The Liberty Cup
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The Liberty Cup is awarded annually to the winner of the college football game between Columbia University and Fordham University, the two Division I-AA football programs in New York City. The trophy was dedicated in 2002, a year after the Columbia-Fordham game was postponed due to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. [1] At least 43 Columbia alumni and 35 Fordham alumni died at the World Trade Center. [1]
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[edit] History
Although relatively young, the series already has produced some memorable moments. In the inaugural game, played less than 10 months after Fordham administered a 41-10 Thanksgiving Day thumping to Columbia, the underdog Lions gained their revenge, holding Fordham close for 59 minutes and winning with a 37-yard field goal with 10.5 seconds to play.
The 13-11 victory would be Columbia’s only win of the 2002 season; Fordham would finish 10-3, gaining a share of the Patriot League title and reaching the second round of the NCAA I-AA playoffs.
Columbia took the 2006 meeting, 37-7, in the most lopsided result of the cup series. It was the Lions' second consecutive victory over Fordham, and made Norries Wilson the first Columbia coach since Aldo T. "Buff" Donelli to win his debut.
Despite their proximity, the schools met only three times from 1890 until 1991. They have played annually since 2000. The Liberty Cup game now opens Columbia's season; it is typically the third game on Fordham's schedule.
[edit] Columbia Band's Altar Boy Joke
The Columbia University Marching Band drew protests from Fordham and Roman Catholics generally with an off-color reference to the priest abuse scandal during its halftime performance at the 2002 game, when the Columbia band's "Poet Laureate" Andy Hao said that Fordham's tuition was "going down like an altar boy." “It’s typical of Ivy Leaguers to make fun of a Catholic school’s strait-laced reputation,” the Rev. Joseph A. O'Hare, Fordham's president, told The New York Times. “They’re very self-important little creatures.” [2] Columbia President Lee C. Bollinger expressed regret for the band's remark. [3]
[edit] The Liberty Cup Results
Columbia leads the Liberty Cup series, 3-2.
- 2006 Columbia 37, Fordham 7 [2] [3]
- 2005 Columbia 23, Fordham 17 [4]
- 2004 Fordham 17, Columbia 14 [5]
- 2003 Fordham 37, Columbia 30 [6]
- 2002 Columbia 13, Fordham 11 [7]
[edit] Who Owns New York?
Including meetings before the Liberty Cup was dedicated, Columbia leads the all-time series, 11–4.
- 2001 Fordham 41, Columbia 10
- 2000 Columbia 43, Fordham 26
- 1996 Columbia 17, Fordham 10
- 1994 Columbia 24, Fordham 13
- 1993 Columbia 7, Fordham 0
- 1992 Columbia 18, Fordham 9
- 1991 Fordham 20, Columbia 16
- 1972 Columbia 44, Fordham 0
- 1902 Columbia 45, Fordham 0
- 1890 Columbia 40, Fordham 0
[edit] References
- ^ Berkow, Ira. "Reflections on Making the Proper Decision Over Postponing a Game." The New York Times Sept. 12, 2002.
- ^ Wakin, Daniel J. "Columbia Halftime Gibe Irks Some at Fordham." The New York Times Sept. 24, 2002.
- ^ Wakin, Daniel J. "Columbia U. Head Apologizes To Fordham Over Public Gibe." The New York Times Sept. 25, 2002.
