Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman revealed his team held an emotional locker room meeting after the Sugar Bowl was delayed due to the New Orleans terrorist attacks.
Freeman's team was scheduled to play the Georgia Bulldogs on New Year's Day, but the game was moved to January 2 after the terrorist attack in the city killed 15 people.
“I think, first of all, I would like to say that we are grieving for everyone 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 prayers for all those victims and families affected by this tragedy.
“I received a phone call informing me that some kind of tragedy had occurred. We were preparing in the morning to play a game at night and when we received the news, we learned the severity of the tragedy and we had to get back together.
'Many people began to hear that the game would be postponed. What I told the team was that in the most difficult moments, the culture of any program, of a nation, is revealed.
Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman revealed how his team handled the Sugar Bowl delay
A terrorist attack in New Orleans in the early hours of New Year's Day has killed 15 people
“I have great faith that this country will unite around New Orleans and support all the victim families.”
'The first part of that team meeting was to cry and pray for our country. But when we finished that meeting, we had to redirect our focus towards preparing for this game and we had to use this time that we have to continue to prepare.
'I told them we're not going to wait. We have to have a plan to use the time to prepare ourselves physically and mentally.
'We will cry and pray for our country and we have support systems around here for anyone who needs someone to talk to or have support. But we also have to be prepared for this great opportunity in the Sugar Bowl.”
Freeman said that as of Wednesday night he had not spoken to Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart about rescheduling the game.
“I have a lot of respect for him, I know he understands how important his country is and how insignificant football is compared to real life and our nation,” he said.
The game will now take place at 4 pm local time with increased security around the Superdome in New Orleans.