The Fordham University football team reclaimed the Liberty Cup with a 27-10 win over Columbia University at Jack Coffey Field on Saturday, Sept. 15. Fordham led throughout the game and was paced by freshman running back Xavier Martin, who rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns.
“I thought this team would come out ready to play tonight and they certainly did,” said Fordham head coach Tom Masella. “I give a lot of the credit to the seniors who practiced hard all week for this game. I think we bounced back well after last week and played extremely hard.”
The Liberty Cup is awarded annually to the winner of the Fordham-Columbia game. The trophy was dedicated in 2002, a year after the Columbia-Fordham game was postponed because of the attacks of Sept. 11. At least 43 Columbia alumni and 35 Fordham alumni died at the World Trade Center, including two former Fordham football players, Nick Brandemarti (CBA ’00) and Kevin Szocik (CBA ’97).
In the six match-ups since 2002, the series is tied 3-3. Columbia had maintained possession of the Liberty Cup for the past two years. The Rams will next be in action on Saturday, Sept. 22 as they host the University of Dayton Flyers on Jack Coffey Field for Homecoming 2007. The game starts at 1 p.m.
