The Sugar Bowl drive between Georgia and Notre Dame has been postponed until Thursday following the deadly truck attack in New Orleans' French Quarter early Wednesday morning, Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley announced Wednesday afternoon.
“We've been in consultation with ESPN, with the College Football Playoff, with the Southeastern Conference, with the University of Georgia, with Notre Dame, with all parties,” Hundley said in a news conference. “Everyone agrees that it is in everyone’s interest and public safety to postpone the match for 24 hours.”
The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. The postponement comes as law enforcement authorities continue to comb the crime scene and secure the French Quarter.
ESPN reported that a shelter-in-place was in effect for the Bulldogs at their team hotel. At least one student from Georgia was seriously injured in the attack and is receiving medical treatment, the school said.
Early Wednesday morning, a driver “desperately determined to cause the carnage and damage he did” drove his pickup truck at high speed through crowds on Bourbon Street, killing 15 people and injuring at least 35, police said. Law enforcement authorities identified the suspect as Shams al-Din Jabbar, 42, a US citizen from Texas. Police said a flag of the terrorist group known as ISIS was found in the suspect's car.
“It was very intentional behavior,” New Orleans Police Director Anne Kirkpatrick said. “This guy was trying to run over as many people as possible.”
Explosive devices were found at the scene, according to multiple reports, and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called the incident a “terrorist attack.”
Authorities said the male suspect got out of his truck with an assault rifle and opened fire on police officers before being killed by return fire. At least two officers were shot, officials said.
“The Sugar Bowl Committee has been devastated by the terrible events that occurred early this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We are in ongoing discussions with authorities at the local, state and federal levels and will communicate more details when they come,” Hundley said in a statement earlier today. : “They have become available.”
“When we learned of the severity of the tragedy and what happened, we had to come back together as a team and we had to discuss what happened,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman told ESPN.
“What I told the team is, in the most difficult moments the culture of any program or nation is exposed. I have great confidence that this nation will rally around New Orleans and support all the victims and families affected today.”
Barring further delays, the CFP quarterfinals between the No. 2 seed Bulldogs (11-2) and the No. 7 Fighting Irish (12-1) are now scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday.
“We had to redirect our focus to prepare for this game,” Freeman said Wednesday of the delay. “We have to use this time that we had today and tomorrow morning to continue to prepare for this opportunity. …
“This is where our focus should be. We will grieve and pray for our country. We have support systems available for anyone who needs someone to talk to but we also have to be prepared for this great opportunity that we have in the Sugar Bowl.”
– Media at the field level
