SUNY Cortland Athletics

* In 1960, the Cortland C-Club was created to “foster an interest in the continued development and support of the athletic program at Cortland, promote greater interest and good fellowship among Cortland College alumni, and bring greater prestige to the College through its athletic program.”

* Eight years later, the organization became a chartered organization under the umbrella of the Cortland College Alumni Association. Parameters were established for membership, donations, privileges, dues, administrative structure, committees and publications.

* The C-Club’s Organizational Committee — Whitney T. Corey ’43, dean of Health, Physical Education and Recreation; Robert Weber, chair of the Physical Education Department; Francis Woods ’56, director of athletics; Nick Pauldine ’54, alumni director; and William Tomik ’51, a faculty member — set about creating a C-Club Hall of Fame.

* Established in 1969, the C-Club Hall of Fame recognizes Cortland alumni who have since distinguished themselves in their professions and within their communities. Honorary members are recognized for their long and significant contributions to SUNY Cortland athletics. Leo “Red” Meldrim ’30, Merlin W. Hathaway ’40, Whitney T. “Pete” Corey ’43, John Moiseichick ’69, John Glinski ’54 and George Breen ’56 were the inaugural inductees. Every year since then, new members have been inducted into what has become one of the oldest and most prestigious small college athletic halls of fame in the nation.

* With insufficient staff and funds to adequately support the C-Club, the Alumni Association Board of Directors voted in 1976 to end its direct supervision of the C-Club. That action followed a study of alumni affairs at Cortland  by the Operation Update Committee, which recommended that the full sponsorship of C-Club rest with those most interested in and concerned with fostering its success.

* For the next three years, the C-Club operated under its 1968 by-laws with the men’s athletic administrator serving as director. In April 1979, a C-Club Reorganization Committee meeting was called by Merle Rousey, dean of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. The meeting’s two-fold purpose was to comply with Title IX mandates and Operation Update Committee recommendations.  

* Following spring and summer deliberations, the 1979 revised C-Club by-laws were accepted by the College and the Physical Education Department.

* The new C-Club administrative structure included: Vince Gonino, men’s athletic director and C-Club chair; Roger Sipher, presidential designee, Merle Rousey, dean of Health Physical Education and Recreation; Robert Weber, Men’s Physical Education Department chair; Norma Carr, Women’s Physical Education Department; Betsy East, acting director of women’s Athletics; Chuck Winters, men’s coach; Judy Novinc, women’s coach; Nick Rama, MAA student; Anna Meyer, WAA student; and a local C-Club member.

* The President’s Athletic Advisory Committee recommended to the President that the C-Club become an independent organization and that the College Alumni Association Office continue to support the C-Club until the organization could become incorporated.

* John Morgan, a Cortland resident, was placed on a retainer by the C-Club to foster public relations and generate revenue for the College’s athletic program. Homecoming Weekend was designated as the annual date for the C-Club Hall of Fame induction banquet.

* During the 1981-82 academic year, athletic roundtable meetings reviewed ways to streamline intercollegiate athletic expenses. They recommended an annual financial review with an appraisal of  financial needs of teams and athletes undertaken prior to setting annual C-Club fund-raising goals. It was also determined that the C-Club should not be incorporated as an independent non-profit organization.

* In September 1982, a published SUNY Cortland Athletic Policy Statement outlined the institutional philosophy regarding the athletic program. The athletic teams, it was noted, had significant impact on the educational and recreation life of the institution and the community. In addition, the statement cited the tremendous public relations force for the College and it’s state and national impact.

* The report stated that the C-Club would be administered by an Executive Committee whose members would include: the College president or his/her designee, dean of professional studies, chair of men’s and women’s Physical Education Departments, the director of athletics, two full-time faculty coaches, student representatives, and the director of college relations and development.

* The 1982 directive also recommended financial reorganization, consideration of tax exempt status, strengthening bookkeeping practices, mementos purchasing policies, and meet NCAA compliance mandates.

* In addition, fund raising activities were to be reviewed as to their impact on the College Development Foundation and the Alumni Association. The majority of athletic funding had been provided by the Cortland College Student Association (CCSA) and the Auxiliary Services Corporation. CCSA decided to continue providing financial support for intercollegiate athletes but by making a gift to College with the Administration determining how this would be spent.

* This seminal report recommended that the SUNY Cortland president authorize the C-Club to “function as an athletic booster organization designed to promote and support intercollegiate athletics for men and women.” A plan was developed to establish the C-Club as an agency account within ASC which would provide the necessary accounting and booking services. A Foundation Board appointed a sub-committee to consider acceptance of gifts to intercollegiate athletics.

* In Sept., 14, 1982, the Cortland College Foundation Board of Directors accepted the report’s recommendations. The Foundation would not enter into any formal working relationship with the C-Club but would establish a “Red Dragon Fund” to serve as a receptacle for all athletic gifts and donations to the College. The College president would have discretion over the use of this fund. Funds would be considered as tax-deductible gift to the Foundation. No membership fee would be assessed.

* The report led to a new set of C-Club by-laws and the organization’s liaison with the College becoming the dean of professional studies.

* The concept of single “Red Dragon Fund” ended in 1986 and all C-Club memberships and all athletic donations were itemized in College Foundation accounts.

* In 1994, the C-Club Executive Committee took a new direction with the addition of two alumni members, Mary Morgan Hosking ‘53 and Bill Yelverton ’63,  who were not SUNY Cortland faculty, staff or administrators. A year later, the first major fund-raising project involving Hall of Fame members was launched. The three-year, $75,000 campaign would revamp and remodel the outdated Park Center Faculty/Staff Lounge into the Hall of Fame Room showcasing the College’s rich athletic tradition and the C-Club Hall of Fame members.

* In 1996, the C-Club Board added two more non-College employee alumni members were added and helped to write usage guidelines for the proposed Hall of Fame.

* The Hall of Fame Room was officially dedicated on Sept. 18, 1998. The facility features a College and athletic historical timeline and photos, trophy cases, memorabilia, elegant furniture and woodwork. The site quickly became a popular one for coaches and their recruits, returning alumni, and is the premier “lower campus” meeting room for SUNY Cortland faculty and staff.

* In 1998, Lee Roberts, SUNY Cortland’s director of athletics, initiated discussions with the Board of Directors outlining a major structural change that would lead to the C-Club becoming an organization with 100% alumni leadership. By this time, the Board had added eight Hall of Fame alumni members to its roster.

* In 1999, the Club's by-laws were rewritten and adopted, and interim officers were identified. In September 2000, the non-staff slate of Club officers was formally elected: Bill Yelverton ’63, President; Shirley Bowen ’64, VP; Mary Morgan Hosking ’53, Secretary and Dee Bogard, Treasurer.

* The C-Club adopted a new mission statement which emphasized support of Cortland athletics, perpetuation of the C-Club Hall of Fame, preservation of the rich athletic history of the College and an intention to grow the Club's membership.  A budget was established and fund-raising for history preservation projects were identified and supported. Meanwhile, a year-long recruitment effort to bolster the Board of Directors with new alumni members was launched. Those efforts lead to the election of 11 new alumni board members in October 2002.

* In fall 2001, a C-Club fund-raising initiative, the $30,000 “Hall of Fame... History Preserved” campaign got underway. At its core was the construction of a C-Club Web site to serve as an Internet archive of SUNY Cortland athletic and physical education historical information. Under the leadership of Bill Yelverton, '63, the project was completed in Fall 2003.

* Also in 2003, the C-Club began an aggressive plan to support all SUNY Cortland varsity athletic teams at their official alumni games during the 2003-04 academic year. The C-Club also launched a new membership drive and hopes to expand on its number of members and programs as well as its loyal service to the College in the years ahead.

* In 2004, the C-Club sponsored SUNY Cortland's  Annual  Athletic Banquet honoring over 600 student athletes.  The C-Club President presented an award to the 'outstanding' female and male athletes of the year.


2004-present

Under the leadership of C-Club Presidents Shirley Bowen '64 (2002-04), Lou Pettinelli '55 (2004-06) and Jim Codispoti '63 (2006-09), along with Athletic Director Joan Sitterly, the C-Club Board of Directors continues to fulfill the C-Club mission of maintaining and perpetuating the C-Club Hall of Fame and preserving the rich athletic history and tradition of the College.

Since 2004, the C-Club has continued to sponsor the Hall of Fame Weekend, the all-sports Athletic Awards Banquet, Classic Teams Reunions, and other special projects. The reunions have included the Roger Robinson football reception, the Blue Tunics and White Sneakers reunion for pre-Title IX women, the Hall of Fame reunion with the newly renovated Hall of Fame Wall in the Hall of Champions, and honoring the undefeated 1988 football team during the 50th Cortaca Jug game in 2008.

Projects have included the construction of the C-Club Pavilion, completion of the Cortland Through the Years Timeline, the start of the new Cortland in the 21st Century timeline, the C-Club Online Shopping Mall, and the revision of the C-Club Web site. The C-Club Connection, which appears on the Web site, was also initiated along with the C-Club Electronic Newsletter to provide periodic updates of C-Club activities.

C-Club receptions at selected home athletic contests have provided a hospitality area with light refreshments for parents, alumni and C-Club members to meet and socialize. The display case in the Hall of Fame Room has been used to show memorabilia of our classic teams and to recognize the careers of Cortland legends such as Whitney T. "Pete" Corey '43 and Sally Yaeger Wallace '53.

The C-Club Endowment for Cortland Athletics in the 21st Century has been established to provide long-term financial support for the C-Club while providing a significant avenue for leaving a legacy in support of our student-athletes.