“We have concluded it is not only appropriate to move ahead with this event but essential to show the nation the resolve and resiliency of our community when faced with enormous adversity,” Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson said Thursday.
The Superdome sustained only superficial damage to surrounding signs, banners and landscaping.
Doug Thornton, an executive with SMG, the company that manages the state-owned Superdome, said the stadium never lost power and its roof never leaked. He noted key Superdome personnel were returning to work Thursday to get the stadium ready to host college football.
Although the dome was in good shape Wednesday night, Tulane officials waited on a final decision to play until evaluating the condition of the community and confirming the airport would be ready for Rutgers’ charter flight on Friday.
Louis Armstrong International Airport lost power during the storm, which came ashore Tuesday night and lingered in south Louisiana as both a hurricane, then later as a tropical storm, throughout Wednesday. The airport also was closed to commercial air traffic on Thursday.
On Thursday morning, Dickson consulted with officials from the city, the Superdome, Rutgers and the CBS Sports Network, which will televise the game nationally.
The Tulane football team left New Orleans for Birmingham, Ala., on Monday and practiced at Samford. The team planned to practice there again Thursday and Friday morning before returning to New Orleans.
The game will mark the end of an eventful first week of the regular season for new Tulane head coach Curtis Johnson, who is used to such weather-related disruptions. Johnson grew up in the New Orleans area and spent the past six seasons as wide receivers coach for the New Orleans Saints.
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