Louisiana’s attorney general has called for the Sugar Bowl to be delayed at least another day following the devastating terror attack in New Orleans.
The College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup between No 2 Georgia and No 7 Notre Dame, initially slated for 8:45pm ET on New Year’s Day, has been pushed back to 4pm on Thursday in the wake of the attack early Wednesday morning.
An FBI investigation is ongoing after driver Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, ploughed a truck into a large crowd celebrating the New Year on New Orleans’ famous Bourbon Street, killing 15 people and injuring 35.
As the authorities continue to conduct security checks, and with the city now on high alert, officials postponed the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome for 24 hours given the attack took place roughly ten blocks away from the stadium.
Yet according to Louisiana attorney general Liz Murrill, that delay was not long enough.
‘Not my decision, but I would like to see it delayed at least another day,’ Murrill told NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt on Wednesday. ‘If they asked my opinion, I would tell them that.’
Louisiana’s attorney general has called for the Sugar Bowl to be delayed at least another day
The quarterfinal between Georgia and Notre Dame was delayed until Thursday at 4pm ET
ESPN’s Laura Rutledge reported earlier in the day that the Georgia football team has been sheltering after the attacks. In separate statements, both the Bulldogs and Notre Dame Fighting Irish football say all their personnel have been accounted for.
In a press conference, Louisiana governor Jeff Landry said the Superdome and the surrounding area ‘is safe’.
That came after initial reports from New Orleans police indicated the game would go on as scheduled.
Police said they would be checking the area to ensure the matchup would be played safely while Sugar Bowl officials indicated they were in contact with authorities.
‘The Sugar Bowl Committee is devastated by the terrible events from early this morning,’ Sugar Bowl Committee CEO Jeff Hundley said in a statement earlier on Wednesday.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We are in ongoing discussions with authorities on the local, state, and federal levels and will communicate further details as they become available.’
Among the 15 fatalities was ex-college football player Tiger Bech, a former wide receiver for Princeton University.
New Orleans is reeling after a terrorist ploughed a vehicle into a large crowd, killing 15 people
After being struck by the vehicle, Bech was rushed to a local hospital before being kept on a life-support machine until his family could arrive, Kim Broussard, the athletic director at St. Thomas More Catholic High School, told KLFY. He died later on Wednesday morning.
Tributes have poured in for the 28-year-old, including from his younger brother Jack – a standout wide receive for Texas Christian University.
Jack, 22, quoted a post on X announcing Tiger’s death and wrote: ‘Love you always brother ! You inspired me everyday now you get to be with me in every moment.
‘I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us’.
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