No fans for Navy’s Oct. 10 home game vs. Temple

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium will remain empty for at least one more Navy football home game.

Navy athletics announced Tuesday morning that fans will not be allowed to attend the Oct. 10 contest against Temple. Athletic director Chet Gladchuk remained hopeful state and county government officials will relax restrictions in time to welcome fans for subsequent home games against Houston (Oct. 24), Tulsa (Nov. 7) and Memphis (Nov. 14).

“Governing agencies remain consistent in their position that fans in the stands, even socially distanced and with a wide-array of protocols in place, present a concerning risk for COVID transmission,” Gladchuk said in a statement. “There are still three opportunities where improving conditions may dictate justification to open our gates in a setting with extensive safety protocols.”

Gladchuk told The Capital the ban on fans extends to the Brigade of Midshipmen for the second straight home game. The Naval Academy Athletic Association applied to the governor’s office for a special exception to allow a portion of the brigade to attend the season opener against BYU and was denied.

Gladchuk noted the previous NAAA argument that midshipmen were in a bubble and therefore safer than average Anne Arundel County citizens was no longer valid. That’s because the Commandant of Midshipmen has granted limited liberty the last two weekends.

Adding to frustrations is the fact the Corps of Cadets has been allowed to attend Army West Point home football games, while the Cadet Wing will be in attendance at Saturday’s Navy at Air Force contest.