(Reuters) – College football's annual Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Thursday saw tight security, a moment of silence and chants of “USA”, a day after a truck attack killed at least 14 people less than a mile from the stadium. .
A Notre Dame player carried an American flag as his team took the field to face Georgia in the Superdome in what was also a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, which was postponed a day because of Wednesday's attack.
Supporters of the Georgia Bulldogs, who lost 23-10 to the Fighting Irish, held up a sign that read “Dawgs love and support NOLA,” which is short for New Orleans, Louisiana.
Fans entering the stadium faced an increased police presence and enhanced security checks, and chants of “USA, USA” could be heard after the national anthem was sung before the match in the 83,000-seat stadium.
“I'm looking forward to it so we can at least smile a little bit today,” Jerrold Snead, father of Notre Dame linebacker Jaylen Snead, said before the game.
After the game, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard offered his condolences to those affected by the attack and praised the fans who packed the stadium.
“It's been a very difficult week and our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families affected. We are praying for them,” Leonard said.
“Having all these fans show up at Notre Dame anyway, it means the world to us. We felt them all, I promise you that. We felt them in every third of them.”
Before the start of the match, US President Joe Biden prayed for those killed and wounded in the attack and thanked first responders. Biden said he was happy the game was back and was not surprised because “the spirit of New Orleans can never stop.”
The FBI identified the suspect as Shams al-Din Jabbar, 42, an Army veteran from Texas who pledged allegiance to ISIS.
The FBI said he drove a truck into a crowd of New Year's revelers and was shot dead at the scene after shooting at police.
Dozens were injured in the attack, including two police officers who were shot by the suspect.
Authorities say he acted alone.
New Orleans will also host the NFL's Super Bowl on February 9.
