By Cort Street | @cort_street
Sports Capital Journalism Program
NEW ORLEANS – The 91st Allstate Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame was postponed until 3 p.m. Central time on Thursday after an attack in the French Quarter that killed 14 people and injured 30 early Wednesday morning. The FBI said the attack was being investigated as a terrorist act, and a State of Emergency was issued in Orleans Parish by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry.
At about 3:15 a.m., a man identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran from Texas, drove a pickup truck into a crowd while firing a gun near the corner of Bourbon Street and Canal Street.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families as we work through this,” Jeff Hundley, the Chief Executive Officer of the Allstate Sugar Bowl, said in a statement. “We have full faith and confidence in the governor and the mayor and all the federal, state, and local first-responders that they’ve applied to this horrific event.”
Much of the sporting world had converged on the city in anticipation of the quarterfinal matchup between the Bulldogs and Fighting Irish, but on a day when the College Football Playoff had hoped to rise to the forefront of national attention, the postseason was suddenly and appropriately thrust into the backseat of the country’s consideration.
Georgia and Notre Dame were among the first institutions to make statements regarding the situation.
“We offer our deepest condolences to all the victims and their families, and we stand in solidarity with the New Orleans community. We are horrified and saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred in the early hours of New Year’s Day in New Orleans,” the University of Georgia posted on X.
The statement spoke to the university’s own community as well, as a Georgia student was among those that had been critically injured. “I have spoken to the student’s family and shared my concern, support and well wishes on behalf of the entire UGA community,” said Georgia president Jere Morehead in a statement.
Rev. Robert A. Dowd, the President of Notre Dame, added: “To be in solidarity with those who suffer is to exemplify the spirit of Notre Dame. Today, we are in solidarity with all those impacted by this tragedy.”
The city, and all the fans who had descended upon it, were understandably shaken.
“Any time we have an event like the Sugar Bowl, public safety is paramount,” Hundley said, “and all parties involved agree that could only be achieved with a postponement. Now we will move ahead to take care of the details to make the Sugar Bowl the first-class, fun, and safe event that it has been for over 90 years.”
Rich Clark, executive director of the College Football Playoff, credited the role of all parties involved behind the scenes in enabling the event to still take place the following day.
“We are grateful to the leadership of the Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, the State of Louisiana and federal authorities as we work together to ensure we can provide a safe environment for everyone,” Clark said in a statement. “We are also appreciative of ESPN’s flexibility in moving the game to tomorrow afternoon.”
Landry announced the state of emergency during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. “From day one, my commitment to the people of this state has been that we will not look the other way,” Landry said in a statement. “We will not allow heinous acts of crime such as the one this morning to dampen the Louisiana spirit and ruin our way of life. This administration will not tolerate one of the jewel cities of the state to remain with these conditions. This state of emergency is a necessity in order to ensure that every single person, place, and street across the city of New Orleans is the most safe and secure in the world.”
The Sugar Bowl has been a defining New Orleans institution since 1935, a showcase for 29 national championship teams, 107 Hall of Fame players, 52 Hall of Fame coaches and 21 Heisman Trophy winners. Every game has played in the city except in 2006, when the game was moved to Atlanta in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The event has played a large role in driving the local economy and establishing the city as a destination for sports fans all over the world.
When a disaster of this magnitude occurs, however, it has the potential to have long-term consequences for how the city is viewed from a perspective of safety in the eyes of prospective visitors.
For many longtime residents of New Orleans, tragedy is something that has become all too familiar, most recently in the form of Hurricane Katrina and the unique set of difficult circumstances that disaster presented. Officials sought to highlight the resilience of the citizens of New Orleans.
“We continue to mourn for those impacted,” said Walter Leger III, the President and CEO of New Orleans & Company in a statement. “We know that the spirit of New Orleans is one of resilience that cannot be diminished by this horrific act.”
The New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans released a joint statement that further acknowledged the city’s history of dealing with catastrophe. “New Orleans is a city built on resilience, and this heartbreaking event reminds us of the importance of coming together to support one another, to honor those affected, and to work toward healing as a community,” the statement read. “In times of tragedy, the New Orleans community has always shown extraordinary courage and compassion, and we are certain that this time will be no different.”
The response to the attack was filled with uncertainty, but officials were confident that the strength of the people of New Orleans will be remembered once again.
After the postponement was announced during a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Landry was asked, “What gives you the confidence that tomorrow night will be safer?”
“I’m going to be there,” he said.
