Despite the offseason looming large in Division 3 football, the Red Dragons continue to build toward future success.
While Cortland football finished as the 18th-ranked team in Division 3, players and coaches agree that their quest to surpass that feat starts now.
Under head coach Curt Fitzpatrick, Cortland football has an overall record of 20-3 in two seasons. This record includes back-to-back Empire 8 conference championships and NCAA playoff berths each season.
Coach Fitzpatrick would likely differ these accomplishments to the players, while the players would credit the hard work throughout the spring and training camp to such.
Rising sophomore edge rusher Aden Wiser was complimentary to the program standard. He said, “Spring ball feels like a fresh start. There’s an intense energy to each repetition because we all feel like we have something to prove.” He continues, “Compared to fall practices where we all have a specific role, the spring allows for an intense focus on the fundamentals.”
When contrasting Division 1 and Division 3 athletics, many cite size and strength as the difference. While Cortland Football can’t change a player’s size, they do work hard to improve the strength of their players.
Starting in the last week of January, players endure a grueling three-day lifting schedule in addition to two-day conditioning sessions each week. This regimen continues until the start of on-field practices beginning in late March.
Wiser adds, “Our strength, speed, and football IQ have all improved dramatically since the ‘22 season. The game has slowed down for me as these aspects of my game have improved.”
Following NCAA restrictions, division 3 football programs are permitted to practice a maximum of sixteen times. Just four of those practices can be in shoulder pads. The regulations allow for formed tackling and equipment drilling but not wrap-up or tackles to the ground.
All staffers would note the value of these practices, even despite the restrictions. Dylan Dubuque, who’s entering his second year as the team’s corners coach, said, “The biggest thing at this stage is patience. Patience in understanding the detail-oriented process that will lead toward success come week one.”
As Cortland football team 118 continues to work through their spring practices, they acknowledge that the foundation is laid for success in late November now.
Through reworking basic pass/run concepts, block/rush technique, and tackling/cut drilling, the coaching staff looks to hammer down the fundamentals to allow for success come training camp in August.
Despite finishing the year 9-2 with a scoring differential of +304, the team was knocked out of the NCAA playoffs in round one of the tournament. With incoming freshmen arriving for training camp, the spring allows rising sophomore and redshirt players to further develop their skills while repetitions are still plentiful.
“Spring ball allows us players to evolve our game in time for week one,” Wiser concludes.