After a 2024 season that saw the Ithaca College football team lose its two-season grip on the Liberty League Championship title, the Bombers are back with a reinforced roster that wants nothing more than to prove themselves again.
Thus far in fall camp, the Bombers have embraced a culture of competition and opportunity. Sophomore defensive back Joe Spirra took advantage of his opportunities last season and is now growing into a leadership role early in his career.
Spirra is not going to be the only returning defensive player who will look to make a major impact. Head coach Michael Toerper said that the Bombers’ defensive core will include sizable contributions from graduate student defensive back Sam Tourangeau, senior defensive lineman Jon Ramsey, junior defensive lineman Carson Ciancuielli and senior linebacker Ryan Burns.
The young squad has three graduate students, Tourangeau being the only one who saw action last season. Spirra said leaders like Tourangeau are going to be key in giving the defense the extra energy it needs to perform.
“Me and [Tourangeau] are getting the defensive backs right,” Spirra said. “It’s gonna trickle down to the linebackers, it’s gonna trickle down to the defensive linemen. It starts with us. We have to bring the juice, and whoever else is out there and wants to get loud, we’re going to get going with you guys.”
While the Bombers’ defense has a number of returning starters looking to make a difference, the Bombers’ offense will be entering the season with presumably a new week one starting quarterback. If practice reps are any indication, junior quarterback Matthew Parker will continue his stint as commander of the Bombers’ offense. Parker, now with starting experience under his belt, said that this fall he has seen the team turn a corner in their ability to stick together.
“I think last year, offensively we lacked [that energy] a little bit,” Parker said. “I think we weren’t really together and I think this year we’ve all come together as a unit and have been able to execute. But also celebrate each other, whether that’s a touchdown or lifting each other up when we haven’t been doing so well.”
While Parker has been running with the starting offense during camp, the Bombers have loaded up at the position, bringing in first-year quarterback Robbie Carcich, who transferred from Division l Monmouth University, along with two first-years to join the room.
“[Parker] knows he’s gotta be at his best every day because he’s getting pushed by [junior quarterback] Mike Reed,” Toerper said. “[Parker] certainly has the jump on everybody because of the way he finished last year and the way he’s performed in spring practice and in training camp. But certainly keep your eye on Mike Reed because he’s a guy that can do a lot of things for us and I think he’s going to play a role this year.”
At Parker’s disposal will be a stable of returning wide receivers highlighted by juniors Nicholas Matos and Nicholas Lang. Lang and Matos finished as the top two receivers on the team in yardage during the 2024 season and Parker said his familiarity with the pair will help the offense roll this season.
“Obviously [the familiarity] helps with timing and understanding where they want to be on their routes,” Parker said. “Even after a couple of reps like I’ll come over to Lang, Matos, whoever it is and ask, ‘Are you going to be here? Are you gonna be there?’ Just being able to understand each other, understand where we are going to be on the field, it helps with that, that timing.”
With star running backs Jalen Leonard-Osbourne and Jake Williams both graduating from the program, junior Ahmad Taylor, sophomore Chris Scully, sophomore Chase Myers and three first-years will be competing to replace a significant amount of yardage. Toerper said that the position may be stronger than it has in the past.
“I’m really excited about that group because everybody says Jalen Leonard-Osbourne and Jake Williams are gone, but I think we’re stronger as a group now at the running back position as a whole than we have been since my time,” Toerper said. “We feel like all six guys can help us, regardless of if they’re getting carries early in the season or not.”
With Johns Hopkins University, Hobart College and SUNY Cortland all coming to Butterfield Stadium this season, the Bombers have the opportunity to take back what they lost last year and get back to the top of the Liberty League. Toerper said that scheduling the tough opponents is what the team prefers.
“I’d rather challenge ourselves early and really know who we are so we can play our best ball at the end,” Toerper said. “I want to play the best and our guys want to play the best, so why not — right out of the gate — play a team that we respect and know we’re gonna get their best effort. Let’s put the ball down and see what happens.”
The Bombers will open up their 2025 season against the No. 3 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays at 1 p.m. Sept. 6 at Butterfield Stadium.
