The 90-year-old Sugar Bowl college football game has been postponed by one day following a horrific attack in New Orleans. The incident, which occurred on Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day, resulted in at least 10 fatalities and over 30 injuries. The game between Notre Dame and the University of Georgia, originally scheduled for the evening, will now take place on Thursday. ESPN, which was slated to broadcast the game live from the Superdome, has yet to comment on the postponement.
Law enforcement officials are still investigating the chaotic scene. The attack began around 3:15 a.m. local time when a man, identified as 42-year-old U.S. citizen Shamsud-Din Jabbar from Texas, allegedly drove a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers. Police fatally shot the suspect at the scene. The FBI is investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism, with reports suggesting the driver may not have acted alone. The Associated Press reported that an Islamic State group flag was found on the vehicle’s trailer hitch.
The Sugar Bowl, a highly anticipated New Year’s Day game featuring the No. 3 ranked Notre Dame and the No. 2 ranked University of Georgia, is part of the college football playoff series. The University of Georgia confirmed that one of its students was critically injured in the attack. University President Jere Morehead described the event as “unspeakable” and expressed gratitude to first responders.
Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley issued a statement expressing devastation over the events. Similarly, Notre Dame President Rev. Robert Dowd expressed shock and gratitude for the first responders who risked their lives to protect others. He emphasized the university’s solidarity with those affected by the tragedy.