Louisiana’s attorney general has asked that the Sugar Bowl be delayed for at least one more day following the devastating terrorist attack in New Orleans.
The College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup between No. 2 Georgia and No. 7 Notre Dame, initially scheduled for 8:45 p.m. ET on New Year’s Day, has been delayed to 4 p.m. Thursday in the wake of the attack early Wednesday morning.
An FBI investigation is underway after driver Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, plowed a truck into a large crowd celebrating the New Year on New Orleans’ famed Bourbon Street, killing 15 people and injuring 35. .
As 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 since the attack took place approximately ten blocks from the stadium.
However, according to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, that delay was not enough.
“It’s not my decision, but I would like to see it delayed at least one more day,” Murrill told NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt on Wednesday. “If they asked me my opinion, I would tell them.”
Louisiana’s attorney general has asked that the Sugar Bowl be delayed for at least one more day
The quarterfinals between Georgia and Notre Dame have been delayed until Thursday at 4 p.m. ET
ESPN’s Laura Rutledge reported earlier in the day that the Georgia football team has been sheltering in place after the attacks. In separate statements, both the Bulldogs and Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football say their entire personnel has been accounted for.
At a news conference, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said the Superdome and its surrounding area “are safe.”
This came after initial reports from New Orleans police indicated that the game would go ahead as scheduled.
Police said they would check the area to make sure the confrontation took place safely, while Sugar Bowl officials indicated they were in contact with authorities.
“The Sugar Bowl Committee is devastated by the terrible events that occurred early this morning,” Sugar Bowl Committee Executive Director Jeff Hundley said in a statement Wednesday.
‘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 as they become available.”
Among the 15 fatalities was former college football player Tiger Bech, former wide receiver at Princeton University.
New Orleans is reeling after a terrorist drove a vehicle into a large crowd, killing 15 people.
After being struck by the vehicle, Bech was rushed to a local hospital before remaining on a life support machine until his family could arrive, Kim Broussard, athletic director at St. Thomas More Catholic High School, he told KLFY. He died later Wednesday morning.
Tributes have poured in for the 28-year-old, including from his younger brother Jack, a standout receiver at Texas Christian University.
Jack, 22, quoted a post on X announcing Tiger’s death and wrote: ‘I will always love you bro! You inspired me every day now you can be with me every moment.
‘I have this T family, don’t worry. This is for us.’