Fordham vs. Columbia: Liberty Cup Preview

By JUSTIN SANCHEZ

 

After a 54-7 win against University of Rhode Island on September 13, 2014, Fordham football is looking to keep the winning streak up. (Kirstin Bunkley/The Observer)
After a 54-7 win against University of Rhode Island on September 13, 2014, Fordham football is looking to keep the winning streak up. (Kirstin Bunkley/The Observer)

Fordham attempts to go two in a row against Columbia in the Liberty Cup.

The Fordham Rams are off to another great start to the season, looking to improve their 3-1 season record against the Columbia Lions this Saturday at Robert K. Kraft Field. After a shattering 50-6 road loss at the hands of the Villanova Wildcats, the Rams swiftly handled a struggling Rhode Island team 54-7. The Rams are looking to keep their new found momentum alive, and redeem themselves on the road.

This Rams-Lions face-off marks the 23rd matchup between both schools, and the 13th Annual Liberty Cup. Since 2010, the Rams have proudly donned the title of Liberty Cup winners. As of last year, the Rams also hold an 8-4 lead in the battle for the trophy. This year, the 19th-ranked Rams are looking to further extend that lead to 9-4.

The Columbia Lions are not only trying to erase the memory of last year’s matchup in which the Rams solidly tamed them by a score of 52-7, but also a terrible 0-10 record during the 2013 season. Senior Linebacker Ray Pesanello, who has played 20 games for the Lions, as well as Junior Quarterback Brett Nottingham, a transfer from Stanford University, look to lead to Lions to new and untamable heights. During last year’s matchup, Junior QB Brett Nottingham was injured during the second half of The Liberty Cup and was unable to play for the rest of the season.

Fresh off their last dominating home win, Fordham breakout star Freshman RB Chase Edmonds and Senior QB Mike Nebrich hope to keep the Lions well at bay. During the Rhode Island game, RB Chase Edmonds broke the freshman record with an astounding 231 yards. The Liberty Cup will be the second road test of the season for the Rams, and will be a much-needed victory as the Rams gear up to face their fellow Patriot League rivals.

The Inaugural Liberty Cup game was played in 2002 following the September 11th attacks of the previous year which had postponed the 10th meeting between the Fordham Rams and the Columbia Lions.  Kickoff for Saturday’s game is at 12:30 p.m. at Kraft Field which is located at 533 West 218th Street.