History:

The Inaugural Pigskin Pass

The idea for the Pigskin Pass was conceived in 2006 by Tyler Kupper, President of the University of Delaware’s Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).

Looking for a way to utilize the energy and talents of student athletes in an effort to benefit the community, Tyler envisioned a football relay between two rivalry schools - utilizing student athletes to relay the ball and, in turn, accepting donations to support Special Olympics.

Joined by Towson SAAC President Ryan Schreiter and SAAC members from Delaware and Towson, the event received the blessing of both school administrations, as well as the support of law enforcement in Delaware and Maryland. The event was created and its motto became --- ‘athletes supporting athletes.’

The student athletes held the inaugural Pigskin Pass – a two-day, 58-mile relay run from Towson to Delaware – on October 28, 2006, and it culminated with the delivery of a special game ball just prior to the start of the schools annual football game. Towson went on to claim a 49-35 win in the game, but despite the Tigers victory, the real winners of the day were the athletes of Special Olympics. The relay run attracted more than 120 student athletes from both schools and raised $7,599 for Special Olympics Delaware and $4,850 for Special Olympics Maryland – making a grand total of $12,500 raised for the athletes in Special Olympics!