IC News

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.