Thousands of college students packed Cortland Saturday for what they hoped would be an epic weekend. The football game weekend where SUNY Cortland faces Ithaca College is known as “Cortaca.” After Saturday’s game put Cortland on top, some said the partying escalated.
It was many more people than the Cortland Police Department could handle according to Police Chief Mike Catalano. Others called it a full-fledged riot. Some people were reportedly in shopping carts coming down the street. Others were throwing beer everywhere. Trash, bottles, and empty beer cans lined the streets of Clayton Avenue on Sunday. Some students decided to take responsibility for their actions by coming together and cleaning up. Some said the Clayton Avenue scene was just evidence of college kids letting loose after a big football win. While some may have taken things too far, others showed pride for their school and for their neighbors by picking up the pieces. Catalano said Cortland police made a number of arrests Saturday night. Police did not comment on how many were arrested, or any other aspect of Saturday night’s riot.