ITHACA, N.Y. – Ithaca College has announced its 2009 schedule. The Bombers, who won the Empire 8 title and advanced to the NCAA playoffs last fall, open their season Sept. 5 at St. Lawrence.
St. Lawrence is one of three new additions to the Bomber schedule; Ithaca continues its season-opening road stretch at Union before opening the home season with a Sept. 19 game against Widener at Butterfield Stadium.
The Saints are back on the Ithaca schedule for the first time since 2003 (the two teams had met for 30 straight years). The Bombers have won 20 straight against St. Lawrence, marking their longest winning streak against any opponent. Ithaca’s games against Union and Widener will be the program’s first regular-season game against either opponent, but both have been Bomber victims in the NCAA playoffs (Ithaca beat Union in 1985, 1986 and on the way to the 1991 national title; the Bombers beat Widener in 1975 to reach the Stagg Bowl).
Empire 8 play kicks off Sept. 26 for the Bombers when they travel to Utica. Ithaca has won five of the league’s seven championships, posting a 33-6 conference record since football became an Empire 8 sport in 2002.
The next three weeks feature three Homecoming games; Ithaca celebrates its own Homecoming against St. John Fisher Oct. 10 between visits to Utica and Frostburg State for those schools’ Homecoming games. Ithaca has treated its Homecoming fans to a win 25 times in the past 27 years and the Bombers have won eight straight road games as a Homecoming opponent.
Following a week off Ithaca travels to Springfield for its final regular-season road trip, then returns home for the season’s final two games. The Bombers host Alfred Nov. 7 to close out their Empire 8 schedule then take on visiting Cortland in the 51st Cortaca Jug game. The game, which annually draws more than 10,000 fans to Ithaca’s Butterfield Stadium (capacity 5,000), is one of Division III’s signature rivalries.
The Bombers hold series lead against all 10 of their 2009 opponents. Three made postseason appearances last fall with Cortland playing in the NCAA playoffs and Alfred and St. John Fisher picked for ECAC games.
2009 Ithaca Football Schedule
Date
|
Opponent
|
Site |
Time |
2008 Result |
Series Record |
| Sept. 5 |
St. Lawrence |
Canton, N.Y. |
1 p.m. |
None |
Ithaca, 27-6 |
| Sept. 12 |
Union |
Schenectady, N.Y. |
1 p.m. |
None |
Ithaca, 3-2 |
| Sept. 19 |
Widener |
Butterfield Stadium |
1 p.m. |
None |
Ithaca, 1-0 |
| Sept. 26 |
Utica * |
Utica, N.Y. |
1 p.m. |
Ithaca, 42-7 |
Ithaca, 8-0 |
| Oct. 3 |
Hartwick * |
Oneonta, N.Y. |
1 p.m. |
Ithaca, 69-42 |
Ithaca, 12-5 |
| Oct. 10 |
St. John Fisher * |
Butterfield Stadium |
1 p.m. |
SJF, 37-6 |
Ithaca, 7-4 |
| Oct. 17 |
Frostburg State |
Frostburg, Md. |
1 p.m. |
Ithaca, 51-24 |
Ithaca, 1-0 |
| Oct. 31 |
Springfield * |
Springfield, Mass. |
2 p.m. |
Ithaca, 37-8 |
Ithaca, 27-8 |
| Nov. 7 |
Alfred * |
Butterfield Stadium |
1 p.m. |
Ithaca, 43-35 |
Ithaca, 34-13-2 |
| Nov. 14 |
Cortland |
Butterfield Stadium |
noon |
Ithaca, 35-13 |
Ithaca, 38-26-2 |
* Empire 8 opponent