Government Shutdown Effects Service Academy Football (As Of Right Now UPDATED)

Air Force Associate AD Troy Garnhart says it's possible Saturday's football game vs. Navy might not take place due to the government shutdown.

In addition, head coach Troy Calhoun's weekly press conference with selected players has been wiped away from today's rundown of events...

The game itself is sold out and is set for broadcast on CBS Sports Network...

Here was the message the Commander in Chief released early this morning related to the armed services and their duties as the government is shut down for the first time in 17 years...
((HT: White House Video))


The Army-Boston College game could also be in the swing...

AD Garnhart told the Capitol Gazette:

Garnhart explained that upper-class cadets at the Air Force Academy are considered military personnel, which means they could be subject to travel restrictions under the shutdown.

The final decision to decide whether or not the Air Force-Navy game will be wiped out will come no later than noon Thursday...

More as civilization as we know it grinds to a halt...

PM UPDATE: The Department of Defense released a statement about all of this at the Air Force...

At this time, travel for all intercollegiate athletics is cancelled – this includes the Air Force-Navy game on Saturday, 5 Oct.

The Air Force Academy Falcons will attempt to play all home intercollegiate athletic contests but those may be cancelled, as well. Academy officials are working with Mountain West Conference officials, those teams the Falcons were scheduled to play and officials at The Department of the Air Force to make up as many games as possible.

And from the Navy:

As a result of the government shutdown, the Department of Defense has suspended all intercollegiate athletic competitions at the Service Academies.

The Naval Academy will cancel contests as appropriate and notification on Saturday's football game against Air Force will be made public prior to 12 noon on Thursday.

Tonight's soccer game against Howard has been cancelled. It is not known at this time if the game will be made up or not.