Start Spreading the News: 2022 Cortaca Jug Football Game to be Played at Yankee Stadium

By David Maley, September 21, 2021

Cortaca will be part of first-ever IC Alumni Homecoming Weekend in New York City.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any bigger, the football rivalry between Ithaca College and SUNY Cortland is doing just that, with today’s announcement that the two institutions have accepted an invitation from the New York Yankees organization to play the 2022 Cortaca Jug at storied Yankee Stadium. The game will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12, with a 1 p.m. kickoff time.

The Ithaca Bombers and Cortland Red Dragons played the 2019 game across the Hudson River at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey as a Division III-record crowd of 45,161 fans watched IC win 32-20. Once referred to by Sports Illustrated as “the biggest little game in the nation,” the Cortaca Jug was not contested in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. This fall’s matchup will take place on Nov. 13 at SUNY Cortland.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Ithaca College community to experience our rivalry game in one of the world’s most iconic venues for sports, and we are thrilled that Yankee Stadium has extended an invitation for the 2022 Cortaca Jug matchup to take place there.”

Susan Bassett ’79, associate vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports at Ithaca College

Ithaca and Cortland will each be issued tickets in the fall of 2022 for sale to their students, faculty, and staff at a price of $24.50. Tickets will go on sale for the general public this fall, on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, with most seats priced from $24.50 to $69.50. Those tickets will be sold by online at www.ticketmaster.com, www.cortacajug.com and www.alumni.ithaca.edu/Cortaca22. All tickets will be delivered digitally, and mobile presentation will be the sole method of entry.

Ithaca College will also be holding its 2022 Alumni Homecoming Weekend Nov. 10-13 in the Big Apple, with a series of events being planned to take into account this unique location.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Ithaca College community to experience our rivalry game in one of the world’s most iconic venues for sports, and we are thrilled that Yankee Stadium has extended an invitation for the 2022 Cortaca Jug matchup to take place there,” said Susan Bassett ’79, associate vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports at Ithaca College. “We want students, alumni, family and friends to be part of this remarkable event, just as they were in 2019. And, just like last time, we will engage and empower the entire campus community through experiential learning activities that take advantage of the New York City setting. We are so fortunate that a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity is coming twice. As an Ithaca College graduate, I couldn’t be more excited for my alma mater; and as director of athletics, I couldn’t be more happy for our student-athletes.”

“We are looking forward to rolling out the pinstriped carpet and welcoming Ithaca and Cortland to the Yankee Stadium lineup. We believe we have the opportunity to have a sellout crowd and we are intent on creating a memorable experience for the teams and for their fans.”

Mark Holtzman, vice president of non-baseball sports events for the Yankees

Left to right: Dan Swanstrom, head coach football, Ithaca College; Susan Bassett ’79, associate vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports, Ithaca College; Mark Holtzman, vice president of non-baseball sports events for the Yankees; Mike Urtz, director of Athletics, Cortland; and Curt Fitzpatrick, head coach football, Cortland. (Photo by Natalie Daffinee)

While the stadium is best known as the home of baseball’s Bronx Bombers, it has also seen its share of memorable football games and currently hosts the annual New Era Pinstripe Bowl.

According to Mark Holtzman, vice president of non-baseball sports events for the Yankees, it was observing the success of the 2019 Cortaca Jug that inspired the organization to extend the invitation to the two schools.

“We are looking forward to rolling out the pinstriped carpet and welcoming Ithaca and Cortland to the Yankee Stadium lineup,” said Holtzman. “We believe we have the opportunity to have a sellout crowd and we are intent on creating a memorable experience for the teams and for their fans.”

Alumni Weekend in NYC
And while the Cortaca Jug will be a centerpiece of Ithaca College’s Alumni Homecoming Weekend, it will by no means be the only game in town, with the annual Alumni Awards Celebration, Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and dinners and receptions for celebrated class years among the events being planned.

“We are pleased to announce that the Marriott Marquis, in the heart of Times Square, will serve as the exclusive host hotel for the weekend, with special rates for our alumni,” said Wendy Kobler, Ithaca College’s vice president for philanthropy and engagement. “We anticipate attracting our substantial alumni population in the metro area, bringing IC grads from near and far together and connecting them with current students for a full slate of activities in the city that never sleeps. Stay tuned for more details over the coming months.”

The 2022 contest will serve as a home game for Ithaca College and mark the 63rd time that the two schools — located just 21 miles apart from each other in Upstate New York — have squared off for the Cortaca Jug.

The rivalry originated in 1959, when friends and respective team captains Tom Decker of Cortland and Dick Carmean of Ithaca picked up a jug at a yard sale to serve as the prize for the winner of the annual game between the schools. Each year’s result is painted on the Jug — the original one ran out of room for scores in the mid-1980s, and the teams are now on their third Jug. Ithaca currently leads the Cortaca Jug series 37–24.

For more information and regular updates on the 2022 Cortaca Jug and Ithaca College Alumni Homecoming Weekend, visit www.alumni.ithaca.edu/Cortaca22.

Joint Press Conference Announcing the 2022 Cortaca Jug.