Ok it is a little late but here goes.......
-Who has more motivation for this game? From reading some of the around the east notes on the Ithaca season, it seems like the Ithaca kids are saying the right things, and more importantly, doing the right things. It's nice to see an Ithaca team win the games they need to win to get to this point. Real funny to see that they were basically one crappy loss away from an undefeated season, and probably the first ever?
-Weather report for tomorrow? Although I haven't been to Ithaca in over 5 years, the grass could be a factor. As nice as it looks in August (probably the nicest field in the country in my biased opinion), the grass can get sloppy in November. Will warm temps today loosen up that soil?
-As for playing on that surface, I always thought it would give the defense (Ithaca) the advantage, but that never seems to be the case in Cortaca games. Loose turf sometimes hurts the defense if defenders/tacklers are falling down.
-Is Cortland a defeated team? Can they get up for this game? What is the inside scoop on what this team is about?
-And finally, are there enough Phys Ed. jobs for the 2014-2015 school year available for Cortland football players who are thinking about their future careers?
I'm just disappointed that this thread bumped the "2010 Alfland Mug" thread to the second page.
Ithaca's got to be the more motivated team. A win practically guarantees a home playoff game in the first round. Given the teams likely to be in the bracket (Outside of Mount and Hobart) and Ithaca's limitations, home field could very well be the difference in a game against Gallaudet or Rowan—just to throw a couple of names out there. 10-2 looks a heck of a lot better than 8-3. I've heard stories of a playoff-bound IC team of year's past letting a loss to Cortland just take the wind out of the sails, and though it was awhile ago, you never really know how guys are going to react.
I mean, you could argue the whole "Cortland's the underdog" thing, but they've also won the last three jugs, and in some ways, I think that gives Ithaca underdog status in the rivalry.
What struck me about Cortland is that their special teams unit might be better than Ithaca's. Their kicker is 10X11 on FGs, 7-for-8 on kicks longer than 30 yards. He's also got 19 touchbacks.
Cortland's return game will be interesting. They have three touchdowns on kick returns, but two of those TD's were by guys who don't seem to be the primary returners (Peebles has returned two of his six kicks for 80+ yards). Autera also has a 97-yard TD return, but he's averaging just 16.8 yards on his other 25 returns. Contrast that to Carney for Ithaca who, after his longest is taken out, is averaging 24.5 yards on 12 returns.
In short, I think Cortland might be dangerous to break a kick, but if they don't, they could struggle with field position.
Offensively, Cortland's sort of a one-man show passing-wise. John Babin is flat out nasty. 64-1,000-11 nasty. But the rest of the passing game? Color me unimpressed. The two other receivers the Red Dragons started in their last game, Nate Burgo and Joel Nunez, have a combined 16 catches for 206 yards on the season. I don't know if Ithaca can cover Babin, but I feel confident they'll be okay with the rest of them.
Running wise, I just don't think Cortland's very good. Taking out Hughes (since Grassi started last game and Hughes didn't play, this seems logical), you have Autera and Peebles, who have combined for 796 yards rushing. Which isn't bad except 304, or 40 percent of those yards came against Morrisville State last week. Since Morrisville allows about 85 rushing yards more per game than Ithaca, I think it might be an exception, not a rule. Autera had 75 carries for 223 yards heading into the Morrisville game and Peeples had 70 for 270.
I don't know, maybe Grassi's the difference maker in the offense, because he gets Babin going. But again, it's not like Morrisville State plays defense like Ithaca does.
Defensively, Cortland's got a great line (34 sacks in 9 games) which has been the key to their dominance of Ithaca. The secondary looks a little suspect though. Despite 15 interceptions, they're allowing 60% of passes to be completed, and have given up 18 TDs. Contrasting to Ithaca, the Bombers have allowed just 53% of passes to be completed and given up just 8 TD's, despite a mediocre pass rush (18 sacks in, if we're being honest, 8 games).
This feels like a 20-16 game where there are five field goals, two of the three touchdowns are special teams scores (or directly set up by a big special teams play) and the team that has the one breakdown or dumb penalty on defense loses
This is a tough game for the Bombers. Cortland is playing to validate their season and nothing would make the Snooki punching Red Dragons happier than to defeat their NCAA bound rivals. Dlip remembers 2006 six well when NCAA bound Union faced rival RPI on 86 field and lost. The loss absolutely deflated the Dutchmen and Dlip strongly believes played a role in the Dutchmen getting their asses handed to them at SJF in the first round the following week. Dlip real hopes that does not happen to IC.
Cstate is sad.....Cstate is sad that this years post has three replies the Friday night before the game.....Cstate is sad that a broken ankle will cause him to miss only the second Cortaca since 2003 his freshman year.....Cstate is sad because after his sister graduates this year he will have no ticket connections on campus which means cortaca is in jeopardy because every drunk kid who doesn't know the starting QB gets a ticket but the alumni who care about football are shut out....
Cstate will be happy with a Red Dragon win.
Quote from: cstate19 on November 15, 2013, 07:52:03 PM
Cstate is sad.....Cstate is sad that this years post has three replies the Friday night before the game.....Cstate is sad that a broken ankle will cause him to miss only the second Cortaca since 2003 his freshman year.....Cstate is sad because after his sister graduates this year he will have no ticket connections on campus which means cortaca is in jeopardy because every drunk kid who doesn't know the starting QB gets a ticket but the alumni who care about football are shut out....
Cstate will be happy with a Red Dragon win.
I can always hook you up with a ticket. Message me next year if you need one
Dlip loves the offer to share here between the Bomber and Red Dragon! :o
Cortland is a horrible place.
Quote from: tecmobowler on November 16, 2013, 06:32:35 AM
Cortland is a horrible place.
Can a place with an apple named after it be so horrible?
Cort·land [kawrt-luhnd] noun
a city in central New York.
Cort·land [kawrt-luhnd] noun
1. a crisp, red variety of apple.
2. a tree bearing this fruit.
Origin: 1940–45; Americanism
On Saxon Warriors!
7-0 Cortland, late in the 1st quarter. #60 for Cortland holds on the TD run but it wasn't called.
Ah well.
I love these student reporters. They always bring up some weird stat they think will be a factor.
The IC one said something about the Hartwick game was the only game this year where Ithaca didn't score first and they lost.....until last week where SU scored first and they won.
Quote from: Jonny "Utes" Utah on November 16, 2013, 12:31:42 PM
I love these student reporters. They always bring up some weird stat they think will be a factor.
The IC one said something about the Hartwick game was the only game this year where Ithaca didn't score first and they lost.....until last week where SU scored first and they won.
Yeah, that was slightly bizarre. Always fun to see how the students will try to impress.
And once again, special teams creating offense. It is amazing to see, I just hope Ithaca doesn't need that every week to win now.
Great game so far
YIKES! McNeil narrowly avoids being the goat there.....terrible decision at the end of the half....HUGE drive for the bombers to get to 14-14.......Auteras fumble was a killer.....looked like IC had no answer for Cortlands overload blitz early but they seem to have adjusted (#21 making some nice cut blocks)
In for a great second half
Is anyone else watching these three Ithaca students talking about the first half of this game?
It is pure comedy.
And you know what, since these three idiots continue to question the play of the players, I feel I have the right to say something about them.
They are horrible, and if there was an E8 for student reporters, they would be the 2004 Norwich of that E8.
Ithaca's got to do better in containing the big plays. Cortland averaged almost 7 and a half yards a play in the first half, and while it is not likely to continue, the Bombers can only go as far as the defense contains the Dragons.
Deep fade up the sideline for Babin and Cstate.
21-14 Cortland early in the 3rd.
Bombers have a kickoff return out to the Cortland 40. Penalty though starts them off on their own 10.
Bombers get picked off in the end zone on a not good pass play. Cortland remains up 21-14 late in the 3rd.
EDIT- and Cortland escapes what could have been a big flip: Dragons fumble the ball deep in their own territory, but are able to just pick it up to prevent an auto first and and goal for IC.
Cortland punts.
Bomber gets the ball, and for the first time in probably the last 1,000 running plays I've seen Ithaca run in the last 7 years, the running back is able to cut back on an inside zone and pick up a nice 50 yard run to the Corltland 10.
That was frosh running back Evan Skea.
3rd and goal for the bombers.
TD bombers.
Nice throw from Dempsey to Lynch for a 8 yard catch.
End of the 3rd.
21-21 tie.
Cortland ball around the Ithaca 40 or so.
Another muffed punt return by Cortland.
Ithaca recovers at the Cortland 20.
2nd and 8 at the 18 for the bombers.
FG bombers
24-21 Ithaca.
9:29 left in the game.
Once again, Ithaca winning dependent on the special teams landing another big play (or in today's game 2) and then the kicking having to bring in more scoring. At least they seem to be consistent in their ability to come up with the big moments they need.
Wow Autera again.
And now the bombers return a punt 40+ yards to the Cortland 20
And now Ithaca fumbles and Cortland gets it back at the 30!
Cortland drive stalls and punts.
2nd and 8 for the bombers around their own 12
Ithaca running some clock. Gets a first down.
About 3:30 in the game. 1st and 10 around the IC 30
Bombers going to punt with 2:36 left in the game.
Autera not back there. Cortland lets it bounce, 1st and 10 at their own 25.
Cortland TD.
Deep pass to Babbin down the sideline.
That kid is a beast and there simply is no one on Ithaca that can out jump that kid for a pass like that.
28-24 Cortland.
1:07 left in the game. Kickoff to come. 3 timeouts for the bombers.
Bombers 2 quick first downs and now have the ball at midfield. 2 timeouts left. 40 seconds left in the game.
Ithaca fumbles.
Game over.
It is official.
Final
Cortland 28
Ithaca 24
Ah well. On to the playoffs I guess.....oh god and as I type this, I am listening to these 3 baffoons on the ICTV talk about the dam game. Is this D-bag really questioning the bombers heart! Did I actually hear this C@#%$@# say that?
(Nice F-bomb by Babin in the interview though!)
Oh great, I guess they are telling Cortland now that it is "simple" football to catch punts. I'm embarrassed by ICTV right now. Students or not, this is horrible.
Arrghh. I'm out.
Overall, that seemed to be the way it should go- the Bombers were only in the game largely on the back of two special teams miscues. Ithaca had 38 minutes of possession and yet got fewer offensive yards while Cortland averaged 6.77 yards a play. The Red Dragons earned that one, so congrats to them.
Quote from: BomberJeff on November 16, 2013, 02:40:09 PM
Overall, that seemed to be the way it should go- the Bombers were only in the game largely on the back of two special teams miscues. Ithaca had 38 minutes of possession and yet got fewer offensive yards while Cortland averaged 6.77 yards a play. The Red Dragons earned that one, so congrats to them.
Agreed. Cortland looked better, and had the best player on the field with Babbin. but the bombers could have won this game.
Those folks on the halftime/ post game show were pretty brutal.
Quote from: tecmobowler on November 16, 2013, 02:57:28 PM
Those folks on the halftime/ post game show were pretty brutal.
It was worse after the game. The d-bag on the right actually questioned the bombers heart. I had to turn it off.
Quote from: Jonny "Utes" Utah on November 16, 2013, 02:42:53 PM
Agreed. Cortland looked better, and had the best player on the field with Babbin. but the bombers could have won this game.
I will agree Ithaca could have won this game, but here's the problem: the offense has not been a strong suit for IC at any point this year, and while having special teams domination is nice (this might go down as the first team I have seen dragged by its punters and kickers into a playoff), it can't be enough on its own. That leaves the defense, and as you said, they just could not stop Babbin, and honestly, the defense has been slowing the last few weeks. We'll see if they can organize it back together for the playoffs.
Another great game from two very good teams.
Babin!! Section IX! 4 in a row!!! Can one of you alumni tell this year's seniors what touching the Jug feels like since they sure as heck don't know?
Ooga Booga Bombers!
Quote from: cstate19 on November 16, 2013, 03:49:04 PM
Another great game from two very good teams.
Babin!! Section IX! 4 in a row!!! Can one of you alumni tell this year's seniors what touching the Jug feels like since they sure as heck don't know?
Ooga Booga Bombers!
I touched your moms jugs.
Quote from: Jonny "Utes" Utah on November 16, 2013, 07:39:27 PM
I touched your moms jugs.
The first time in years that I've literally laughed out loud on a Cortaca board. +k
That's the comment that finally made you "lol". Sounds like you belong in my third period sophmore class (not gym).
Riots in the streets here in Cortland. This was a bit win, but a riot?
Honestly, I have to be the only townie is Cortland that likes Cortaca. Big win for Cortland, but IC has bigger fish to fry. Fun stuff today.
Got back from church and my father in law showed me the clips of the riots and celebration going on at Clayton avenue. Good Morning America covered the story. Game was legit and I guess the post game parties even more so!
Quote from: XREDDRAGON77 on November 17, 2013, 10:19:45 AM
Got back from church and my father in law showed me the clips of the riots and celebration going on at Clayton avenue. Good Morning America covered the story. Game was legit and I guess the post game parties even more so!
Driving around town today it looks awful. Kids must have had a lot of fun. I have lived in Cortland most of my life, and I don't ever remember it getting out of control like yesterday. The townies are much more upset than usual.
I was a part of the '97 and '99 wins and never did anything like that happen. I was at my local Liqour store getting some spirits Saturday night and the shop owner commented on my Cortland T. He knew of the Jug game and told me that his son went up with some friends to experience the event. I could be wrong, but there seems to be a lot of friends, and friends of friends that show up on Cortaca weeeknd and care even less about the town than the most disrespectful of students!
Good Morning America claimed that there were over 6,000 people on the streets. That;s an interesting number as the total student body is around 6,500. I was also told that the lunacy began as the game ended. The number of knuckleheads may not have even initially included the several thousand that were at the game!
My heart goes out to the citizens of Cortland who suffered property losses and any other setbacks that were related to the mob mentality.
Quote from: XREDDRAGON77 on November 17, 2013, 07:58:56 PM
I was a part of the '97 and '99 wins and never did anything like that happen. I was at my local Liqour store getting some spirits Saturday night and the shop owner commented on my Cortland T. He knew of the Jug game and told me that his son went up with some friends to experience the event. I could be wrong, but there seems to be a lot of friends, and friends of friends that show up on Cortaca weeeknd and care even less about the town than the most disrespectful of students!
Good Morning America claimed that there were over 6,000 people on the streets. That;s an interesting number as the total student body is around 6,500. I was also told that the lunacy began as the game ended. The number of knuckleheads may not have even initially included the several thousand that were at the game!
My heart goes out to the citizens of Cortland who suffered property losses and any other setbacks that were related to the mob mentality.
Oh, there is no doubt. One of the more amusing things to see on Cortaca weekend is the following morning when hundreds of kids are walking around town with sleeping bags and pillows trying to find where there car or friends house is. I see it every year.
That is the biggest part of the problem. How can you hold the school 100% responsible when a lot of the problems come from off campus housing, visitors from other schools, and yes, even from townies themselves?
Thanks for ruining everything, Cortland
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/11/this_years_cortaca_game_might_have_been_the_last.html
Bitterbaum said he had talked to the president of Ithaca College and both are considering the idea of cancelling the game.
Stay Classy
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/college-students-from-suny-cortland-partied-so-hard-this-wee
Quote from: Bombers798891 on November 18, 2013, 05:12:58 PM
Thanks for ruining everything, Cortland
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/11/this_years_cortaca_game_might_have_been_the_last.html
Bitterbaum said he had talked to the president of Ithaca College and both are considering the idea of cancelling the game.
10 bucks says that if they cancel the Cortaca game, Cortland will still have a party weekend every year and no one will know exactly why. They'll just keep coming year after year to riot in the streets.