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 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Football Championship Subdivision 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 39 Fordham alumni and students[1] died at the World Trade Center[2], including two former Fordham football players: Nick Brandemarti '00 and Kevin Szocik '97.

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[edit] Background

Despite their proximity and long football histories, the schools met only three times from 1890 until 1991, with Columbia shutting out Fordham each time. However, for 35 of those years the Rams did not have a Division 1 team to field against the Lions. Fordham folded its football program in 1954 citing financial concerns, until 1970 when it was re-introduced at the Division III level. The Rams would not play at the Division I level again until 1989. Fordham won the fourth meeting, in 1991, 20-16.

The teams 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] Origin Of the Liberty Cup

The 10th meeting between Fordham and Columbia originally was scheduled for September 15th, 2001. In the days following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Major League Baseball, the National Football League and many Division I football teams canceled games for the following weekend. But Fordham and Columbia -- the only Division I teams based in New York -- debated as late as Friday, September 14th, 2001 about the possibility of playing. Fordham officials wanted to send a message about American resilience in the face of the attacks, but Columbia officials argued that it was too soon after the attacks to think about playing a football game. "The question was, should we not play and mourn and honor our dead, or was normalcy in the face of this disaster the best response?" said the Rev. Joseph A. O'Hare, president of Fordham at that time.[3]

The schools decided against playing on Sept. 15, but later in the season agreed to meet on Thanksgiving Day (November 22nd, 2001). Fordham thumped Columbia 41-10 before a capacity crowd of 7,000 fans. Afterwards, O'Hare said it had been the right decision to reschedule. "Oh, absolutely," he said. "I think we had put sports in perspective -- and we played great."[4]

Less than 10 months after that game, 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. This was the inaugural Liberty Cup game. 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.

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[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 self-appointed "Poet Laureate" said: [2]:

“ As well as the Mets' season going up in smoke, Fordham tuition going down like an altar boy, and the Fordham football team with a threat rating of a cute, neon pink, the band now presents an all-star gala halftime salute to more Columbia news.”

by Andy Hao

“It’s typical of Ivy Leaguers to make fun of a Catholic school’s strait-laced reputation,” Fordham University President Joseph A. O'Hare, S.J. told the The New York Times, “They’re very self-important little creatures.” [5] Columbia President Lee C. Bollinger apologized for the band's remark. [6]

[edit] Recent History

The 2003 game was a thriller, with Fordham coming out on top in a wild 37-30 game. Jerry Glanville was the color broadcaster for that game for TV as a part of the now-defunct Football Network. After CBS executives saw his work on that game, he was offered a chance to call an NFL game the following week, the Detroit Lions/San Diego Chargers game.

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. The Ram's evened the series in 2007 with a 27-7 victory at home.

[edit] The Liberty Cup Results

The Liberty Cup series is tied, 3-3.

  • 2007 Fordham 27, Columbia 10 [3]
  • 2006 Columbia 37, Fordham 7 [4]
  • 2005 Columbia 23, Fordham 17 [5]
  • 2004 Fordham 17, Columbia 14 [6]
  • 2003 Fordham 37, Columbia 30 [7]
  • 2002 Columbia 13, Fordham 11 [8]

[edit] Results of all meetings

Including meetings before the Liberty Cup was dedicated, Columbia leads the all-time series, 11–5.

  • 2001 Fordham 41, Columbia 10 [9]
  • 2000 Columbia 43, Fordham 26 [10]
  • 1996 Columbia 17, Fordham 10 [11]
  • 1994 Columbia 24, Fordham 13 [12]
  • 1993 Columbia 7, Fordham 0 [13]
  • 1992 Columbia 18, Fordham 9 [14]
  • 1991 Fordham 20, Columbia 16 [15]
  • 1972 Columbia 44, Fordham 0
  • 1902 Columbia 45, Fordham 0
  • 1890 Columbia 40, Fordham 0

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fordham University Remembers 9/11
  2. ^ Berkow, Ira. "Reflections on Making the Proper Decision Over Postponing a Game." The New York Times Sept. 12, 2002.
  3. ^ Berkow, Ira. "Reflections on Making the Proper Decision Over Postponing a Game." The New York Times Sept. 12, 2002.
  4. ^ Berkow, Ira. "Reflections on Making the Proper Decision Over Postponing a Game." The New York Times Sept. 12, 2002.
  5. ^ Wakin, Daniel J. "Columbia Halftime Gibe Irks Some at Fordham." The New York Times Sept. 24, 2002.
  6. ^ Wakin, Daniel J. "Columbia U. Head Apologizes To Fordham Over Public Gibe." The New York Times Sept. 25, 2002.

[edit] External links