WEDNESDAY’S SUGAR BOWL GAME BETWEEN GEORGIA AND NOTRE DAME POSTPONED FOLLOWING DEADLY ATTACK IN NEW ORLEANS
The Sugar Bowl game between Georgia and Notre Dame has been postponed due to a deadly attack in New Orleans, which killed at least 10 people. SEC Commissioner Greg Sanky released a statement saying the decision was made in the best interest of public safety.
The FBI is investigating the attack, which occurred when a man drove a Ford pickup truck into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was pronounced dead on the scene. At least 10 people were killed and 35 more injured.
College football fans and pundits on social media were divided about the decision to postpone the game. Some fans agreed with the decision, while others expressed outrage, with some arguing that it would “let the terrorists win” and others calling it the right call for public safety.
Georgia and Notre Dame arrived in New Orleans on Sunday and were reportedly staying in hotels just blocks away from the crime scene. The Superdome, the home of the New Orleans Saints, was initially placed on lockdown for security sweeps, and people with offices inside the stadium were told not to come on site until further notice.
The postponement follows reports that other potential explosives were found and detonated throughout the city. New Orleans FBI’s Alethea Duncan noted during a press conference that the FBI does not believe the main suspect was “solely responsible” for the act, and police have warned that there could be further danger in the city.
Notre Dame called on fans to “join us in prayer” following the attack, while University of Georgia president Jere W. Morehead also released a statement. The game has been rescheduled for a later date, with a new date yet to be determined.
