Was Noise Level at Neyland Stadium Dangerous During Iconic Game?

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A new noise-level record was set Saturday at Neyland Stadium, where the University of Tennessee upset the Alabama Crimson Tide for the first time in 15 years, causing Volunteers fans to storm the field, tear down the goalposts and toss them into the Tennessee River in the post-game aftermath. 

According to Tennessee Athletics, Vols fans shattered the previous stadium record of 118 decibels on Saturday when the stadium hit 125.4 decibels.

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"Thunder goes off right above your head, that booming sensation, that can approach around 120, 125," said Dr. James Lewis, who works for the UT Health Science Center, The Knoxville News Sentinel reported. "Being right next to a chainsaw while it’s operating and then being very, very close to sirens. Ambulance, fire engine, police sirens."

There is potential danger to your ears — and mind — hearing that loud of a ruckus, Lewis said. 

“Exposure to 120, 125 dB, even for several seconds are potentially hazardous to your ear,” explained Lewis. “It does seem to have an impact on the mental state, which is understandable. It’s very loud, it’s difficult to concentrate and know what’s going on.”

The record-breaking noise wasn't the only news-making happening of the day, next to ending the Vols' 15-year-losing streak against the Tide. After the game, the university asked fans to crowdsource funding to replace the tossed goalposts, and some enterprising fans removed grass from the stadium after the win and posted it for sale online. 

Neyland Stadium wasn't the loudest college football game ever, but it was pretty close, the News Sentinel reported. 

The Seattle Times reported that the highest decibel level ever record at a college football game was 133.6 decibels played at the University of Washington at Husky Stadium in 1992. The Kansas City Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium holds the Guinness World Record for loudest outdoor stadium, reaching 142.2 decibels at a game in 2014.

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