Cortland, N.Y. has become a home away from home for the Jets every late summer.
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The Jets are returning to their upstate training camp home of Cortland, N.Y., marking the fifth time in six seasons the green and white will travel to their remote, pastoral preseason outpost.
The tradition of holding camp in Cortland began in 2009 when first-year head coach Rex Ryan wanted to get his Jets away from the distractions of the New York City area so they were forced to focus on football.
Last July, Metro reported the Jets and SUNY Cortland had “agreed in principle” to a return to the college campus for the 2014 season. Reports last month from the New York Daily News provided an update and confirmed a return to Cortland.
Only once in the past six years, when the 2011 lockout cut short the NFL preseason and forced the Jets to use their team facility, have the Jets not called Cortland their preseason home.
“I love the fact that we are going back to Cortland. Everyone knows how I feel about going away,” Ryan said. “I think it is a big part of building our team camaraderie. The community, the school and the people of Cortland have been outstanding and we are all excited to be going back this summer.”
The return of the Jets to upstate New York is good for the town of Cortland, an area hit hard over the past few years with job losses. The presence of the Jets brings in tourism which boosts the surrounding communities.
Jets notes …
»Metro New York has learned the Jets hosted Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller and Notre Dame tight end Troy Niklas on Wednesday for pre-draft visits.
»Metro has also learned the Jets hosted Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert, Utah cornerback Keith McGill, Maryland defensive back Dexter McDougle and Boise State defensive end Demarcus Lawrence on visits Tuesday.
Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.
