Naval Academy’s Busy Week of Sports
The first week of November is looking quite hectic for sports at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
On that Saturday, the Midshipmen’s soccer team, which remains undefeated, is set to face their long-standing rival, Notre Dame. Meanwhile, on Friday, the men’s basketball team will hold its annual Veterans Classic doubleheader.
Additionally, a notable game featuring two teams ranked in the AP Top 25 for women’s college basketball will be held at Alumni Hall on campus.
Officials confirmed to SB Nation that Navy will be the host for a game between No. 1 UW and No. 20 Louisville on Tuesday, November 4. Expect an official announcement as early as Friday morning.
This match, named the Pelaton Military Classic, was initially scheduled for Germany’s Ramstein Air Base, but the organizers had to scramble for a new location recently due to the ongoing government shutdown and its effects on the base.
The shutdown, currently on its 23rd day, has halted paychecks for active-duty military and federal workers. Many facilities have scaled back their operations. Ramstein’s website indicates that “civilians not engaged in exceptional activities are placed on non-work, unpaid status.” Additionally, the American Legion mentions that many offices and programs on the base are closed or operating with limited services.
Last week, it was reported that Ramstein Air Base had stopped communication with ESPN Events as of October 6. An ESPN spokesperson noted that they are “evaluating contingency plans as the situation develops.”
While the Naval Academy has seen some effects from the shutdown, the athletics department seems to be mostly shielded. The Naval Academy Athletic Association operates as a nonprofit entity, largely independent of the Department of Defense and federal budgetary constraints. In 2017, Athletic Director Chet Gradchuk mentioned that the NAAA employs Navy coaches and owns its football stadium, relying only around 1% of its income on government funding.
Jeff Walz, the women’s basketball coach for the Cardinals, spoke during media day in Louisville this week, expressing confidence that the game won’t take place in Germany.
“I’m pretty sure we’re in the game, it’s just a question of where… It’s disappointing that our leaders couldn’t get things back on track, but these days, nothing really surprises me,” Walz remarked.
Geno Auriemma, the head coach for UW, was a bit more reserved during the Big East Media Day, jokingly questioning whether discussing the issue was safe.
ESPN has hosted the Armed Forces Classic since 2012, and this is the first time a service academy will be the host.
There are other locations being looked into for the game, including Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Louisville, and venues near UW’s campus, officials noted.
The shutdown commenced on October 1 after the Senate couldn’t move forward with a House-passed Republican bill to maintain existing budget levels until November 21. Democrats have pushed for adjustments to health care policy, especially regarding extensions to subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, which have been rejected by President Trump and the Republicans. Approximately 24 million individuals rely on the ACA system for health insurance. Earlier this week, Senate Democrats blocked a Republican proposal aimed at briefly funding the government for the twelfth time.
During Trump’s first term, there was a record-breaking 35-day shutdown. This situation is expected to extend at least until Monday, as the Senate plans to break for the weekend after Thursday afternoon.
Navy Alumni Hall, which opened in 1991, has a seating capacity of around 5,700 fans.
Historically, UW holds a strong record against Louisville, with 20 wins to 3 losses, and they have triumphed in three of their last four matchups. This will mark the ninth occasion that the Cardinals and Huskies clash on neutral ground.
