2016 SCHEDULE

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College football program will kick-off its 2016 season at Butterfield Stadium on Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. against Union College in a non-conference contest. Ithaca will also play at home on Oct. 1, Oct. 8, Oct. 22 and Nov. 5 – all home game times are slated for a 1 p.m. start.

Head coach Mike Welch '73, now in his 23rd season at his alma mater, will lead Ithaca through the grueling 10-game schedule, consisting of five home and away games. Welch has guided the Bombers to an overall record of 164-73 (.692) since 1994 and was inducted into Ithaca's Hall of Fame last fall.

The Bombers are coming off a 4-6 season in 2015, which featured victories over Union (38-23), No. 16 Hobart (24-6), Alfred (38-18) and Hartwick (47-19). Ithaca ranked within the top 40 nationally in four different defensive categories last season and was second in the country in kick return average at 26.9 yards. Rising junior Jordan Schemm was the nation's leader in kick return average at 37.6 yards with a long of 91 yards and a touchdown.

After Ithaca's home opener with Union on the 3rd, the Bombers have a bye week before traveling to Hobart on the 7th for a night game at 7 p.m. The Bombers' Empire 8 Conference opener is slated for Sept. 24 at Alfred University, followed by an E8 home matchup with Utica College on Oct. 1. Ithaca will look to avenge a 30-27 overtime set back to Utica in 2015.

The Bombers will remain at home on Oct. 8 for Homecoming and Alumni Weekend against Hartwick College. The night prior to Saturday's showdown with Hartwick, the department of athletics will host its 47th Hall of Fame ceremony in the Athletics and Events center at 7 p.m. – the inductees will be recognized during halftime on Saturday.

A road trip to the College of Brockport follows on the 15th at 1 p.m. Ithaca dropped a 27-17 decision to Brockport last year. Oct. 22 marks a home battle with Morrisville State College, who took down Ithaca last season, 24-12.

The day after Halloween, Ithaca heads back up to Rochester for a 1 p.m. kick-off at St. John Fisher College. Fisher blanked the Bombers, 34-0, in the most recent meeting.

Family Weekend is slated for Nov. 5 and Buffalo State College will be on South Hill for that matchup. Buffalo State came away with a 7-3 defensive battle last November.

The 58th Annual Cortaca Jug Game wraps up the regular season at 12 p.m. on Nov. 12 in Cortland. The Red Dragons won their sixth straight Cortaca Jug at Butterfield Stadium last season, 11-8. Ithaca leads the all-time series with Cortland, 39-31-3, and is 34-23 in Cortaca Jug games.

All of Ithaca's home games will be broadcast on ICTV and live stats are available for each contest.