Louisiana’s governor assured thousands of Notre Dame and Georgia football fans Wednesday he would be joining them at the postponed Sugar Bowl in New Orleans following a predawn terror attack that claimed at least 15 lives just blocks from the Superdome.
Republican Gov. Jeff Landry was adamant about attending the College Football Playoffs quarterfinal, now rescheduled for Thursday, after a Houston Army veteran drove his truck through a Bourbon Street crowd, mowing down dozens of New Year’s revelers.
“For those citizens out there who are thinking, ‘Oh man, do I really want to go to the Sugar Bowl tomorrow?’ I’ll tell you one thing — your governor’s gonna be there.” Mr. Landry said. “That is proof, believe you me, that that facility and this city is safer today than it was yesterday.”
The Sugar Bowl is now set to kick off at 3 p.m. Thursday local time.
Sugar Bowl CEO Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley agreed that the playoff matchup should be delayed following the deadly rampage
“Public safety is paramount,” Mr. Hundley said Wednesday afternoon alongside federal, state and local officials. “All parties all agree that it’s in the best interest of everybody and public safety that we postpone the game for 24 hours.”
The 70,000-seat Superdome was placed on lockdown earlier Wednesday as law enforcement tried to make sense of the carnage at the bustling party strip that left nearly three dozen people injured.
Georgia and Notre Dame’s football players — both teams are staying in hotels within walking distance of the attack — were told to shelter in place for the remainder of day.
Employees were also told not to report to the building Wednesday.
Georgia’s president said one of the university’s students was among those injured.
Current and former players for the New Orleans Saints, who call the Superdome home, lended their well wishes to those hurt or killed in the attack.
“Woke up to texts about what happened on bourbon street last night, God bless! A pure tragedy, sorry to all those lives that were affected,” defensive end Cam Jordan wrote on X.
Deuce McCallister, the team’s lead running back throughout the 2000s, said on social media he was “Praying for the victims and their families here in New Orleans. Thank you to the officers for their quick response to limit the harm further.”
Denver Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain II and Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid, who both graduated from high schools in the New Orleans area, offered up their prayers for the victims as well.
Swin Cash, a former WNBA star and current executive for the New Orleans Pelicans, also made a statement following the attack.
“Praying deeply for our city,” Ms. Cash said. “The senseless evil targeting innocent lives is devastating. Please pray for the victims, their loved ones, and the entire [New Orleans] community.”
The Saints and Pelicans put out a joint statement Wednesday where they sent prayers to the victims and thanked first responders.
“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 organizations said. “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.”
Officials named Shamsud Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army veteran from Texas, as the assailant. Authorities said he was killed in a shootout with police shortly after he exited his vehicle.
• This story is based in part on wire service reports.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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