Riley Leonard and the Fighting Irish left Caesars Superdome Jan. 2 with smiles, a trophy and the knowledge that the Allstate Sugar Bowl would not be their last game of the season, but everyone's minds were somewhere else just 24 hours prior.

The game, originally scheduled to take place on New Year's Day, was postponed following the horrific attack on Bourbon Street early that morning. Fourteen dead, at least 35 more injured. Insanity.

I was staying two blocks off Canal that week but fortunately was far from the Quarter when the attack took place. I walked down to Canal and Bourbon that next morning and stood across the street watching the emergency response vehicles move in and out of the area. I had to check out at 11 a.m. and spent most of the day just driving around. I drove to the levy in Metairie and walked it for a long time.

Even with the short postponement, it was hard to feel ready, prepared, motivated to go to work. Even when work is to just photograph a football game. Thinking about it beforehand, it, frankly, felt wrong.

But before kickoff, the Superdome held a moment of silence for the victims of the attack, their families and the city at large. Students in the Notre Dame section wrapped their arms around each other, and you could tell many of them were squeezing tight. The moment engulfed me, too. The silence was followed by the national anthem, a song that at a big game like this is hardly the main event. But this one sure as hell felt like it.

If you want to help the city in its recovery efforts, I suggest the Greater New Orleans Foundation, which is giving 100% of donations received to victims' families and those who were injured. Visit at https://www.gnof.org/.