available on the Loyalty Foundation's Web site by Nov. 1.