Set against the vastness of Cayuga Lake and hills burning with the brilliance of Ithaca’s fall foliage, the 24 seniors on the football team donned their Bomber blues Saturday for the final regular-season home game of 2008.

The game against Empire 8 rival Springfield College fell during Ithaca College’s Family Weekend — making it even more significant.

As the 24 seniors took the field with their underclassman teammates to play what may be their last game on the college’s campus, their parents packed the stands to watch the game.

Afterward, players gathered with their families outside the stadium.

Senior captain and tight end Brian Weverbergh said he reminisced on his memories at Butterfield with his family after the game.

“I’ve made great friendships and lots of memories there,” he said. “It was tough looking back at the stadium knowing you might never step on that field again.”

But if Weverbergh does not ever play a home game at the college again, he will have left on a high note as the South Hill squad demolished the Springfield Pride 37–8.

Since joining the program, the class of 2009 has seen much success at Butterfield Stadium. During their four-year tenure at the college, the Bombers own a 19–2 record at home, scoring just under 37 points a game in that time span.

In the 2008 regular season, this class of seniors continued the success it has seen throughout its tenure at Ithaca. The Bombers, led by their senior captains, finished the season a perfect 5–0 at Butterfield, outscoring their opponents by a total of 216–97. The Bombers’ success at home is an accomplishment, but a bittersweet one for graduating seniors.

“I just don’t want it to end,” Weverbergh said.

Senior quarterback and captain Dan Juvan said he is not ready to leave the field where he has been calling the signals for the past three seasons either. He said he was thrilled to see the team pick up a big conference win but was upset to have played, possibly, his last game in front of the Bomber faithful.

“I was more emotional after the game than prior,” Juvan said. “To come out with the win made it more special.”

At 7–1 and tied for first place in the Empire 8, there is still a possibility the Bombers could host a home playoff game. They would likely have to win their final two games against Alfred University and SUNY-Cortland and earn an automatic bid by winning the conference. Because this scenario is still in the Bombers’ sights, they are not yet willing to say this will be their last home game this year.

Senior linebacker and captain Matt Scalice said he made sure to go all out Saturday at Butterfield with the thought that this could be his last chance to perform in front of a hometown crowd. But in the back of his mind, he said he knew it may not have been his final time on the gridiron at Butterfield.

“For me, I tried not to think about it being my last game at Butterfield,” Scalice said. “I just tried thinking about playing our game and getting a win.”

Scalice said he is healthier now than he has been all season and is ready to make a run at the playoffs.

“Our team is starting to gel at a great point in the season, and we are in control of our own destiny,” Scalice said.

That destiny is still unknown for the 2008 season. The only certain thing at this point is that Ithaca loses 24 players at the end of the season.

However, Scalice said despite this being the last season the seniors will suit up on South Hill, he and his teammates will always be a part of the Bomber football program.

“Bomber football is a family that consists of players, coaches, past players and our families,” Scalice said. “We are all Bombers.”