Countdown to Cortaca: Bombers in the Bronx, Part 1

By Patrick Bohn ’05, January 28, 2022
A Q&A with Susan Bassett ’79, associate vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports, and Wendy Kobler, vice president for philanthropy and engagement.
Image of a Football field, with Ithaca, Cortland, and Cortaca logos

November 10-13, 2022, Ithaca College will be hosting a weekend-long “IC in the City” experience in New York City for alumni and current students, faculty, and staff.  The centerpiece of this event, the 63rd annual Cortaca Jug football game between Ithaca College and SUNY Cortland, will take place on November 12 at Yankee Stadium. To highlight this amazing opportunity, we will be publishing a year-long series titled “Countdown to Cortaca: Bombers in the Bronx,” highlighting the entire weekend.

In the first installment, we’re featuring a Q&A with Susan Bassett ’79, associate vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports, and Wendy Kobler, vice president for philanthropy and engagement.

Q: Why is the college taking part in another Cortaca Jug game in New York City?

Bassett: It’s thrilling. The success of the 2019 Cortaca Jug game at MetLife Stadium got the attention of the Yankees organization, and the experience of playing that game was incredibly positive. So the opportunity to take part in an event of that magnitude again was impossible to pass up. We think it’s a fantastic opportunity for our football program to play in one of the most iconic sports venues in the country. The Cortaca Jug gets bigger and bigger. The excellence of the event puts the college in a position to have opportunities like this.

Kobler: The New York Yankees are a historic and renowned organization, and they’ve extended this invitation thanks to the athletic capabilities of our student-athletes, and the work from Marc Hudak ’89 and Robert Garone ’87 of 5167 Sports Media. As a result, we’re creating tradition. We’ve gone from MetLife Stadium to Yankee Stadium, and we’ve raised the bar with these two events. What’s next for IC? 

“[The] experience at MetLife was amazing, but this will be a different type of experience. This year, we have a chance to have a sell-out, and there’s an intimacy that will result from that.”

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

Q: What’s been the reaction of players?

Bassett: They’re ecstatic. Everyone knows the Yankees, and I think they appreciate that Yankee Stadium only hosts two football games a year, and the Yankees chose the Cortaca Jug to be one of them. Their experience at MetLife was amazing, but this will be a different type of experience. This year, we have a chance to have a sell-out, and there’s an intimacy that will result from that.

Q: What opportunities will there be for alumni engagement during the weekend?

Kobler: The college is planning an entire weekend of events called IC in the City that will provide a myriad of opportunities for alumni to connect and share how their lives were shaped by their time at Ithaca College. We’re working diligently to create memorable experiences for everyone.

The Thursday before the game, we’ll be hosting the annual Alumni Association awards ceremony at the Marriott.

In addition to alumni from the classes ending in 2 and 7 having the chance to celebrate their official reunions, there will be other reunion opportunities as well. There’s also going to be a reception for ICUnity — a network of students, alumni, staff, parents, and friends associated with Ithaca College that support diversity-related programs and one for our former Greek organizations. More details on those events will be forthcoming, so stay tuned!

Q: What are some other ways the athletics department is going to leverage this opportunity?

Bassett: Our men’s and women’s basketball teams have secured a doubleheader at Montclair State University, just across the Hudson River in New Jersey, and the wrestling team is exploring their opportunities as well. We also plan to have an IC Day at the stadium this summer and that should provide opportunities to connect to our baseball and softball programs. Our imagination is unlimited, and our opportunity to collaborate is high. Additionally, we recruit so many student-athletes from that area of the country. This is a wonderful chance to showcase Ithaca College.

“There are countless opportunities for extracurricular learning over the course of the weekend. It will be an experience that isn’t available at any other Division III school.”

Wendy Kobler, vice president for philanthropy and engagement

Q: With the departure of Dan Swanstrom as head coach and the search for his successor having begun, will there be opportunities for alumni and other campus community members to interact with/meet the new football coach during the upcoming year?"

Bassett: Yes. Among other opportunities, we hope to provide a chance to interact with our next head coach at the IC Day Cortaca event that will be held at Yankee Stadium this summer. We'll have more details on the specifics of that in the coming months.

Students working a camera

Experiential learning opportunities are going to be a centerpiece of the weekend for current students.

(Photo by Giovanni Santacroce)

Experiential learning opportunities are going to be a centerpiece of the weekend for current students.

(Photo by Giovanni Santacroce)

Q: How does taking part in this event benefit the college as a whole?

Kobler: Any time you can show the world what is unique and special about Ithaca College and its students, that will benefit the entire college. We’ll be able to offer our entire student body an amazing experience. For example, the night before the game, there’s going to be a cabaret performance by our students at the theater in the Marriot Marquis hotel, which seats 2,500 people. Planning is underway, but we have begun discussions about various student performing arts groups that may perform at the event, ways for students who may be involved in behind the scenes planning and stage management, and more. There are countless opportunities for extracurricular learning over the course of the weekend. It will be an experience that isn’t available at any other Division III school.

Q: How can members of the campus community get involved and be a part of this amazing weekend?

Kobler: We are currently forming committees and have created an overarching structure of leaders and volunteers. Alumni who want to help can contact alumni@ithaca.edu with their areas of expertise.

“This truly is an incredible opportunity for the campus community to come together to celebrate IC and our students. I encourage everyone who has some connection to Ithaca College to attend and be part of IC in the City.”

Wendy Kobler

Q: What financial commitment did Ithaca College and the athletic department make to this game?

Kobler: All college expenses related to the game and IC in the City will be covered through existing department and program budgets — not additional or excess spending. And by utilizing and maximizing existing funds and resources, we’re able to leverage our human capital for creative thinking and bold ideas.

Bassett: There’s absolutely, definitively, no additional cost to the athletic department. The college allocates funding for holding the Cortaca Jug game on campus every two years. For this game, those budgeted funds will be used to cover the expenses related to providing transportation for IC students to and from the game. Additionally, when it comes to the football team, our expenses will be fully covered thanks to a travel stipend and meals that are being provided by the game’s promoter, 5167 Sports Media.

Q: How are ticket sales going?

Kobler: They’re going so well that I don’t know anyone who hasn’t bought a ticket already, but tickets can still be purchased at Ticketmaster. We have also set aside tickets that will go on sale next fall for students, faculty, and staff.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Kobler: This truly is an incredible opportunity for the campus community to come together to celebrate IC and our students. I encourage everyone who has some connection to Ithaca College to attend and be part of IC in the City. I would like to meet you!

Bassett: IC will be in the limelight in the Big Apple. Knowing what we know about the success of the game at MetLife, and learning what we’ve learned, it’s clear this is a phenomenal way to showcase IC on one of the biggest stages.

Stay in the Loop

Planning and preparation continue for IC in the City and Cortaca Jug 2022. For more information and to learn about opportunities for alumni, students, faculty, staff, and IC community members, please visit the “IC in the City” homepage.