We still think it's doable. But it's obvious we are faced with some formidable challenges. We're not able to use the Superdome and we have to determine what options are available to us.

I think it's obvious, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we are faced with some formidable challenges. It's difficult to go forward when you are ejected from your home venue. ... First and foremost in our thinking is that we want - in every way possible - to conduct our event in the state of Louisiana.

We're not going to do the details environmental analysis, but are there any obvious, major pitfalls? A facility like this can tend to influence development patterns. So if that's true does it fit with development patterns and if not does that raise red flags on its feasibility? In other words, how does it fit within the system, not just transportation but the area as a whole?

This was done in a very tasteful way. It's an ad about a group of challenges the president has faced -- the recession, other things and September 11, 2001, ... You'd almost not be able to do the ad and talk about the challenges if you couldn't mention the truth.

We want to see if we can coexist. These are questions that no one can effectively answer at this point.

The Southeastern Conference (which furnishes the host team for the bowl) wanted it played within the (geographic) footprint of the league, and it was only appropriate that it should be.