Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill intervened to be postponed of the Sugar Bowl game after the deadly attack in New Orleans on Wednesday.
Murrill told NBC News that he believes the game should be postponed to Friday. The game was pushed back only one day until Thursday afternoon so far.
“Not my decision, but I would like to see it delayed at least one day. If they ask my opinion, I would tell them so,” Murrill said. “I think it was wise to delay it at least a day. This is a serious crime scene, and they've just removed some bodies, and they still haven't removed them all. I still think that we should wait an extra day.”
Murrill added that he believes the community is “safe,” regardless. The death toll from the Bourbon Street shooting has risen to 15, Fox News has learned.
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A general view of the exterior of the Caesars Superdome, Sunday, December 15, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
The game is currently set to be played less than 24 hours after its original launch time, despite the attack. The Allstate Sugar Cup The organization announced that the game will start at 3 pm local time (4 pm ET) on Thursday. The game was scheduled to start at 8:45 pm ET on Wednesday night, and earlier reports indicate that the game will be postponed for 24 hours.
The Superdome is just a mile away from the site of Wednesday morning's deadly attack. Georgia and Notre Dame arrived in New Orleans on Sunday and were reportedly staying at hotels near the crime scene. According to reports, both schools implemented an “accommodation” policy for their groups.
According to a statement from the FBI, a man driving a Ford truck drove into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street around 3:15 am local time. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, exchanged gunfire with local law enforcement before being pronounced dead at the scene.
The FBI is currently working to identify “possible associations and connections with terrorist organizations,” after an ISIS flag was found in the truck. Weapons and a possible IED were located in the suspect's vehicle, and other possible IEDs were also located in the French Quarter.
Alethea Duncan of the New Orleans FBI noted during a press conference Wednesday that the FBI does not believe Din Jabbar is “solely responsible” for the act.
The decision to postpone the game just one day after the attack has drawn mixed responses from fans and social media pundits.
Conservative spokesman John Ziegler also expressed disagreement with the postponing of the X.
“This is wrong. Postponing the Sugar Cup for another day will do nothing to bring back the lives lost, or make the game safer. In fact, (it) gives the terrorists exactly what they want “We've become more flexible in almost every way,” Ziegler wrote.
“You can never be too safe” people seem to be pretending there are no accommodation costs for postponing an event the size of the Sugar Bowl. Tens of thousands of people have left New Orleans without a hotel for tomorrow night, or flight reservations for Friday.”
Meanwhile, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy disagreed with those who criticized postponing the game, suggesting that those people are “crazy.”
“Okay, so it's postponed. And the people who say running it 24 hours to let the terrorists win are idiots. That's (one) day. Secure the place. Do what you have to do. delaying the game for 24 hours does not allow them to win,” Portnoy wrote on X.
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Police and EMS vehicles respond to a reported multiple-injury incident on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on January 1, 2025. (WVUE)
Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley issued a statement sending thoughts and prayers to all those affected by the attack, while thanking those who welcomed the new season.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families as we deal with this,” said Jeff Hundley, executive director of the Allstate Sugar Bowl. “We have full faith and trust in the governor and the mayor and all of the federal, state, and local first responders that they put into this horrific event. Every time we have an event like Sugar Bowl, public safety is paramount, and all parties involved agree that it can only be achieved by postponing Now we will continue to take care of the details of making the Sugar Bowl an event. first, it's fun and safe which has existed for more than 90. years.”
“On behalf of the College Football Playoff, we are devastated by this morning's attack, and our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragedy,” said Rich Clark, executive director of the College Football Playoff. “We thank the leadership of the Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, State of Louisiana and federal authorities as we work together to ensure we can provide a safe environment for all. We also appreciate the flexibility of ESPN to carry the game until tomorrow afternoon.”
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