Ball State football team meets with Congressman Luke Messer

Despite the federal government's shutdown, Ball State’s football team met with Rep. Luke Messer (R-Ind.) at the U.S. Capitol today.

The team's planned tour with the Capitol Visitor Center was cancelled, but Messer invited them to meet with him and see the Statuary Hall and House Floor, a representative for Messer said

“In the short time we spent together, it was obvious that the team is full of great young men who are learning lessons that will not only make them successful on the field, but also in life,” Messer said in a press release. “I wish them the best of luck in tomorrow’s game against Virginia.”

Messer said he played football as a backup middle linebacker at Wabash College.

The team is in Virginia for Saturday's game against the University of Virginia.

Messer recently visited Ball State on Sept. 6 to present the university with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Achievement Certificate for its increase in international students.