Tommy Tuberville criticizes ‘woke corporations bowing down to terrorists’ during Sugar Bowl after terrorist attack
Alabama senator and former college football coach Tommy Tuberville released a statement Friday expressing his frustration with the unveiling of the Sugar Bowl on Thursday, a day after a deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans killed at least 14 innocent people.
Tuberville, who has coached in three Sugar Bowls, including two as Auburn’s head coach, ESPN announced for not airing the national anthem before the game and instead airing a controversial video message from Allstate CEO Tom Wilson, who urged Americans to “overcome our addiction to division.”
“I have had the distinct honor of coaching in three Sugar Bowls during my coaching career. American sports, especially college football, have always been a patriotic tradition that brings ALL AMERICANS together. Unfortunately, ESPN (which is owned by Disney) caved to the awakened masses last night by REFUSING airing the national anthem and instead playing a video of Allstate’s CEO talking about ‘divisiveness.’ [14+] people,” Tuberville said.
“This was an opportunity for us all to come together. But instead of honoring the innocent lives lost, these awakened corporations bowed to the terrorists.”
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Auburn University’s head football coach at the time, Tommy Tuberville, coaches at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. (Todd Van Emst)
Tuberville then referred to President-elect Trump’s recent election victory as evidence that Americans are done with an “awakened ideology.”
“November 5th was the mandate of the American people. It reawakened a lost ideology. Join America First or get out,” Tuberville said.
Notre Dame beat Georgia 23-10, but most of the discussion during the game focused on Wilson’s controversial video statement. Allstate, the official corporate sponsor, and Wilson came under fire on social media for the statement, and the video has since been deleted from Allstate’s official website.
SUPERDOME WELCOME SUGAR FANS AFTER THE TERRORIST ATTACK IN NEW ORLEANS
A general view during the singing of the national anthem before the 2024 Sugar Bowl college football playoff semifinal game between the Texas Longhorns and the Washington Huskies at Caesars Superdome. (Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports)
Allstate provided a statement to Fox News Digital about the statement.
“To be clear, Allstate CEO Tom Wilson unequivocally condemns this heinous act of terrorism and violence in all its forms. We stand with the families of the victims, their loved ones and the community of New Orleans. The reference to overcoming division and negativity reflects a broader commitment to foster trust and positivity in communities across the nation,” the statement said.
The suspected attacker has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar. The FBI is working to determine Jabbar’s “potential affiliation and association with terrorist organizations,” after an ISIS flag was found on the truck.
Jabbar’s younger brother he told the New York Times that he and his army veteran brother grew up Christian in Beaumont, Texas, before the now-deceased gunman converted to Islam as an adult.
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Family and friends set out to identify the growing number of victims after suspected terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove his car into a large crowd in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.
“What he did does not represent Islam,” said the younger brother. “This is more a kind of radicalization than a religion.”
Retired FBI agents Scott Duffey and Chris Swecker he told Fox News Digital that Wednesday’s attack could embolden ISIS, other terrorist groups or individuals who are radicalized.
“This is a time when ISIS is under great stress and their existence is threatened in Syria and elsewhere. It would make sense for them to double down on their message to radicalize Americans to get them going and activate whatever cells they have in place,” Swecker said.
The New Orleans attack came almost two weeks after the suspect terrorist attack at a Christmas market in Germany and on the same day as the explosion outside Trump Tower in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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