Do you know how horrible it is to lose to Columbia University in football? It’s when you lose to them by over twenty points. Both of our teams were 5-4 and the team that won not only won the Empire State Award (big deal) but had a winning record. I knew that we were in trouble when we fell behind 21-0.

Getting ready for the game

It was finally jubilant when we scored a touchdown and then it was 21-7. It was just meant to be as we fell behind again and again. The worst was toward the end of the game when we were at 38-22 and we kicked an onside kick. That is always a big mistake because it always ends with the other team getting a touchdown. Columbia got a touchdown immediately and the final score was 45-22. That was embarrassing.

The end of the game Columbia 45-Cornell 22 not our best game

It had been a nice afternoon in the stadium with clear blue skies and the weather was cool and crisp at between 48 to 50 degrees. I could not believe the crowd of alumni at the game. Even though Columbia is considered our rival I never took it much as a rivalry.

Cornell Alumni filling the stands at Columbia; we always outnumber them

Both of our teams in all the years that I have been coming to the game have not been that good. It’s just nice to go to a game and cheer someone on. It amazes me how every year no matter who wins we have more people in the stands than Columbia does.

It was beautiful in the stadium as long as the sun was out (then we got cold as darkness came)

Preparing to enter the stadium with great hopes of a blowout against Columbia

We came out so enthusiastic and ready to play ball, but it just did not look good when we could not score on the first play. We just did not look like we have a game plan. Then Columbia just kept scoring on us.

The start of the game

Even at half time, our band could not play on the field because one of the alumni said that they had a hazing problem at the Columbia band (which is so small I do not know what type of problems that they could have) and they banned them from campus. Then they banned other Ivy League teams from playing on their field as well. Let me put it this way, it was not the most exciting game. If it had not been for the group of alumni behind me cracking jokes and having fun, I would have been bored. The game became subdued when they left at the beginning of fourth quarter.

Going in for our first touchdown Columbia 21-Cornell 7

What also got to me was that it got dark in the stadium early. By the end of third quarter, the sun really moved across the sky, and it not only got dark, but it started to get cold in the stadium as well. For most of the game, it was clear, sunny and crisp and was pleasant in the stadium.

Going in for our third touchdown Columbia 38-Cornell 22

Then I noticed how fast the sun was moving in the sky and you could feel the evening chill. It must have dropped fifteen degrees by the time we left the stadium at the end of the game.

The last play of the game

After the game was over, I headed down to the Cornell Club on West 44th Street for the Annual Sy Katz Parade. In previous years, I had seen complete subway cars filled with alumni leaving the game. This time around there were only a handful of us on the Number One downtown. I thought that was strange.

Our teams are civil even after a loss

When I got to Rockefeller Center where the parade traditionally begins there was no one there. The two couples I came downtown with were there but then they disappeared. After waiting for about a half hour, I headed down to the Cornell Club on East 44th Street to see what was going on.

The end of the game

When I got to the club, I found out that they had to change the route of the parade due to permit problems and we started in front of One Vanderbilt Avenue between Grand Central Terminal and the office building in the plaza. It was funny to hear that somehow the two busses of band members and alumni heading back to campus got lost somewhere in New Jersey and had to head back into Manhattan. So, the rest of the alumni had to wait in Vanderbilt Plaza in the cold until they arrived about a half hour later. Then the fun began.

Preparing for the Sy Katz Parade in Vanderbilt plaza on Vanderbilt Avenue outside Grand Central Terminal

The Cornell Marching Band really got everyone revved up and the Cornell Cheerleaders and Dance Team really got everyone in the spirit (even though we got our asses kicked earlier in the day) and we had a good time as we made our way up Vanderbilt Avenue. We ended at the entrance of the Cornell Club on East 44th Street.

The Cornell Marching Band preparing for the parade from Vanderbilt Avenue

Cornell Alumni marching in the parade

Alumni marching to the Cornell Club where the pep rally is held every other year

The Band played all the school fight songs, the Alumna Mater and then traditional fight songs from the games. Since I was not an undergraduate at Cornell (I went for the PDP Graduate Program), I never learned the songs. I have to watch the YouTube videos on “On the Shores of Lake Cayuga” to learn the words. It has taken years to perfect it. Not like the Spartan songs from Michigan State (we were also having a bad football year) and I will do not know all the words to “MSU Shadows”.

Cornell School Song

‘Give my Regards to Davey’ (I never got this song)

The alumni were all excited and joined in the singing of the songs, watching the band hold their own traditions with marches and songs and then Sy Katz’s daughter, Alice, gave a speech in front of the club to wish everyone well. Her and her family were so happy that so many people came out to the parade. She and her family greeted the crowd so warmly that the alumni cheered her on as well. It was a nice crowd of enthusiastic people who sang and cheered.

Alice Katz welcoming the crowds at the Cornell Club on East 44th Street

Someone shot this at the parade in 2022

The Parade in 2018 pre-COVID

Our mascot also sang and danced at the parade

After the parade was over and most of the Alumni left for the evening, I joined everyone else in the Cayuga Room for a post-Alumni Tailgate dinner. It was really nice but I have to admit that the food tasted like it had been sitting for a bit.

The Hot Chicken Wings and the fresh salads were the best part of the tailgate

The Hamburger Sliders were hard and the buns crunched when you bit into them. The Chicken Fingers were good but tepid. The rest of the food was wonderful. They had two green salads, a Chili Bar with sides, a Meatball dish with a sweet sauce, a vegetarian sandwich and the best were the Hot Chicken Wings which were the best I have tasted in a while. We ended up going through two trays of those while I was in the room eating.

The sliders had been under the heat lamp or the warmer too long

For dessert, they had assorted cookies and brownies with tea, coffee and hot chocolate which was perfect when I was trying to warm up after it being so cool outside.

The desserts at the club are always wonderful

As I talked with other Alumni, I was amazed that I was the only one at my side of the table who went to the game. Everyone else had come in for the parade and tailgate. The one thing everyone said to me at the table when I discussed us getting our asses kicked was “You went to the Game?” I then replied, “Didn’t you?” and it was the same answer, “No, I do not go to that.” I took it as the alumni that went to the game were not the same ones that went to the parade. Oh well!

I had a wonderful time and it was so nice to have this event since the last time in 2018. So it will be until 2024 the next time I go again. I could not believe that I have been coming to this for over a decade.

I’m the dedicated Alumni! Go Red!!!!!

Game Day November 2024:

Another great disappointment as we played lousy again and lost 17-9. It really was not much of a game. It boggles my mind that we have so many Alumni come out for the game, and we still always lose. We have so much promise with a new coach and a new way of playing the game. This was the last game of the season, and it was not much of a season. When we got blown out by Colgate who was 0-3 and lost the next two games after us, I knew we were in trouble. To beat Yale and Princeton, their teams must have been pretty bad. Still, I love this game.

Inwood Park foliage was beautiful, it is in the City, and I love the Sy Katz Parade and the tailgate afterwards. It is worth the money and the trip into the City and up to Inwood Park. The sad part is the team itself. We never win. In the last three times I have com to the game in six years, we have never won this rivalry game and that makes the tailgate more depressing. The funny part is that most of the people who come to the tailgate go to the Sy Katz Parade and never the game.

The Muscato Marsh the day of the game

Even with the wildfires in this area, the foliage was still so beautiful in Muscato Marsh, which is right next to Baker Field and in Inwood and Isham Park.

Isham Park in the early morning of the game

The stairs leading to Isham Park

I got uptown with just enough time to walk around the neighborhood for a bit and get some nice pictures of the foliage.

Isham Park

Video of the Band arriving outside the stadium:

The day started out pretty gloomy and cool as a much needed rain storm finally passed by. The sun would start to peak our around half time creating a typical Fall day for football.

The Alumni and parents staying to fill the stands at Baker Stadium that afternoon

Looking down on the field before the start of the game

I hate to say it but it is a bit pathetic when the visiting team has more fans than the home team. I have been coming to this rivalry game for over a decade and I never see the Columbia side of the stadium ever full. Even when they have a good record.

Our Team coming onto the field to start the game

Video of the entrance with much fanfare.

Even at the start of the game more of our college’s fans kept coming.

We filled our side of the stadium to the brim

The Columbia side of the stadium. It got smaller as the game went on.

Our side of the stadium after our first field goal. We were losing 7-3. It would not be a high scoring game.

The first half of the game literally flew by and then we were at half time with the score of 7-3. I could not believe how bad both teams were playing. Neither side played that well the first half.

I stayed around for most of half time. We had to watch the Columbia Pep Band and that was not fun. I had heard Junior High performances better than that. Then we came on with ten minutes left and it was an enjoyable performance.

Video of our Marching Band:

At the start of third quarter, I left to get some lunch. The stadium prices were so expensive ($8.00 for a hot dog?). I walked down the street and ate at Park Terrace Deli at 510 West 218th Street (see my review on TripAdvisor and DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com). I have been coming here for years when doing the Broadway walk and the Great Saunter and the food is always wonderful and so reasonable.

The place was mobbed with people from the game who had the same idea that I had. I was going to order a breakfast sandwich but all these burger deluxe kept coming out and then I craved a Cheeseburger Deluxe and it hit the spot.

Park Terrace Deli at 510 West 218th Street

http://www.parkterracedeli218thst.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d4636946-Reviews-Park_Terrace_Deli-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=69573

My review on DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/diningonashoestringinnyc.wordpress.com/2930

The Cheeseburger was over-sized and so juicy. You could tasted the caramelized meat inside the fresh bun accented by the lettuce and tomato. And lots of ketchup and pickles. It was so good on a cool afternoon. I took my lunch and ate it at the stadium much to the looks of the people eating the expensive hot dogs and pretzels.

The Cheeseburger Deluxe at Park Terrace Deli is caramelized and juicy

Yum!

I got back into the stadium at the very end of the Third Quarter and the score was still the same. This game was pretty bad.

When I walked back in there were even more fans

This was the Cornell side of the stadium at the end of the Third Quarter even with these scores

The weather when it finally cleared

All of us cheering at another accomplished field goal

Columbia would score again making it 14-6 so it was not too bad and I thought we could catch up. We just can’t close out a game.

Us going in for an attempted touchdown with the score now 17-6. It was not meant to be. When the player ran in for the touchdown and was open, he would hit the goal post.

Video of the play:

Video of the field goal:

We then went in for the field goal and we made that for the score of 17-9. It would stay that way.

The end of the game was even more painful as there were almost no fans left on the Columbia side as their football player paraded around the ‘New York Bowl’ to an empty crowd and our legions of fans walked out again with another losing season. I really felt for our new coach. He is going to have to really rebuild this team from ground up.

After the game was over, I had about two hours before the Sy Katz Parade would begin so I walked around Inwood Park and admired the foliage at sunset. It was just magnificent.

The Muscato Marsh after the game

The Muscato Marsh in the late afternoon

The inlet in Inwood Hill Park

The brilliance of the sun on the park

The sun in the late afternoon

It was really beautiful sad the sun started to set

I walked down Broadway to 207th Street to see all the foliage. Even Ann Loftus Playground still had the beautiful hues of the trees.

Ann Loftus Playground at 207th Street

I took the A train back to midtown and met all the other Alumni in Vanderbilt Plaza by Grand Central Terminal as we waited for the band to show up. t least this year the bus driver did not get lost and the band showed up pretty promptly.

Arriving at Vanderbilt Plaza

Admiring the beauty of this part of the City as the sun set

Admiring Grand Central Terminal

Getting ready to start the Parade as the band arrived

The band brought a new energy to the parade. They did not seem to care that we just lost our last game of the season. They were too busy having a good time.

The band getting into position to start the parade

Everyone getting ready to start the march to the Cornell Club

Our Band Major starting the Parade

Video of the start of the Sy Katz parade:

Band and Alumni marching up Fifth Avenue

Heading to East 44th Street where the Cornell Club is located

Video of the March up Fifth Avenue:

We got to the front of the Cornell Club where everything was set up for our Pep Rally and because the weather had gotten much nicer by the end of the evening, we had a big crowd.

The start of the fight song

Video of the fight song:

Then they played our Alma Mater ’On the Shores of Lake Cayuga’

Playing the school song

Then Elaine Katz, Sy Katz’s daughter got up and gave a beautiful speech about her dad and his love of the college. It was very touching.

Elaine Katz honoring her father, who founded this parade

Then the played the last song of the evening, the Alma Mater before closing the parade

After the song was over and there was a lot of loud cheers and applause, it was time to eat and that meant the ‘Tailgate Dinner’ in the Cayuga Room.

The ‘Tailgate Dinner’ in the Cayuga Room

I was able to arrive before most of the Alumni started to arrive for dinner and was able to take pictures around the Cayuga Room, where the dinner was taking place.

The room was really festive with red and white decorations around the room and centerpieces with tiny Cornell bears smiling back at us.

The centerpieces at dinner

The ‘Tailgate Dinner’ was really nice and the food was excellent. They created a nice menu for us of popular dishes and the food kept coming as we had a packed house after the parade was over.

The Salad Bar with Kale Salad and Mixed Greens was by far the most popular station. Everyone enjoyed the salads.

For the entrees, we started the meal with Vegetarian Chili and fresh rolls and Pork Meatballs with barbecue sauce.

The next station had Potato Skins with all the toppings and Pulled Pork sliders with their topping which we put together ourselves.

The hot station also had Vegetarian sandwiches, which were not the popular and the Buffalo Chicken Wings, which were meaty and delicious. The chicken was really popular on this cool night.

The Dessert Bar was laden with all sorts of freshly baked goodies that included Lemon Bars, Brownies and Blondies and freshly baked Oatmeal Raison, Chocolate Chip and White Chocolate cookies.

The Brownies and Blondies on the Dessert Bar

It was a really nice evening and the perfect way to sallow our loss at the game with lots of sweet desserts. I had a nice time making chit chat with other Alumni.

This is the best way to drown your sorrows

It was another fun afternoon and evening and see everyone again in 2026 and hopefully our new coach will do some positive recruiting in the off season and we can win this one again. Until then, another football season is behind us.

Go Red!