Inside emotional Notre Dame locker room meeting after New Orleans terror attack delayed the Sugar Bowl
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has revealed that his team held an emotional locker room meeting after the Sugar Bowl was postponed due to the terror attacks in New Orleans.
Freeman’s team was scheduled to play the Georgia Bulldogs on New Year’s Day, but the match was moved to January 2 after the terror attack in the city left 15 people dead.
“I think first of all I would say that we hurt all the people affected by this tragedy,” Freeman said in an interview with ESPN.
“The city of New Orleans has welcomed us with open arms and we join them in praying for all those victims and families affected by this tragedy.
‘I got a call that a tragedy had occurred. We were preparing in the morning to play a game in the evening and when we got the news, we learned of the severity of the tragedy and had to get back together.
“A lot of people started hearing that the game was going to be postponed. What I told the team was that it is in the most difficult moments that the culture of any program, of a nation, is revealed.
Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman revealed how his team handled the Sugar Bowl delay
Fifteen people were killed in a terrorist attack in New Orleans in the early hours of New Year’s Day
“I have great confidence that this country will rally around New Orleans and support all of the families that have been affected.”
“The first part of that team meeting was grieving and praying for our country. But when we ended that meeting, we had to shift our focus to preparing for this game and we had to take advantage of the time we have to continue preparing.
‘I told them we’re not going to wait. We must have a plan to use the time to prepare physically and mentally.
“We will mourn and pray for our country and we have support systems here for anyone who needs someone to talk to or get support. But we also have to be prepared for this great opportunity in the Sugar Bowl.”
Freeman said he had not spoken to Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart about rescheduling the game Wednesday night.
“I have a lot of respect for him, I know he understands how important his country is and how small the game of football is compared to real life and our nation,” he said.
The match will now take place at 4pm local time with increased security around the Superdome in New Orleans.