On Friday, Alabama Senator and former college football coach Tommy Tuberville voiced his frustration over the Sugar Bowl broadcast the previous day, especially in light of the tragic terror attack in New Orleans that claimed at least 14 innocent lives.
Tuberville, who has coached in three Sugar Bowls, including two with Auburn, took aim at ESPN for not airing the national anthem before the game. Instead, the network broadcast a video message by Allstate CEO Tom Wilson, calling for Americans to “overcome addiction to divisiveness.” Tuberville wasn’t having it, blasting ESPN and its parent company, Disney, for giving in to “woke” pressures.
“This was my honor to coach in three Sugar Bowls, and college football has always been a patriotic tradition that unites all Americans,” Tuberville said. “But ESPN chose not to air the National Anthem. Instead, they played a divisive video. The fact that they didn’t condemn the terrorist who killed over 14 people was wrong.”
Tuberville added that the moment was a chance for unity, but instead, it was wasted, as corporations bowed to terrorists instead of honoring the victims.
He also pointed to President-elect Trump’s victory in November, calling it a clear sign that “woke ideology lost.” He urged, “Get on board with America First or get out.”
While Notre Dame triumphed over Georgia with a 23-10 score, much of the chatter during the game focused on the controversial video message, which led to backlash across social media. Allstate and Wilson have since deleted the video from official pages.
Allstate responded with a statement clarifying Wilson’s position, saying, “Tom Wilson unequivocally condemns this heinous act of terrorism. We stand with the victims’ families and the New Orleans community. The reference to overcoming divisiveness reflects our commitment to promoting positivity and trust nationwide.”
Meanwhile, the FBI is investigating the suspected attacker, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, after an ISIS flag was found on his truck. His younger brother explained that Jabbar had converted to Islam as an adult and that his actions were not reflective of the religion.
Retired FBI agents noted that attacks like this could fuel radicalization efforts, especially as ISIS faces significant pressure abroad.
This attack in New Orleans follows a similar incident in Germany and coincides with a bomb explosion outside Trump Tower in Las Vegas.
The debate over the Sugar Bowl’s handling of these serious events highlights the growing divide between patriotic traditions and modern corporate sensibilities.
