The Jug turns 50

The Ithacan, November 13, 2008


In 1959, Ithaca College football captain Dick Carmean ’60 and SUNY-Cortland football captain Tom Decker purchased a jug as a way to foster a rivalry between their two football teams. They had no idea that 50 years later their $2 jug would be the symbol of one of the longest and most storied college rivalries in the country.

This Saturday, the 50th Cortaca Jug game will be played at the SUNY-Cortland Stadium Complex in Cortland, N.Y. Once dubbed “the biggest little game in the country” by Sports Illustrated, the Cortaca Jug represents an intense rivalry between two schools separated by a 20-mile stretch on Route 13.

“[Cortaca] was sort of monumental in the sense that we’re so close, but there was such a bitter rivalry there,” said Michael Scott ’89, a senior on the 1988 national championship team.

Cortland and Ithaca began playing each other in 1930, but back then the game was for nothing more than bragging rights. Carmean said when the jug was introduced, the game escalated to a new level.

“We were just sitting there one day, and we said, ‘We ought to get something started between the two schools,’” Carmean said. “We discussed a number of things and we ended up on a jug. Then Tom Decker purchased the jug, and we found someone to do the painting for us. We went to the schools, and they agreed that maybe this would be a good thing to start so we started it.”

Ithaca holds a 32–17 lead in the series and currently has possession of the jug after last year’s 40–17 romp. But Carmean said the game has not always been the spectacle it is now.

“The first year it was nothing,” he said. “It wasn’t built up very much in those years. As the years went on and you got past 25 years it got to be a very serious thing.”

The 1988 game has been looked at as the defining moment in the rivalry. Cortland won the Cortaca Jug, but both teams entered the playoffs and met on South Hill in the first round.

“Because we previously played at Cortland, home field advantage had changed, so we had to play at Ithaca,” Scott said. “It was a decision made by NCAA, it wasn’t anything that [Head Coach Jim Butterfield] or the Cortland coach came up with, but it made for an interesting game in the fact that the Cortland fans thought we were getting some favorable treatment.”

Because of the immense animosity between the two fan bases, the game is more than just 60 minutes on a football field. It has morphed into a daylong event, with most students beginning the festivities in the morning and carrying on well into the night. All the energy from the students and fans creates a unique on-field experience for the players.

“You’re basically on a high,” Scott said. “It’s probably one of the best feelings you could have because you’re part of something that’s bigger than any one game you’ll ever play. Our national championship game wasn’t as tough fought and on an emotional high as that Cortaca Jug game.”

When the Bombers meet the Red Dragons, season records and standings get thrown out the window. Scott said it did not make a difference what his team’s record was when it came time for Cortaca. Bringing the jug to South Hill was the most important thing.

“Whether [we] were a losing team or had a losing record or not didn’t matter,” he said. “It meant bragging rights in that part of the state.”

Fifty years since Carmean and Decker’s jug was painted blue, gold, red and white, the rivalry still marches on. Senior captain and tight end Brian Weverbergh said winning against Cortland is a feeling that cannot be beat.

“There’s a lot of pride involved,” Weverbergh said. “It’s definitely nice when you’re at the mall to see the Cortland kids and have a one-up on them.”

Freshman linebacker Ryan Clarke has yet to experience a Cortaca Jug game but said he still understands the importance of it.

“Once I started getting recruited I heard a lot about it,” he said. “I heard it is one of the rowdiest games ever. It’s a rivalry game. It’s bragging rights. It just makes everyone feel good to go to Ithaca.”

Though it started as a somewhat friendly rivalry, today’s games are filled with evident displays of hatred from both fan bases. Students from each school have T-shirts, signs and chants demeaning the other side. The Ithaca College Bookstore has even gotten in on the rivalry, selling T-shirts with anti-Cortland messages.

When Weverbergh was a freshman in 2005, he realized the significance of the game as soon as he took the field against the Red Dragons.

“I’m from Connecticut, so I didn’t even know what SUNY-Cortland was,” he said. “So, when I got here I didn’t really understand the hatred between the two schools. By the time pregame warm-ups were over and everyone in the stands was cursing me out, I understood what it meant to the communities and the school.”

Hatred aside, Scott said the game is so important to both programs that it has the potential to be played for another 50 years.

“That rivalry and that game will go on indefinitely,” he said. “They may be playing on the moon, but they’ll be playing.”

Searching for success

The Ithacan, November 6, 2008

The club ice hockey team has several obstacles to overcome, including inexperience and conflicting ideas to turn its 2–8 season around. Despite these roadblocks, the South Hill squad is developing young talent and maintaining a positive outlook.

The Blue and Gold have only two wins this season, against Cornell University and Syracuse University. Senior Mark Mcauliffe, team president and captain, said the number of young players on the team, and the time it has taken for them to adjust to a new style of play, is why the team has struggled so much this season.

“It’s a matter of getting [the younger players] used to the style of play, which is a little bit different than the kind of hockey they’ve played in juniors or high school.”

The style of play at the collegiate level is a rough, hard-hitting, gritty style — which has become the team’s trademark, Mcauliffe said.

“It’s a little more clutching and grabbing,” Mcauliffe said. “A little more cheap stuff goes on. You have to get used to it or you’re going to have a hard time.”

Senior team member Cody Herbert said it is essential for the inexperienced players to get accustomed to the tough playing style the Blue and Gold display on the ice.

“With everyone coming from different backgrounds, it’s a matter of trying to get the team to adapt to one playing style,” Herbert said. “We’re starting to get there slowly but surely.”

Aside from players’ physicality on the ice, the South Hill squad prides itself on something else — independence. While Head Coach Brad Buell leads the team, the amount of control the players have is far greater than in any varsity sport team.

“The team is run by the players,” Mcauliffe said. “We’re in college, so [Buell] tries to let us be our own team. He’s there to help us out, and he’s there to put stuff together for us, but he still wants us to have ideas and make ourselves better.”

However, with that freedom comes conflict among the players about what the team should be doing on the ice. Mcauliffe said coming together as a team is a tough problem, but the Bombers are making strides to overcome that.

“There are a lot of conflicting ideas of how we want to break out of the zone or do a power play,” he said. “But last weekend we went away and stayed overnight in a hotel. It kind of helped us bond and come together.”

Herbert said another important asset to bonding as a team is practice. Though practice time is limited, he has seen the team come together.

“We only usually practice two days a week, but when we do get practice time, it’s important,” he said. “We can already see the bonds beginning to form. Guys are starting to go out together and have a good time. We’re definitely showing promise.”

Despite the team’s losing record, sophomore Josh Getzoff said the team’s commitment and dedication is proof that it is driven enough to make improvements.

“The kids who are playing club hockey are a lot more committed than kids in high school,” Getzoff said. “If you play in college that means you love the sport and you love the game.”

Back in the game

The Ithacan, April 10, 2008

When freshman Agata Kubik came to the United States from Poland, she didn’t expect that she’d be playing for a Division III college tennis team.

But thanks to a half-credit physical education course, Kubik has done just that and has been a solid contributor to the Bombers ever since. Kubik, who is the No. 2 singles player and plays at the No. 2 doubles spot with junior Alyssa Jaffe, has earned an overall record of 5–5 this spring.

What’s more impressive is the fact that Kubik hadn’t even picked up a racket for six years.

“I had heart issues when I was a kid,” Kubik said. “I was fainting on the court, and the doctors forbid me to play, so I just didn’t play tennis for six years.”

Kubik came to the U. S. to attend college, and once she settled on Ithaca, she enrolled in a half-credit intermediate tennis course.

“I signed up, just to get back into it to try and see if I could still play it,” Kubik said. “Then [Head Coach Bill Austin] approached me after class and was like, ‘Do you want to come to the practice and see how you feel?’ He basically kind of recruited me from a tennis class.”

Kubik had to undergo several cardiology tests to confirm her physical recovery. By the time the tests were complete, the fall season was already over, so Kubik waited until the spring season to play. She hasn’t disappointed though, steadily improving her game and earning singles victories against Dickinson College and Missouri Valley College, and doubles wins against Dickinson, Missouri Valley and St. Lawrence University.

“She’s got a lot of pace on the ball, she’s comfortable at the net,” Austin said. “She’s kind of an all-court player.”

Jaffe said Kubik’s consistent style of play boosts her confidence as her doubles partner.

“She’s pretty steady,” Jaffe said. “If you’re down, she’ll tell you to pick it up, stay with it. I feel confident playing with her. I just never feel like I’m going to lose, ever.”

Though Kubik had been on a six-year hiatus, she played competitively in Poland for four years before having to stop.

“I started playing when I was nine. It was really, really intense,” Kubik said. “I had practices twice a day, in the morning before school and then later after school. I would go to tennis camps and we would run for miles and miles sometimes with backpacks with stones in them. I was taking part in tournaments on a regular basis.”

In Poland there are no school or college teams — instead, players represent county or city teams. However, there is no real team aspect to tennis, which is something that Kubik said she loves about Ithaca’s tennis team.

“Being a part of the team is so much better,” Kubik said. “You always have someone to turn to and make sure you feel well, and the mental part is so much easier. I’ve never really been a part of a tennis team. I played volleyball on a team, and I always loved it. Tennis was always an individual sport. But then if you create a team out of really interesting individuals, it’s amazing.”

Jaffe said if Kubik has something to address the team about, she will.

“She’s pretty quiet and reserved, but if she has to say something, she won’t refrain from it,” Jaffe said.

Kubik’s main goal right now is to improve and shake the rust off her game.

“She’s got very high standards for herself,” Austin said. “And it’s been a little frustrating for her to work her way back to those standards, but she’s working on it and working hard and playing well.”

Kubik said the best part is just being able to play tennis again.

“I just want to improve,” Kubik said. “I haven’t been hitting for so long that I just want to get back into my game. Obviously it’s hard and I’ve had better and worse days, but I just want to keep improving. … I’m just expected to play my best and that’s what I do.”

Sports Rugby team seeks return to club organization status

The Ithacan, April 3, 2008

The men’s rugby team is used to taking on its fair share of opponents. It’s played Cornell University, Utica College, Niagara University and even a team in Canada.

Its biggest opponent, however, is turning out to be Ithaca College itself. After several unsuccessful tries, the rugby team is still not recognized as an Ithaca College club sport, something its members say is frustrating.

“We are paying college students,” junior Mike Oliver, one of the founding members of the team, said. “We pay the same price as the football team, and other teams, and it’s kind of unfair to us.”

Ithaca Rugby was formed a year ago by several Ithaca College students disappointed by the lack of a team on campus. After generating interest and securing a coach, they submitted a proposal to the college to become a recognized organization but were rejected.

“I think they wanted to see if we’d disappear,” Oliver said.

They remained persistent, applying for recognition and getting turned down a second time. The college will review their third proposal over the summer.

Sarah Hawkins, the program coordinator for recreational sports, said the process for selecting club sports is undergoing changes, which is a big reason for the delay.

Because they’re not a collegiate organization, the team is not part of the New York State Rugby Conference, which makes it difficult to schedule games and create contacts with other rugby teams. They now scrimmage against collegiate teams such as SUNY-Binghamton, Cornell, Utica, Niagara and SUNY-Oswego, as well as Division-III rugby teams in the NYSRC. They’re also not allowed to advertise around campus, making word of mouth their strongest advertising tool.

Junior Drew Wright, another founding member, said their main obstacle is the image of rugby in the U.S. as a brutal sport played by teams that care more about drinking than rugby.

“I think there’s a lot of stigma associated with rugby,” Wright said. “There’s a lot of drinking stigma, things like that. [But] that’s just a few idiot teams making a bad name.”

The team’s coach, Mike Zettel, said the sport is beginning to change the stereotypes associated with it.

“Rugby in the United States has this tradition of being a frat boy kind of sport,” Zettel said. “But it’s really going through a transition where it’s on it’s way to becoming a legitimate sport.”

Zettel was involved with rugby at Cornell University as a graduate student and heard about the team being formed at Ithaca. He approached them to help them get started.

Ithaca’s original rugby team was disbanded about 15 years ago, according to the current players, for drinking.

The new team members are doing all they can to dispel these frat boy myths. They’ve raised money and formed a team for Relay For Life and plan on becoming involved in Habitat for Humanity.

Hawkins said the past shouldn’t affect the school’s decision.

“[The past] shouldn’t have any bearing on whether they’re accepted now,” Hawkins said. “Rugby uses a lot of resources, and there are issues like insurance and field space that have to be taken care of.”

They’re also taking steps to keep players out of trouble.

“We have pasta dinners on Friday nights,” Wright said. “This season we watched the entire “Rocky” series. We’ll eat pasta and drink Gatorade. They’re good times and it makes sure that we’re all there and not partying.”

Zettel said the team’s only goal is to play rugby, not party.

“They’re solely interested in playing rugby,” Zettel said. “The heart of it is a good group of kids that really just wants to play rugby. But we want to do so in a manner that the school’s going to support us. We want to go through all the appropriate steps so that we can play rugby for the school.”

Another factor preventing them from becoming a recognized organization is the Office of Risk Management, which deals with liability and insurance with the school. According to Wright, the team takes measures to prevent injuries and stresses the relative safety of the sport.

“People think that it’s just a bunch of guys that quit varsity sports and want to hit with nobody watching and no rules ... which is also not true at all,” Wright said. “Obviously there are injuries that occur. It’s a contact sport, [and] contact sports are unpredictable. But it’s the same with football, lacrosse, even soccer. We take a lot of care with injury prevention on this team. We hit, but we’re not idiots.”

The Office of Risk Management declined to comment on the team’s recent attempts to become a club.

Becoming a recognized school organization would create numerous opportunities for the team, including the ability to schedule games more easily and become eligible for all-star teams and compete in championships.

“We’d be able to compete for our school,” sophomore J.C. Von Holtz said. “There’d be a lot more pride involved in it, other than just for ourselves.”

Von Holtz said the team will continue to train and play, and attempt to show the school that their main goal is to play rugby.

“We train every single day, on and off the pitch, in the snow, in the rain,” Von Holtz said. “We’re all very dedicated players, and we just want to bring a good sport back to the school.”

Pair of freshmen emerge as successful doubles team

The Ithacan, March 27th, 2008

With only one senior on the team and five underclassmen in the starting lineup, the men’s tennis team is relying heavily on youth this season.

At the core of this transition are two freshmen who are expected to have a significant impact this season. Freshmen doubles partners Alex Stoler and Josh Rifkin have each had breakout seasons, earning a doubles record of 9–5 — the second-best record on the team.

Rifkin and Stoler were paired up almost immediately at the beginning of the fall season and have seen success ever since.

“The first or second practice [Head Coach Bill Austin] put us together and we just clicked,” Stoler said. “Josh is more of a doubles player and I’m definitely more of a singles player, but we’ve had good chemistry.”

Austin said the duo’s strengths complement each other perfectly.

“I kind of like to subscribe to a hammer and a chisel theory, where Josh is a chisel,” Austin said. “He’s creating with his hands up at the net. Alex, he’s got very good returns, he’s a lefty, and he can hammer the ball. The more he hammers the ball, the more it gives Josh the opportunity to create up at the net.”

Austin also said the fact they were both freshmen had little bearing on his decision to pair them up.

“It’s trying to find the right combinations, the right chemistry [so] that they’ll be successful together,” Austin said. “The class rank doesn’t enter into it at all.”

The two also agree that their styles complement each other and are a big reason for their success. Rifkin, the more natural doubles player with a large net presence and quick hands, complements Stoler’s powerful serve and forceful style.

“Josh is very strategic,” Stoler said. “He knows exactly where to put the ball and he’s very confident in doing it.”

Rifkin said Stoler’s aggressiveness on the court works well with his own playing style.

“He’s an aggressive, controlling player, and that’s good in doubles because one person has to be, while the other person is not so much,” Rifkin said. “So when you combine aggressiveness and strategy you have a good combination.”

The pair’s biggest test came during spring break when the Bombers headed down to Hilton Head, S.C., to take on several large Division II and Division III squads. Stoler and Rifkin went 3–1 as a team, defeating pairs from Dickinson College, Bryant University and Missouri Valley College, only falling to Bloomsburg University.

After falling behind 7–1 against Bloomsburg, the two won four straight games before falling 8–5. Stoler said the pair learned from sticking with such a tough opponent.

“We definitely learned a lot from that one match,” Stoler said. “It really showed a lot of character in us.”

They carried that comeback momentum into their next match, defeating Dickinson 9–8.

“We were down 7–3, and they were serving for match,” Rifkin said. “But we never thought that the match was over. Just from what happened the first night, it not only improved our game, it improved our mindset. Then we just cruised through the other two matches.”

The two agree that the tough competition they faced in South Carolina will give them a leg up against other teams in the Empire 8, which was evident when the Bombers defeated Elmira College 9–0 last Monday.

“Coming back and winning those matches in Hilton Head [and] being 3–1 against those big schools boosted our confidence, so now we’re prepared basically for anyone here,” Rifkin said.

Though Stoler is the No. 2 singles seed and Rifkin holds the No. 3 seed, the duo said there is no competition to gain an upper hand and they aren’t planning on battling each other for a lineup switch anytime soon.

“We’re interchangeable,” Stoler said. “Tennis is an individual sport, but tennis at Ithaca is such a team thing. It’s not about getting the other player in front of you, it’s about winning.”

Austin said if Stoler and Rifkin keep playing well, they will become a very intimidating team to face.

“I want them to keep improving,” Austin said. “If they keep getting better, it’s going to be very difficult for another team to beat them.”

Blue and Gold Sets Sights on NCAA Bid

The Ithacan, March 6, 2008

Last spring the men’s tennis team accomplished something unprecedented — they made it to the NCAA tournament for the first time in the history of the program.

This season the Bombers are setting their sights even higher, hoping to make it past the first round. With a strong group of returning players, the Blue and Gold have a strong shot at making that happen.

“We’ve got a really strong team, and I think we’re going to do really well, especially in the Empire 8,” the team’s lone senior, Jeff Buffum, said.

Along with Buffum, the Bombers return sophomores Taylor Borda, Danny Wolk and Liam Berkowitz. They also have freshmen Alex Stoler and Josh Rifkin to fill the holes left by the departure of Colin Flynn ’07 and Joe Young ’07.

“We’re stronger this year,” Berkowitz said. “We lost two seniors from the starting lineup, but we’ve got two new freshmen and they’re both really good players. We’re just a really deep team. We’re young, but we’re deep.”

Head Coach Bill Austin said the overwhelming presence of youth is not a disadvantage of his squad.

“We’ve got a great bunch of kids,” he said. “They all have tennis experience … and they’re working hard. To have kids that work hard, have talent and are motivated, that’s never a disadvantage.”

Last season the Bombers went 9–13 in the regular season, which was good enough to earn them the No. 3 seed in the Empire 8 tournament. There they defeated the Rochester Institute of Technology to win the Empire 8 title and clinch an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. After the Bombers jumped out to a 4–0 lead against the University of Southern Maine, the Huskies rallied to defeat the Blue and Gold 5–4 and eliminate them from the tournament.

Despite the tough loss, Austin said he’s not bitter.

“It was a dream for the seniors,” he said. “We had a rough season, we had a tough schedule and we weren’t always healthy, and we really put it together at the end to win the Empire 8. It was just a tremendous experience.”

Austin said the tough loss doesn’t overshadow the meaning of the NCAA berth.

“We were up in that match pretty big, we just couldn’t close it out. But it doesn’t take any muster off of what they accomplished last year, which was a real milestone for the program,” Austin said.

The Bombers also had a solid fall season this year, defeating RIT and Hobart College but falling to St. Lawrence University. More importantly, the Bombers had an opportunity to bond as a team.

“We played well in the fall,” Buffum said. “We were more or less getting our momentum together, seeing … who you can play with, who best suits your playing style. We kind of molded as a team during the fall.”

Standing in the way of the Bombers in their quest for a fifth Empire 8 championship in six years is Empire 8 newcomer Stevens Institute of Technology.

“Winning Empire 8s is going be harder this year because of Stevens,” Berkowitz said. “They’re like us. They’re a very deep team and very solid, so those matches are going to be very important. We’re playing them in April, and that’s going be a gauge for where we’re at heading into the tournament. If all goes as planned we should be meeting them in the E8 finals.”

Austin said the Ducks will add to an already tough conference.

“They’re going to be tough,” Austin said. “They’ve got a good team. Nazareth usually has a real good squad, and RIT is usually up and in there, but Stevens is tough. We’ve seen them play and they’re good.”

The Bombers will travel to Hilton Head, S.C., during spring break to play four non-conference opponents that will prepare them for their season.

“It’s a proving ground,” Austin said. “We don’t shy away from it down there. That makes us tougher when we get up here.”

A Different View

A different view

The Ithacan, Sept. 20, 2007

Eric Sambolec ’99 is in a familiar place. In the front lobby of the Hill Center on Sept. 10, Sambolec stands among members of the men’s cross country team as they prepare for their daily run. A few years ago, Sambolec was one of these runners. Now he is back in a different role — a coach.

“It feels weird to come back as somewhat of an authority figure and to realize that I’m not on the team anymore,” Sambolec said. “But it feels great to be able to bring it full circle.”

Sambolec is one of about 20 head and assistant coaches at Ithaca College who are graduates and former members of their respective programs, a number that stands as a testament to the college’s strong athletic programs.

Ryan Ciotoli ’02 is entering his sixth year as an assistant coach for the wrestling team and is proud to continue his legacy.

“Ithaca is a great college with a winning tradition,” Ciotoli said. “You want to be a part of that for as long as you can.”

These former athletes have different reasons for returning to South Hill. Some are pursuing a master’s degree and can’t resist sticking around for another season with their former team. Others are drawn back because of the positive experiences they’ve had with the Bombers and their desire to give back to their programs.

Head wrestling coach Marty Nichols ’90 is one of those people. Nichols, a three-time All-American, wrestled on two National Championship teams for the Bombers.

“Those were some of the best times of my college career, and to be able to stay involved in that was a great opportunity,” he said.

Nichols credits Ithaca’s strong tradition as another reason why coaches return.

“They’ve gone through great programs and had great coaches while they were here,” he said. “And now they want to continue that and give that kind of experience to an athlete today.”

Another benefit of coaching at Ithaca is the easy adjustment to authority among familiar faces. Ciotoli, who wrestled under Nichols, was one of the most successful wrestlers in the program’s history with a career record of 90-22. He joined the coaching staff in 2002.

“Marty [has] built up the program, and I wanted to help out and continue to make it better,” Ciotoli said. “Bringing a coach into a system that he was a part of makes for an easy transition.”

Nichols agreed with Ciotoli, citing easy communication as another asset.

“You’re on the same page and understand what’s going on,” Nichols said. “You don’t even have to talk to each other, you can just look at a guy and know what they’re thinking.”

It also means that they are no longer able to compete in the sport they love.

Assistant men’s swimming coach Mark Tedeschi ’07 is entering his first year of coaching, after four years of competing for the Bombers.

“It’s a relieving feeling to not have to put the time and energy into performing, but once the meets start, I’ll probably be jealous of the guys,” Tedeschi said.

Tedeschi said that it is a tradition for a swim team alumnus to become an assistant coach.

“Some of my teammates said they’d like me to coach, and the fact that they said they wanted me was a big factor,” Tedeschi said. “I figured I’d put the skills I’d learned here to use.”

Sambolec has a similar story. After graduating from the college, he served as the head women’s cross country coach and assistant track and field coach at Lansing Community College in Michigan, where he was named NJCAA Region XII and MCCAA Coach of the Year four times. But Sambolec said his former coach influenced his decision to return to South Hill.

“Coach [Jim] Nichols was a big part of it,” he said. “He’s helped me even after I graduated, and it’s nice to have that.”

Sambolec, like most Ithaca coaches, is pleased with his decision to return. With around two dozen former athletes currently coaching, he certainly isn’t the only one.

“Ithaca has good institutional support for athletics and a good balance and understanding that it’s an education,” Sambolec said. “It’s a beautiful, vibrant, intellectual place. When you combine all these things with all the good people here, it’s hard to stay away.”