Problems in the Capitol are now breaching the gates of college football. The federal shutdown has broken through Mizzou football’s doors, affecting a historic and much-loved pre-game tradition. It’s tough seeing such an age-old practice being paused as the government deals with a crisis. On October 10, Mizzou football announced on social media that the shutdown has canceled the military flyover for Saturday’s game.

It’s a high-stakes game that demands the rollout of all the big guns as Alabama visits Columbia. It sure is a brutal blow to fans who are gearing up for some intense action. This move is a direct effect of the government trying to get past a funding crisis, as it operates under the federal shutdown. To keep fans entertained, Missouri State Highway Police will serve as the pregame color guard. Also absent is the much-loved ROTC Cannon Crew, which fired a cannon and also does push-ups after each Tigers score.

Missouri vs Alabama is going to be in the coverage of SEC Nation for the week, and The Paul Finebaum Show. The Tigers face their first-ranked opponent of the season in the Tide, which has now found its footing under Kalen DeBoer. These are among the top contenders for the SEC championship as well, making this game a crucial one for both Missouri and Alabama. But the skies are going to be empty before kickoff at Faurot Field is going to be a reminder for fans. This game is an important one for Faurot Field, and it deserves a display worth keeping fans talking about.

Military flyovers have been part of athletic events in the USA for the past 100 years. The first time those birds flew before a sporting event was during the 1918 World Series. That was in Chicago, as the Cubs sparred with the Red Sox. Flyovers are usually conducted to increase morale for the armed forces among the public, as they display their best. It also becomes a recruiting tactic, impacting hundreds of young, curious minds. Military flyovers have become a staple for key sporting events, like the NASCAR and the Super Bowl.

It also takes a lot of taxpayers’ money to put those birds in the air. The Super Bowl this year charged $1.25 extra from the 63,000 attendees for the flyover. The total cost for the seconds-long event was estimated to be around $80,000. According to the DoD, the total cost of the three bombers for the flyover of the 2020 Super Bowl was more than $155,000. Many have even called this short but long-running practice a waste of taxpayer funds. Some flyovers have been conducted for games held at indoor stadiums, and the only people who could see them were the fans who watched the game from home.

The military flyover is a staple of college football as a whole, but it is a constant tradition for the Army-Navy rivalry game. Every year, without fail, both units send their best to the sky to dazzle audiences. These events are also an opportunity for the military to impress audiences with some of its most prized possessions. The 2024 Rose Bowl saw a rare appearance of the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber. In the 2018 National Championship game, an even rarer sight was spared by the U-2 spy plane, aka the Dragon Lady.

However, not a lot can be done as the US deals with a funding crisis. The aviation industry as a whole is taking a huge hit. Flight traffic is seeing delays as air traffic controllers are on a shortage. Employees are also working without pay, further highlighting the dire state of how dire the situation. Even the Essential Air Service, which helps rural locations avail flights, is being impacted. It’s no surprise, then, that military flyovers at sporting events are also seeing effects of the crisis. This federal government shutdown follows that of the December 2018-January 2019 shutdown, the longest in national history.

This is not the first game that the federal shutdown has affected. The military flyover was canceled for the Texas A&M-Mississippi State Bulldogs game last week. Along with Faurot Field on Saturday, even Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium was due to see a military flyover for the Arkansas game. This is the second straight year Tennessee fans are missing a military flyover. The one that happened last year was canceled because of a late kickoff and civil twilight restrictions. With 2 games already canceling their military flyovers, this practice might snowball as the season progresses.