NEW ORLEANS — Thirty-six hours after a deadly attack hit the heart of one of America's most vibrant cities, New Orleans, like the rest of the world, is back to normal, hosting large-scale events. I'm back.
It happened 19 1/2 hours later than scheduled, in front of a smaller-than-expected crowd at Caesars Superdome, and in circumstances that felt neither normal nor abnormal. But it happened. And it was the performance Notre Dame fans have been waiting for for 30 years.
Notre Dame used swarming defense and a 54-second scoring surge to defeat second-seeded Georgia 23-10 in Thursday's Sugar Bowl, the final quarterfinal of the 12-team inaugural College Football Playoff. . The seventh-seeded Fighting Irish (13-1) won a school-record 13th game to win their first major bowl since the 1994 Cotton Bowl and advance to the Orange Bowl semifinals on Jan. 9. They will face 6th seed Penn State.
The status of the game was unclear the day before as authorities investigated an attack in which a man sped a truck down Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning and attacked people celebrating the New Year. The attack left at least 14 people dead and dozens injured. FBI officials said the U.S. military veteran, who is believed to be an ISIS supporter, placed two ice chests containing explosives in the area, appearing to have acted alone and without accomplices.
The team woke up Wednesday morning to hear the news. As details gradually emerged, they began to process the tragedy. By lunch, we learned the game had been postponed.
“It was very tough,” Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton said.
For everyone.
Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said he can't quantify the concern members of both programs feel for visiting friends and family. Notre Dame gave its players three hours to spend with their loved ones Wednesday night to ease those fears.
“Being a parent myself, I want to be there for my kids in times of tragedy,” Irish coach Marcus Freeman said. “I think it helped the parents as much as it helped the players lean on each other and reset their minds and get them back to where they need to be today.”
It is impossible to say how much the attacks and uncertainty influenced the results. Smart said carryover emotions did not lead to the team's loss.
On Wednesday, both sides focused on soccer, figuring out when and how. They pushed another walkthrough. Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard said that after he finished paying respects to the victims, he asked his quarterbacks coach if he could watch film with him. He studied for another 4-5 hours.
“That's our superpower, our preparation,” Leonard said, “and I think it definitely paid off today.”
By Thursday morning, the rest of New Orleans was also trying to stay active.
Bourbon Street reopened Thursday before the Sugar Bowl. (Michael DeMocker/Getty Images)
The sticky tables at Café du Monde, one of the city's most beloved institutions, were filled with fans dusting piping hot beignets with powdered sugar and drinking cafe au lait. A lively brass band in peaceful Jackson Square. The doors of St. Louis Cathedral remained open.
Two men were selling white Sugar Bowl shirts on opposite corners of Canal Street, a busy thoroughfare filled with tourists. Between their tables were 20 cameras and tripods pointed toward Bourbon Street. The iconic road was still closed at 10am, but a search and rescue truck arrived to replace the coroner's van, which had remained in the same spot 24 hours earlier.
“It's half price,” the shirt salesman barked. “Twenty dollars.”
Business was so-so, he said.
The situation in the secondary ticket market was even worse, with admission prices half the price of New Year's Eve. Late Thursday morning, a pair of tickets to the Sugar Bowl ($27 each) was cheaper than admission for two to the Audubon Aquarium, a mile away.
As the days pass, the buzz for the big game grows in one of the nation's best big game cities. Georgia supporters cheered as the Bulldogs bus departed from the downtown Marriott. Fans packed the balcony. Taylor Swift and Katy Perry made a fuss.
“We're going to have fun…” Gov. Jeff Landry said at a news conference ahead of the game. “Right now, this is one of the safest places on earth.”
Security was tight. The line to get into the club seats stretched to 200 fans. As we passed bomb-sniffing dogs and their wagging tails, barricades and a sheriff's mobile command center, metal detectors, officials in Homeland Security jackets, and security guards sitting on stands who said if they saw something. , it felt like the College Football Playoffs in one of America's favorite destinations. Golden dome helmets, bulldog chains, and Mardi Gras-style beads all made a spectacular appearance at the Superdome.
Inside the stadium, tragedy was part of an unavoidable and unfortunate backdrop. There was a moment of silence before the game. All 68,400 tickets were sold out, but the Bowl announced 57,267 attendees. The commemorative football on the merchandise table had the original date (January 1st) on it, not the actual date (January 2nd).
Still: Soccer.
Notre Dame's defense was dominant, as it has been all season. The Irish held Georgia to 10 rushing yards in the first half and were 2-of-15 on third and fourth downs. They had nine tackles for loss but never gave up.
The decisive stretch occurred during the 54 seconds of play that spanned halftime. Notre Dame made a 48-yard field goal, forced and recovered a fumble on Georgia's next offensive snap, and scored one play later on a 13-yard pass from Leonard to Beau Collins and Jayden Harrison. He added a touchdown when he returned the first kickoff of the second inning. 98 yards in a half to the end zone. After a 3-3 tie, Ireland took a 20-3 lead.
Notre Dame advances to the Orange Bowl vs. Penn State. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
The Bulldogs (11-3) tried to fight back. Stockton, who started in place of injured Carson Beck, threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Cash Jones six minutes into the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 10 yards. Georgia drove into Notre Dame's territory on its next two drives, but both failed on the fourth. -Down attempt.
The Bulldogs' quest for their third national championship in four years is over, a tough end to what Smart called the toughest season of his tenure. The Irishman's quest to win his first title since 1988 continues.
After a shower of blue and white confetti, Notre Dame fans spilled into the street, ignoring the red and blue police lights that were still flashing. Forty hours after the terror and tragedy, they triumphantly sang “Sweet Caroline” as they marched back into the still-beating heart of one of America's most cherished cities.
After 30 years of humiliation, they finally have something to celebrate. And Bourbon Street is open again.
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(Riley Leonard Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
