Coast Guard game will go on despite shut down, with coaches doing jobs of furloughed staff

HARTFORD, Conn. – Coast Guard Academy football coach Bill George says his team's home game against Western New England will be played as scheduled on Saturday.

Civilian employees associated with the program were furloughed this week as part of the federal government shutdown.

But George and other coaches also teach at the service academy in New London. That means they are considered essential employees.

George, who was doing the team's laundry Wednesday morning, says the coaches are picking up the slack this week.

The Defense Department temporarily suspended sports competition at the service academies Tuesday as a result of the budget impasse in Congress.

But Lt. Paul Rhynard, a Coast Guard spokesman, says because it is part of the Department of Homeland Security, the Coast Guard is making its own decisions regarding sports.