Bronx, N.Y. (September 19, 2013) - The Fordham University football squad will unveil special uniforms for their annual Liberty Cup battle with Columbia which will occur on Saturday, September 21, on Fordham's Jack Coffey Field. The uniform numbers will feature the stars and stripes of the American flag as will the Block F decal on the helmet. On the back, jerseys will feature NYPD, FDNY or PAPD to honor the brave members of those departments who perished on 9/11 and those who bravely worked at Ground Zero and continue to protect us today.
As two of the three NCAA Division I institutions in New York City to sponsor football, Fordham University and Columbia University were schedule to play just four days after the attacks on 9/11. The game that year was moved to Thanksgiving and the schools spoke of playing for a trophy to remember the 36 Fordham and the 43 Columbia alumni and students who were lost that day. Thus was born the Liberty Cup.
Besides honoring the alumni of both schools who were lost in the attacks of September 11, 2001, the Cup also honors all of those who lost their lives on September 11th, including members of the various city and state agencies (FDNY, NYPD, EMS, Port Authority, etc.). Each school has created a scholarship fund with the host school donating the proceeds of the game to their respective fund. All proceeds from Saturday's game will go directly to the Fordham Family Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Last year, the Rams defeated the Lions, 20-13, at the Baker Athletic Complex to retain possession of the cup for the third straight year.
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Fordham enters the game after a 30-29 upset win over Temple on Lincoln Financial Field last Saturday. Columbia enters its season opener after going 3-7 last fall.
The Rams will be led into the game by junior quarterback
Mike Nebrich, the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week, who completed 23 of 36 passes for a career-high 320 yards and two touchdowns against Temple, including the game-winning 29-yard scoring strike to
Sam Ajala with four seconds left.
Also leading the Rams in to the game will be junior linebacker
Stephen Hodge, the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week, who made a career-high eleven tackles last Saturday and junior kicker
Michael Marando, the Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week, who booted three field goals, including a career-best 47-yarder, at Temple and added the crucial extra point following the last second touchdown pass.
This will be the 22
nd meeting between Fordham and Columbia on the gridiron. The Lions lead the all-time series, which started in 1890, 12-9, but Fordham has taken the past three meetings, including a 20-13 victory last year at on Robert K. Kraft Field at the Wein Stadium as
Carlton Koonce rushed 35 times for 250 yards and two scores, including one of 92-yards. Fordham leads the all-time Liberty Cup series, 7-4.
