On Saturday, a historic college football rivalry will see another chapter as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Engineers face off against the Union College Garnet Chargers. This matchup, which dates back to 1883, is recognized as New York”s longest-running football rivalry.
“When you see it on the schedule, that”s one that you circle every single year,” said RPI head coach Ralph Isernia. The rivalry gained official recognition in 1950 when it was named and a trophy, the Dutchman”s Shoes, was introduced for the annual clash. Celebrating 142 years of competition, this game has become a cherished tradition over the past 75 years.
Garnet Chargers head coach Jon Drach emphasized the mutual respect shared between the two teams, noting, “The level of work that these young men put in on a daily basis to put themselves in a position to be great academic students and be great football players at these institutions just really shines in this game.”
Last year, RPI defeated Union with a score of 24-7, but the Garnet Chargers maintain a commanding lead in the all-time series, holding a record of 84 wins, 33 losses, and 4 ties.
The stakes for this year”s contest are particularly high, as both teams have enjoyed strong seasons, each sitting at 7-2 overall. Union currently leads the Liberty League with a perfect conference record of 6-0, while RPI stands at 5-1 within the league.
A victory for Union would secure their position as the Liberty League champions and grant them entry into the NCAA Division III playoffs. Conversely, if RPI emerges victorious, the outcomes of the games involving Ithaca and Cortland will become crucial, as an RPI win coupled with a Cortland victory would mean that the Engineers would also claim the Liberty League title and a playoff spot.
“You can”t ignore that the stakes are raised a little bit,” Drach acknowledged.
Discipline and resilience are essential for Drach and his team as they prepare for this critical matchup. “I don”t think they”re going to back down to anything. They”re going to continue to raise their level of play,” he stated. “Pressure is a privilege… and our guys don”t feel that. They fall back on their execution.”
On the other side, Isernia is urging his team to focus on the fundamentals. Following a recent loss to Ithaca, he believes the experience will ultimately benefit the Engineers. “I think it (was) a good lesson for us to focus on our technique, focus on the call, focus on doing the play right, regardless if it”s offense, defense, or special teams, and not getting out of our own head or trying to do too much,” he remarked.
With heightened anticipation, both teams are eager to take the field. The game is set to kick off at 1 PM at Union College, and both coaches agree that their squads are ready for the challenge ahead. “I think you could roll the football in the parking lot right now and be ready to go,” Drach concluded.
