Sept. 16, 2011

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Bronx, N.Y. -

Complete Fordham Game Notes | Complete Columbia Game Notes

The Fordham University football Rams open their 2011 home season on Saturday, September 17th, as they host the Columbia University Lions in the annual Liberty Cup game on Jack Coffey Field at 1:00 p.m.

The game will be broadcast live on the internet at wfuv.org with Kyle Kesses and Andrew O'Connell handling the announcing chores and Kevin Price on the sidelines. The game can also been seen online at Fordhamsports.com,

The game will be the Tenth Annual Liberty Cup game between the two New York City schools. As two of the three NCAA Division I institutions in New York City to sponsor football, Fordham University and Columbia University decided in 2002 to compete for a special trophy in their annual game. Thus was born the Liberty Cup.

The idea behind the Liberty Cup is to honor 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.

The Rams hold a slim 5-4 edge in the all-time Liberty Cup series.

Fordham University will also honor our nation's wounded heroes during their annual Liberty Cup football game. In partnership with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Fordham has invited wounded warriors to present the game ball, participate in the pregame coin toss and to present the Liberty Cup to the winning team following the game.

Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to honor and empower these wounded warriors and make this the most successful, well-adjusted generation of veterans in our nation's history.

Wounded Warriors SGT Carlos Gonzalez and SSG Ali Naqi will be honored at the game. SGT Gonzales, a Bronx resident and a student at Fordham University, served in the U.S. Army for over eleven years, completing three tours of duty in that time, one to Korea and two to Iraq. He received a combat action badge for his service in Iraq. He is the proud father of three academically successful children. SSG Naqi has been serving on active duty with the U.S. Army for over eight years and has completed two tours in Iraq, one for twelve months and the second of 15 months.

Fordham enters the game with a 0-1 record after a 35-3 season-opening loss at Connecticut on September 3rd. Columbia enters the 2011 season after compiling a 4-6 record last fall, 2-5 in the Ivy League.

This will be the 20th meeting between Fordham and Columbia on the gridiron with the Lions leading the all-time series, which started in 1890, 12-7. Fordham won last year's meeting, 16-9, on September 18th on Kraft Field at Wein Stadium as Xavier Martin rushed 15 times for 105 yards and Patrick Murray kicked three field goals.

The Fordham students got into the spirit on Thursday night as the USG hosted the Maroon Zone pep rally in The Marketplace. Members of the team appeared with Isaiah Leake, Thomas Lloyd and Jock Payten addressing the crowd and the cheerleaders and Ram performer. There was also a passing contest and push-up contest for the students. For photos of Maroon Zone, click on the Photo Gallery.