Cortland Red Dragons football

For information on all State University of New York at Cortland sports, see Cortland Red Dragons.

The Cortland Red Dragons football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the State University of New York at Cortland. The team competes in the NCAA Division III, and is a member of the Empire 8. The team plays its home games at James J. Grady '50, M '61 Field at the SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex or Grady Field for short in Cortland, New York. The Red Dragons are led by Curt Fitzpatrick, who has served as head coach since 2020.^[2] The Red Dragons won their first NCAA Division III national championship in 2023.

Cortland Red Dragons football
First season	1893; 132 years ago (1893)
Athletic director	Mike Urtz
Head coach	Tom Blumenauer 1st season, 0–0 (–)
Stadium	James J. Grady '50, M '61 Field at the SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex (Grady Field) (capacity: 6,500)
Field surface	A-Turf
Location	Cortland, New York
NCAA division	Division III
Conference	Empire 8
Bowl record	5–8 (.385)
Claimed national titles	1 (2023)
Playoff appearances	12
Playoff record	11–10
Conference titles	8
Rivalries	Ithaca Bombers (rivalry)
Colors	Red and white[1]
Website	cortlandreddragons.com

Year-by-year results

Statistics correct as of the end of the 2012–13 college football season

NCAA Division III playoff berth

Conference champion

Division champion

Undefeated season

Year	NCAA Division	Conference	Conference division	Overall					Conference						Coach	Final ranking
				Games	Win	Loss	Tie	Pct.	Games	Win	Loss	Tie	Pct.	Standing
2007	III	NJAC	N/A	11	8	3	0	.727	7	6	1	0	.857	N/A	Dan MacNeill	-
2008	III	NJAC	N/A	13	11	2	0	.846	9	9	0	0	1.000	1st	Dan MacNeill	-
2009	III	NJAC	N/A	11	0 (7)*	4	0	.000	9	0 (7)*	2	0	.000	3rd	Dan MacNeill	-
2010	III	NJAC	N/A	12	10	2	0	.833	9	8	1	0	.889	T-1st	Dan MacNeill	-
2011	III	NJAC	N/A	11	9	2	0	.818	9	7	2	0	.778	T-2nd	Dan MacNeill	-
2012	III	NJAC	N/A	11	9	2	0	.818	7	7	0	0	1.000	1st	Dan MacNeill	-
	Totals			0	0	0	0	.000	0	0	0	0	.000

* All seven wins from the 2009 season were later vacated by the NCAA.

Postseason appearances

NCAA Division III playoffs

The Red Dragons have made thirteen appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs, with a combined record of 13–12 and one national championship.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1988	First Round Second Round	Hofstra Ithaca	W, 32–17 L, 17–24
1989	First Round	Union (NY)	L, 14–42
1990	First Round	Hofstra	L, 9–35
1997	First Round	TCNJ	L, 30–34
2005	First Round	Hobart	L, 22–23
2008	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals	Plymouth State Curry Mount Union	W, 31–14 W, 42–0 L, 14–41
2010	First Round Second Round	Endicott Alfred	W, 49–35 L, 20–34
2012	First Round Second Round	Framingham State Wesley	W, 20–19 L, 6–56
2015	First Round Second Round	Salisbury Linfield	W, 45–21 L, 22–38
2021	First Round Second Round	Springfield RPI	W, 26–21 L, 14–21
2022	First Round	Randolph–Macon	L, 28–35
2023	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Stagg Bowl	Endicott Grove City Alma Randolph–Macon North Central (IL)	W, 23–17 W, 25–24 W, 58–41 W, 49–14 W, 38–37
2024	Second Round Third Round	Endicott Springfield	W, 17–9 L, 28–40

Rivalries

Ithaca Bombers

Main article: Cortaca Jug

Notable former players

Scott Israel

• Bob Bateson (1983), retired CFL & Italian Football League linebacker, current associate head coach of the Buffalo eXtreme
• Jake Ceresna (2016), NFL & CFL defensive end
• Scott Israel (BA, 1977), quarterback, former sheriff of Broward County, Florida, current police chief of Opa-locka, Florida.^[3]
• Kevin James, actor and comedian
• Ryan McCarthy (2002), head football coach at Central Connecticut University
• John Moiseichik (1946), professional basketball player in the National Basketball League
• Craig Peterson (2010), American football placekicker in the Indoor Football League
• Dan Pitcher (2011), NFL coach
• R-Kal Truluck (1997), NFL defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Arizona Cardinals