News | 11/9/08

Media Credit: Eric Gazzillo [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Eric Gazzillo [Click to enlarge]

When a streak of Tigers comes running down the street, people tend to take notice.

Escorted by the Baltimore County Police Department, 170 student-athletes from Towson ran the 29-mile stretch from the Johnny Unitas Stadium to Festival Park in Aberdeen for the third annual Pigskin Pass.

As they turned the corner of West Bel Air Avenue and Park Street for the final stretch of the run, storeowners in Aberdeen came out of their shops curious about the commotion.

"I was excited and I wanted to know what it was. When I saw the Baltimore County police I was like 'whoa' they came all the way from Baltimore County, that has to be at least a 20-mile run," Matthew Katapisky, Gold Discounters store owner, said. "I can't even run three miles. That's good for them, that's awesome."

The Pigskin Pass is a 58-mile relay that stretches from Towson to the University of Delaware, to raise money for each state's respective Special Olympics programs.

"It was really exciting to see all of the participants that came out. We had a lot more than last year," Brit Woodfield, women's lacrosse midfielder and president of Proud Athletes Who Serve, said. "It's our duty as athletes to give back to the community, especially Special Olympics athletes."

The event raised $19,621 total for Special Olympics Maryland and Delaware. According to the Pigskin Pass Web site, Delaware raised $12,554 to Towson's $7,067.

As the sun set on Festival Park, Towson and Delaware mascots Doc and YoUDee, respectively, exchanged the game ball for Saturday's football game between the Tigers and the Blue Hens. The following morning, athletes from Delaware continued the second leg of the run.

Exhausted from the last leg of the run, Towson athletes boarded the busses content with their community contribution.

"It was a lot of hard work and very tiring but it was a great cause and so much fun," baseball shortstop Nick Natoli said. "All the time flew by. Running with these guys made it very enjoyable and seeing all the people in the town coming out of their shops to watch us run."

The Pigskin Pass began three years ago when then Delaware undergraduate Tyler Kupper borrowed the idea from his friend who attended the University of Michigan. As the program grows with participation, Kupper said there is talk of expanding the relay to the next level.

"There is no reason this event can't be replicated at every high school and every college… to all of the football rivalries in the CAA," Kupper said.

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