Wednesday’s Sugar Bowl game between Georgia and Notre Dame was postponed following the deadly attack in New Orleans, which killed at least 10 people.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sanky issued a statement saying the decision was made in the interest of public safety.
“The decision to postpone tonight’s Sugar Bowl was made in the interest of public safety. Lives were tragically lost last night and we appreciate that public officials and law enforcement agencies continue to work with great diligence to ensure the safety of the New Orleans community “said Sankey.
The University of Notre Dame and President Robert A. Dowd issued a statement praying for the safety of those affected.
University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead also issued a statement.
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Emergency responders attend the scene on Bourbon Street after a vehicle plowed into a crowd at the New Orleans Canal and Bourbon Street, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The FBI is currently working to determine “the subject’s possible associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations,” after an ISIS flag was found on the truck. Weapons and a possible improvised explosive device were located inside the suspect’s vehicle and other possible improvised explosive devices were also located in the French Quarter.
Some college football fans and social media pundits were divided over the decision to postpone the game in the wake of the tragedy. Some fans agreed with the decision to postpone the game, while others expressed outrage.
Fox Sports panelist Rachel Nichols expressed her support for the postponement in a post on X.
“I’m glad the Sugar Bowl is postponed. That’s the right decision. Sending love to everyone in New Orleans,” Nichols wrote.
However, one X user responded to Nichols’ disagreement, suggesting that the postponement would “allow the terrorists to win.”
“I respectfully disagree. Postponing means the people behind this callous attack win. Let’s not let them win. We should not kowtow to them no matter how extreme they are,” the user wrote.
Conservative commentator John Ziegler also expressed his disagreement with the postponement in a post on X.
“This is wrong. Postponing the Sugar Bowl one day will do nothing to bring back those who lost their lives, nor make the game safer. In fact, it gives the terrorists exactly what they wanted. We have become AS soft as a society in almost every way,” Ziegler wrote.
“People who say ‘you can never be too safe’ seem to pretend that there are no residential costs for postponing an event the magnitude of the Sugar Bowl. Tens of thousands of people have traveled to New Orleans without a hotel for tomorrow night, or flight reservations for Friday.”
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Another X user responded to Zieglier, suggesting that postponing the Sugar Bowl would allow authorities more room to track down other potential targets in the area.
“Reasons why this isn’t bad: It allows more time to catch bad guys who may be looking for another easy target; it also allows 24 hours to feel pain and shock in honor of a dark day and those lives lost,” the user wrote . , to which Ziegler responded, “Yes, no.”
Meanwhile, WKRG sports journalist Simone Eli lashed out at those complaining about the game’s postponement, citing reports of other possible explosives in the city.
“People upset about the Sugar Bowl being postponed and ’empowering’ whoever, might want to check out the reports of bombs being found and detonated throughout the city of New Orleans. Football can wait. It’s not worth losing any more lives. I will not argue,” Eli wrote in X.
The postponement follows reports that the Superdome, the home of the New Orleans Saints, was initially closed for security checks and that people with offices inside the stadium were told not to enter the venue until further notice.
Alethea Duncan of the New Orleans FBI said during a news conference Wednesday that the FBI does not believe the main suspect in the attack, Shamsud Din Jabbar, was “solely responsible” for the act. Police have warned there could be more danger in the city.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy also criticized the postponement of the game.
“Okay, then it’s postponed. And the people who say that moving it 24 hours allows the terrorist to win are idiots. It’s [one] day. Secure the area. Do what you have to do. Delaying a game for 24 hours doesn’t allow them to win,” Portnoy wrote in X.
According to a statement from the FBI, a man driving a Ford pickup truck plowed into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street around 3:15 local time. The suspect, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, exchanged gunfire with local authorities before being pronounced dead at the scene.
At least 10 people were killed and 35 more were injured as a result of the apparent terrorist attack.
The Superdome is located just a mile away from the site of Wednesday morning’s deadly attack.
Georgia and Notre Dame arrived in New Orleans on Sunday and were reportedly staying in hotels a few blocks from the crime scene. Both schools have reportedly implemented a “shelter in place” for teams.
