New Orleans breaking news
Following the brutal terror attack in New Orleans, Louisiana's attorney general, Liz Murrill, has petitioned for a further postponement of the Sugar Bowl-the critical College Football Playoff quarterfinal between No. 2 Georgia and No. 7 Notre Dame. A game that was originally scheduled to kick off at 8:45 p.m. ET on New Year's Day has been moved up to 4 p.m. on Thursday.
This comes after a terrible occurrence on Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning, where a truck driven by 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, plowed into a huge crowd celebrating the New Year. The attack killed 15 people and injured 35, consequently prompting an FBI investigation into the attack and tight security across New Orleans.
Sugar Bowl Postponed Due to Security Concerns
The attack was only ten blocks away from Caesars Superdome, the venue of the Sugar Bowl, forcing authorities to push the game back 24 hours as a precautionary measure. Even so, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said the Superdome and its surroundings were safe, saying in one press conference, "The Superdome is safe, and we are taking every measure to ensure the safety of fans and players."
However, such a delay is not good enough for Attorney General Murrill in an attack of this magnitude with investigations still ongoing. "If they asked my opinion, I would tell them to delay it at least another day," Murrill told NBC Nightly News.
Team Safety Amidst New Orleans Tragedy
Since the attack, there have been teams of Georgia Bulldogs and Notre Dame Fighting Irish in shelter. ESPN's Laura Rutledge reported all personnel from both teams have been accounted for and additional security is being in place for player safety.
New Orleans police have been conducting vigorous security checks around the Superdome in cooperation with Sugar Bowl officials. The tragedy did not reverse the decision to hold the game on Thursday, though ongoing discussions about safety are expected to continue.
Impact on the College Football Playoff
This is one of the most awaited matches featuring Georgia against Notre Dame for a semifinal ticket in the College Football Playoff. It has, however, forced an uneasy balance between ensuring public safety is not compromised and retaining the integrity of the tournament.
Key Takeaways:
- The attack: Terrorist truck attack on Bourbon Street left 15 dead and 35 injured.
- Game Postponed: The Sugar Bowl is postponed to Thursday at 4 p.m. ET due to security issues.
- More calls for a delay: The Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill advises the better extension of the postponement for another day.
- Security Measures: Still, law enforcement is striving to make the Superdome and its surroundings safe for the fans and the teams.
With the investigation still ongoing, fans and players are on tenterhooks, awaiting more news about the Sugar Bowl and New Orleans' security in general.