Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman revealed what his message was to his team ahead of the Sugar Bowl after the game was postponed due to a terrorist attack.
The terrorist attack in New Orleans, which left more than a dozen dead, forced the postponement of Wednesday night’s college football game to Thursday at 4 p.m. ET.
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Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman speaks to reporters in New Orleans, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. Georgia will face Notre Dame in the NCAA Sugar College Football CFP Quarterfinals game Bowl on January 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Freeman appeared on ESPN and told Scott Van Pelt what he had told his team.
“The first part of that meeting was to cry and pray for our country,” he said. “But the purpose of the meeting was to redirect our attention to preparing for this game.”
Freeman said he and his players understood the broader meaning of hosting a game and that while winning to advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals is important, gathering in the city after a terrorist attack was also on their mind.
An aerial general view of the exterior of the Caesars Superdome, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
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“In the most difficult moments, the culture of any program, of a nation, is revealed,” he added. “I have great faith that we will come together in the city of New Orleans and support all of the victims and families who were affected today.”
The winner of the game between Notre Dame and the Georgia Bulldogs will play Penn State in the next round. The Nittany Lions defeated the Boise State Broncos in the first quarterfinal matchup of the holiday weekend.
A man leaves a bouquet of flowers at the intersection of Bourbon Street and Canal Street during the investigation after a pickup truck crashed into a crowd of revelers early on New Year’s Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Security will be beefed up around Caesars Superdome. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he planned to attend the game.
