As SUNY Cortland and Ithaca College anticipate their annual Cortaca Jug football rivalry, we look back at the history and origins of one of the biggest games in Division III football.
The Cortaca Jug returns to Butterfield Stadium
Saturday, November 15th, the Cortland Red Dragons will take on the Ithaca Bombers at Butterfield Stadium in Ithaca, NY, for the highly anticipated annual Cortaca Jug game. Between SUNY Cortland’s Red Dragons and the Ithaca College Bombers, there has been an ongoing football rivalry dating back to 1930. “The biggest little game in the nation” is how it is described by sportswriter John Walters in 1991. While Ithaca leads the Cortaca Jug series, excitement has been building as the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons prepare for the game.
Origins of the Cortaca Jug
The Cortaca Jug has been the trophy awarded to the winning team since 1959. The trophy was created as an idea from a Cortland captain at the time, Tom Decker, with the help of his friend Dick Carmean, who together bought a ceramic milk jug for $2 at a yard sale. This jug was eventually painted in Cortland’s red and white and Ithaca’s blue and gold. After the Red Dragons defeated Ithaca 13-7 in 1959, they were awarded the first Cortaca Jug. Every year since, the score of the rivalry game is added to the jug. In 1985, a second jug was created as the original one ran out of room for scores, and a third was created in 2016.
Evolution over time
Although Ithaca currently leads the series, winning 38 of 62 games since 1959, the rivalry continues to live up to the hype. 31 of the games have been decided by a touchdown or less, with some games even ending in a tie. SUNY Cortland won seven straight games from 2010 to 2016. Including one game in 2014, which made ESPN’s list of the top 10 college football plays of the year. Between 1969 and 1995, Ithaca didn’t lose a Cortaca Jug game at home. Both colleges have been able to dominate this game at different times. In 2019, when the teams played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, they set an NCAA Division III record for 45,161 fans. Another big milestone for the Cortaca Jug series was when it was played at Yankee Stadium in 2022.
Cultural Impact
As excitement builds for the 66th edition of the Cortaca Jug game, we can look at how it is more than just a football game. The anticipation it builds for students, staff, and alumni is significant to the campus and the surrounding community. Immersing yourself in the spirit of SUNY Cortland and experiencing one of the top rivalry games in the NCAA Division III conference is not one you’ll want to miss. For students, the week leading up to Cortaca is filled with school spirit, pep rallies, and merchandise events before kickoff. For alumni, while most return to campus, there are also watch parties hosted across the country, such as CortaCal in Los Angeles and NYCortaca in New York City. Through both towns of Ithaca and Cortland, the football rivalry has increased local businesses with lots of activity for restaurants, bars, hotels, etc. The Cortaca Jug series unites students, alumni, and fans across generations. Even though the Cortaca Jug is just a football game, the shared sense of school spirit and enthusiasm elevates it into a new atmosphere.
Conclusion of the Cortaca Jug
As the Cortaca Jug continues to evolve since 1930, it is a reminder of the pride, community, and spirit the colleges host. Whether you are watching the game this year from home, a watch party, or Butterfield Stadium, you are embracing the tradition that binds students, staff, and alumni. As the Red Dragons and Ithaca Bombers prepare to face again, no matter the outcome, the school spirit and legacy of the Cortaca Jug will continue on.