Shutdown threatens Navy-Air Force game

The Defense Department has suspended all intercollegiate athletic events for the military service academies due to the government shutdown. 

The shutdown may affect the college football game between Navy and Air Force on Saturday as well. A soccer game between the Naval Academy and Howard University scheduled for Tuesday has already been canceled. 

{mosads}“As a result of the government shutdown, the Department of Defense has suspended all intercollegiate athletic competitions at the Service Academies,” the Naval Academy said in a statement.  

The Naval Academy said it would make a decision on the football game before Thursday at noon. The scheduling likely depends on whether members of Congress and President Obama come to a resolution to fund the government before then.

Another football game between Army and Boston College is scheduled for Saturday in Massachusetts. 

A stalemate in Congress caused the government to shut down Tuesday morning. 

In a tweet sent Tuesday morning, the Naval Academy said it was unsure whether the Navy-Air Force game would continue. 

Unsure as of now whether or not the game will be played. We will you let you all know when we do. pic.twitter.com/gY3bbvcSLQ

— Naval Academy (@NavalAcademy) October 1, 2013

The nationally televised game is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a graduate of the Naval Academy, told reporters that the cancellation of the game would be the “defining moment” of the shutdown.

“The apocalypse is upon us,” McCain said if the game were to be cancelled.

But he still held out hope that the game would proceed.

“I predict we will see a resolution of this before the weekend,” McCain said.

Jeremy Herb contributed.