Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced on Thursday the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy and the United States Military Academy would play their football games for the remainder of October, regardless of what happens with the government shutdown.
The three schools are able to continue playing football because their football programs are not paid for with federal money. The Air Force, Navy and Army programs are all supported with outside funding.
Hagel indicated the situation concerning athletics at service academies would be re-evaluated later in the month if the shutdown continues.
At that point there will also be a discussion on whether or not the annual Army-Navy football game will be played in December. The last times the rivalry game was not played were in 1928 and 1929 when the schools could not agree on eligibility requirements for players.
This past weekend all three schools were in action. Air Force lost to San Diego St. 27-20 on Thursday night, Navy lost to Duke 35-7 in Cameron, N.C, and Army doubled-up Eastern Michigan at home, beating the Eagles 50-25.
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No. 8 Louisville stayed perfect and became bowl eligible with a 24-10 victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Thursday night.
Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater threw for 310 yards in the win. He also added two passing touchdowns and one interception. Bridgewater also had one of the Cardinals two fumbles when he fumbled the ball inside the Rutgers’ 10-yard line.
For Rutgers, quarterback Gary Nova threw four interceptions as the Rutgers offense was held to only 240 yards.
The meeting was the last between the two schools before they both leave the American Athletic Conference next season.
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Cincinnati bounced back from its upsetting loss to USF last week with a 38-20 over the winless Temple Owls on Friday night.
Bearcats’ quarterback Brandon Kay threw for 270 yards and connected with wide receiver Anthony McClung on two touchdown passes. Kay also added a rushing touchdown.
As a team, the Bearcats rushed for 205 yards and three touchdowns. Tion Green was the team’s leading rusher with 91 yards and two touchdowns.
The loss drops the Owls to 0-6. Temple would need to win its remaining six games to become eligible for a postseason bowl game.
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The Houston Cougars stayed undefeated by beating the Memphis Tigers 25-15 despite being outgained 349-247. The Cougars got two rushing touchdowns from Kenneth Farrow in the win.
Memphis failed to score a touchdown relying on five field goals from kicker Jack Elliott. His long was 50 yards. The Tigers also fumbled four times, losing all four fumbles.
