Fans navigate mixed emotions watching Sugar Bowl

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Following the vehicle terror attack that took place on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, fans had mixed emotions while watching Notre Dame take on Georgia Thursday afternoon.

One group of ladies, friends through a local Facebook group, met up at CJ’s Pub in South Bend to catch the game. They said following the attack, it was all the more important to be out in the community.

“When, you know, people experience things, doing it alone is a little harder, coming together as a community is just a way to, you can communicate your fears, you can communicate your concerns, you have somebody that lifts you up when you’re still feeling a little rough about it,” said Karla Fales, a member of the group.

One of the women, Tatiana Botero, is a Notre Dame professor. She said she was heartbroken after the tragedy that unfolded in New Orleans but is proud of the Norte Dame student body for how they handled the situation.

“I also think it’s really important that we were able to kind of go through that and play today, kind of putting that aside, unfortunately kind of in a drawer for a minute and be able to be concentrated and play and focus on the game and the task at hand,” said Botero.