Louisiana Attorney General Calls for Delay of Sugar Bowl Game After Attack
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has called for the postponement of the Sugar Bowl game after a deadly attack in New Orleans on Wednesday. The game has been pushed back just one day to Thursday afternoon, but Murrill believes it should be delayed to Friday. The number of victims killed in the Bourbon Street attack has risen to 15, according to Fox News.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl organization announced that the game will now start at 3 p.m. local time (4 p.m. ET) on Thursday, less than 24 hours later than its initial start time. This decision comes after the FBI confirmed that a man drove into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street at around 3:15 a.m. local time. The suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, exchanged gunfire with law enforcement before being pronounced dead.
Georgia and Notre Dame, the teams set to play in the Sugar Bowl, arrived in New Orleans on Sunday and were staying in hotels just blocks away from the crime scene. Both schools issued a “shelter in place” order for their teams as a safety precaution.
Community Response and Safety
Murrill emphasized that she believes the community is “safe” despite the tragic events, but still advocates for an additional day of delay for the game. The Superdome, where the game is scheduled to take place, is located just a mile away from the site of the attack. The FBI is currently investigating the suspect’s potential affiliations with terrorist organizations after an ISIS flag was found in the truck.
Social Media Reactions
Following the decision to postpone the game, fans and pundits took to social media to express their thoughts. While some criticized the delay, others, like Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, defended the move. Portnoy argued that delaying the game by one day is a necessary precaution to ensure the safety of all involved.
Messages of Support
Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley and College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark both released statements expressing condolences to the victims and their families. They emphasized the importance of public safety and the collaborative efforts of various authorities to address the situation.
As the community in New Orleans grapples with the aftermath of the attack, the decision to postpone the Sugar Bowl game serves as a reminder of the resilience and unity that can emerge in the face of tragedy. The safety and well-being of all individuals involved remain the top priority as preparations are made for the rescheduled game.
