PHOTO: Cortland celebrates after winning the first Cortaca Jug game (screen capture from Ithaca College video)
By Fran Elia, Cortland Sports Information Director
The 2019 Cortaca Jug rivalry game between Cortland and Ithaca College will be played Nov. 16 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., with the schools hoping to break the Division III football attendance record of 37,355 set by Minnesota schools St. Thomas and St. John’s at Target Field in Minneapolis in September 2017.
General Ticket Sales Web Site |
Info for Cortland Student Ticket Sales
Each game week as the big event nears we’ll be taking a look back at some of the top Cortland memories from past Cortaca Jug games.
Flashbacks from the entire series:
1988 Red Dragons Win "Upstate NY Game of the Century"
Botched Field Goal Turns Into Cortaca Jug’s Most Memorable Play in 2014 Red Dragon Victory
Red Dragons Beat Undefeated and Defending National Champ Bombers in Wild 1992 Contest
Cortland Wins Thriller at Ithaca in 1997 for First Road Win vs. Bombers in 30 Years
Cortland Pulls Off Two of Cortaca’s Largest Comebacks in 1999 and 2010
Red Dragons Work Overtime for Back-to-Back Wins in 2005 and 2006
Late Heroics Lead to Unexpected Road Wins in 2003 and 2013
Cortland's Three Largest Cortaca Jug Wins (1968, 1996, 2011)
Goal-Line Stands Lead Red Dragons to 2002 and 2012 Cortaca Victories
Cortland Wins Inaugural Cortaca Jug game in 1959
“Honorable Mentions” that almost made our list:
2015:
Cortland won 11-8 at Ithaca to clinch the Empire 8 crown
1982: Cortland rallied from a 17-7 deficit at home behind TD runs from Mike Bowe and Dave Cook to win 21-17 to end Ithaca’s nine-game Cortaca streak, prompting
one of the few photos ever of players celebrating with the Jug after the game
This week’s flashback:
Cortland Wins the Inaugural Cortaca Jug Game, 13-7, in 1959
Cortland and Ithaca began playing football in 1930, and the teams faced each other 16 times from that first game through the 1958 season. The rivalry, however, took a big step in 1959 when Cortland captain Tom Decker ’61 and his friend, Ithaca captain Dick Carmean, found a moonshine jug at a local yard sale in Homer and decided to convert it into a traveling trophy for the winner of the annual game between the Central New York foes. It was painted red, blue and yellow to utilize both schools’ colors and was given the name “Cortaca Jug” to feature parts of both schools’ names.
The first Cortaca Jug game was played on October 17, 1959, at Ithaca’s South Hill Field, which had opened just one year prior (it was later renamed Butterfield Stadium in September 1992 in honor of legendary Ithaca head coach Jim Butterfield, who coached the Bombers from 1967-94; he passed away in 2002).
Cortland won the game, 13-7, despite being outgained 210-173 in total offense. The Red Dragons completed only 2-of-9 passes for 24 yards but rushed for 149 yards, including Ron Riccio’s 49-yard touchdown run in the second half – one play after an Ithaca fumble – along with Dom Copozzi’s extra point kick for the game’s final score. Ithaca led 7-0 on a John Cashman 2-yard TD run, halfbacks Riccio and Decker helped mount a drive that was capped by quarterback Gene Fitzpatrick’s 1-yard TD plunge that cut the deficit to 7-6.
Ira Sheier ’62 covered the game for Cortland’s student newspaper, the Hilltop Press, and the highlights above are from his game story. (Sheier passed away in 2012 at age 72). Some of his other observations included:
“The author traveled to nearby Ithaca and braved the cold and rain to witness the Dragons defeat Ithaca. It also meant that Cortland would now take possession of the “Cortica,” a jug that will go to the winner of the annual game between the two schools.” (Editor’s note: Yes, Sheier misspelled Cortaca – something many after him also have done.)
“The team is always up for this game and perhaps this will give them even more incentive in the future, and should make for a real fine game.”
“The spirit of the Ithaca club was high, even in defeat. Each break from the huddle was followed by a spontaneous clap and shout from each of the eleven Bombers. Whenever a new platoon came in they came in shouting, running and together. This was a great asset to them, as it would be to any team, and I dare say a few Cortland followers were amazed by this show.”
“The spirit and enthusiasm of Ithaca College spread to some of the student body. The yellow block I.C., and Ithaca beat Cortland were painted in many obvious spots around campus, including the parking attendants booth and a very large one on the retaining wall of Prospect Terrace in front of Sig Rho.”
Decker passed away on November 11, 2015, at age 78. Just prior to his passing he recorded an interview (below) with the Cortland Alumni Association talking about the Cortaca Jug origins. Dick Carmean graduated from Ithaca in 1960 and was in attendance in the press box at the 2018 Cortaca Jug game at the SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex.
Also, the first 12 seconds of the video below (a nice story about Ithaca alum and former Cortland coach Larry Czarnecki) features Riccio’s winning TD run and Cortland players celebrating with the new Cortaca Jug.
