The source material for this story was pulled from an article written by Dennis Lustig that appeared in the September 19, 1971, edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

On September 18th, 1971, the John Carroll Blue Streaks earned the respect of its local rival, Case Western Reserve University, in the first game to be contested for the President's Cup.

The trophy was established to herald the creation of the rivalry between the two Cleveland area institutions, which actually came about when Case Tech and Western Reserve merged in 1970. The winner of the annual game keeps the "cup" for a year.

"John Carroll is a fine football team. It's no disgrace to lose to them," said Coach Flory Mauriocourt after the Spartans' devastating loss of 33-7 to the Blue Streaks.

JCU captains Mike Mulkeen and Rich Cisek were more than eager to receive the first President's Cup from Case Western's president, Dr. Louis Toepfer, at the conclusion of the game.

John Carroll's football coach, Jerry Schweickert said the win ended 10 months of worry during the offseason after 1970's 2-5-1 record.

"After last year you respect any victory. Three interceptions and a fumble recovery were a key to our victory," stated Schweickert.

John Carroll appeared to find answers to the previous year's weaknesses, passing, punting and placekicking, in quarterback Bob Kraft and kickers Mike Sottosanti and Tim Barrett.

 Kraft, a junior from Flint, Michigan, completed only three of 10 passes for 47 yards and one touchdown, but drilled the ball much better than his opponent, Don Stephan of CWRU.

Case Reserve lead 7-5, scoring first on a 12-yard run by Jerry Slaughter. John Carroll countered back with an 11-yard run by Steve Mintz, with a missed extra point to end the play. Spartans' chances for victory seemed to continue to slim with a fumble by full back Ralph Qualtiere, which was recovered by Frank Amato for Carroll. This play led to the picture-perfect Kraft to Carroll floater on the Blue Streaks first play with only 1:51 remaining in the half. JCU led at the half 13-7.

 Then in comes Mike Sottosanti, a freshman from Mayfield. Sottosanti's name wasn't even in the program yet, but that didn't stop him from booting a school-record 46-yard field goal which cleared the crossbar by mere inches only midway through the third quarter. He then followed up with a 32-yard field goal only four minutes later.

Sottosanti was not the only kicker tormenting Case during the game. Tim Barrett of Buffalo averaged 38.3 yards on six punts including a 63-yarder.

John Carroll football finished out the 1971 season with a record of 4-5 overall and 4-1 in their conference, capturing the league title.

The Blue Streaks continued to hoist the President Cup for four more years, with CWRU finally breaking the streak in 1976 with a 19-6 win.