Notre Dame's Coogan leads team with the American flag in New Orleans
Photo: Notre Dame Football A day after a terror attack in New Orleans killed 14 people and injured 35, Notre Dame Center Pat Coogan clutched an American flag as he co-led the Fighting Irish from the tunnel at Caesars Superdome just before Allstate Sugar Bowl. The gesture symbolized unity and support with the city and families of the victims in the early morning New Year's Day attack. Notre Dame had been scheduled to play Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1st, but the game was postponed a day following the terror attack. “Obviously, we were all part of a tragedy down there in New Orleans,” Coogan said in a Jan. 4th press conference. “My condolences to everyone down there … just a terrible, terrible incident. But it was a really special opportunity, and I was honored to do it for the team.” Coogan said he and teammate Rocco Spindler, his roommate in New Orleans, discussed the idea before the game, and it ended up getting approved. “Obviously, football is a game that can ...
