Cortland announced Thursday that they would be hiring former Franklin & Marshall head coach Tom Blumenauer. Blumenauer met with the team for the first time on Saturday and expressed his gratitude and excitement.
“Juice.” That was the word that several Cortland football players used to describe Coach Blumenauer’s introductory meeting. A word that many players associate with high energy. That description was fitting, considering Coach Blu’s entrance was met with everything from cheers to fist pumps to barking noises and even a standing ovation. That reaction was appropriate, especially for a group of guys whose offseason has been filled with so much uncertainty.
In December, Curt Fitzpatrick announced that he would be stepping down as head coach and taking the same position at Colgate University. This jump has been a long time coming for Coach Fitz. In four seasons, Fitzpatrick led Cortland to a 45-5 record, four conference championships, four playoff appearances, and a National Championship in 2023.
That was far from the only coaching change. Offensive Coordinator Pat Rotchford followed Fitzpatrick to Colgate and will serve as their offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Cornerbacks coach Taj-Amir Torres resigned from his position, and just this Friday, Defensive Coordinator Steve Cushing announced that he would be taking over as head coach at his alma mater, Misericordia University.
There is no denying that Coach Blu will have big shoes to fill, but that is something that he understands. It is clear that he does not lack confidence, and his new players can see that. “As soon as he walked in, you could tell he was ready to get after it,” said senior linebacker, Matt Lotter. Junior defensive back, Alex DeRosa said: “His initial message ‘we’re just getting started’ reflects a clear vision not to rebuild, but to sustain and elevate the program’s dominance.”
Not much building will need to be done anyway. Blumenauer inherits a very talented roster that features a group of upperclassmen who know what it takes to win a National Championship, and an extremely motivated group of underclassmen. “This was the best job in the nation, and I wanted in” says Blumenauer.
After all, there are not many jobs at the Division III level where you get to compete for a National Championship or even play in some of the big games that Cortland does each season. None bigger than their yearly matchup with Ithaca. A matchup that Blumenauer knows all too well.
Blumenauer began his playing career at the University of Connecticut, before transferring to Ithaca as a junior. He spent two seasons as an outside linebacker for the Bombers and was a two-time All-Empire 8 selection. After graduating in 2007, Blumenauer spent a year on the Ithaca coaching staff as a student assistant. Blumenauer understands all there is to know about Cortaca and comes in with the perspective of not just a coach but as a player too. “At first you kind of question it…but when you think about it, it is an advantage for us because of how bad he wants to beat them,” said senior offensive lineman, Jayden Lont. “In the meeting, he made it clear that his Bomber life is in the past, and he is a Red Dragon now,” added Lont.
Cortland and Ithaca don’t meet until the final week of the regular season, and the first game is still well over six months away, but it’s hard not to get excited. This historic rivalry gains a new chapter, and the Red Dragon’s trip to Butterfield Stadium in November will mean a whole lot more this time around.
Spring practices don’t begin until the end of March, but many players are very eager to get back on the field. One player in particular is junior wide receiver, Joe Iadevaio. Iadevaio was sidelined for the entire 2024 season with a torn ACL. The injury came after a stellar sophomore season, highlighted by two touchdown receptions in the National Championship. “I can’t wait to get to work with him [Blumenauer] and get back to playing, especially coming off an injury,” said Iadevaio. “The whole team is excited about Coach Blu, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this group.”
The Cortland football team has been dealt a difficult hand this offseason, but if you ask any of the players, they will tell you that adversity is a good thing. The hiring of Coach Blumenauer ends what has been a hectic process, to say the least. A new era of Cortland football begins this fall, and the players have a lot to be excited about. Just ask Matt Lotter, “We would run through a brick wall for this guy.”