Alabama Senator and former college football coach Tommy Tuberville released a statement Friday expressing frustration with Thursday’s presentation of the Sugar Bowl, a day after a deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans killed at least 14 innocent people were killed.

Tuberville, who coached in three Sugar Bowls, including two as Auburn’s head coach, accused ESPN of not broadcasting the national anthem before the game and instead airing a controversial video message from Allstate CEO Tom Wilson, who urged Americans to “give up the addiction.” to overcome”. to division.”

“It has been a distinct honor to have coached in three Sugar Bowls during my coaching career. American sports, and college football in particular, have always been a patriotic tradition that brings ALL AMERICANS together. Unfortunately, ESPN (which is owned by Disney) has given in.” Last night, he addressed the woke crowd by refusing to broadcast the national anthem, instead playing a video of the Allstate CEO talking about “discord.” speaks. Yet he failed to condemn the terrorist who brutally killed (14+) people,” Tuberville said.

“This was a chance for all of us to come together. But instead of honoring the innocent lives lost, these woke corporations bowed to terrorists.”

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Tommy Tuberville, then Auburn University’s head football coach, practices at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. (Todd Van Emst)

Tuberville then pointed to President-elect Trump’s recent election victory as evidence that Americans have put an end to “woke ideology.”

“November 5th was a mandate from the American people. The woke ideology was lost. Get in or get out of America First,” Tuberville said.

Notre Dame beat Georgia 23-10, but much of the discussion during the game centered on Wilson’s controversial video statement. Allstate, the official corporate sponsor, and Wilson have come under fire on social media over the statement, and the video has since been deleted from Allstate’s official pages.

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A general view during 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 Fox News Digital with a statement regarding this statement.

“To be clear, Allstate CEO Tom Wilson unequivocally condemns this heinous act of terrorism and violence in all forms. We stand with the families of the victims, their loved ones and the New Orleans community. The reference to overcoming division and negativity reflects a “broader commitment to promoting trust and positivity in communities across the country,” the statement said.

The suspected attacker was identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar. The FBI is working to determine Jabbar’s “potential connections and affiliations with terrorist organizations” after an ISIS flag was attached to the truck.

Jabbar’s younger brother told the New York Times that he and his brother, an Army veteran, were raised Christian in Beaumont, Texas, before the now-deceased attacker converted to Islam as an adult.

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Family and friends set out to assess the growing death toll after terror suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a car into a large crowd in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.

“What he did does not represent Islam,” the younger brother said. “This is more of a kind of radicalization, not a religion.”

Retired FBI agents Scott Duffey and Chris Swecker said Fox News Digital that Wednesday’s attack could embolden ISIS, other terrorist groups or radicalized individuals.

“This is a time when ISIS is under extreme stress and its existence in Syria and elsewhere is threatened. It would make sense for them to double down on their message to radicalize Americans to put it into action and activate all the cells they’re in,” Swecker said.

The attack in New Orleans came nearly two weeks after a suspect was killed Terrorist attack at a Christmas market in Germany and on the same day there was an explosion outside Trump Tower in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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