9:41 a.m., Oct. 15, 2009----A brief ceremony to kick off the fourth annual Pigskin Pass for Special Olympics will be held at noon Friday, Oct. 16, at Tubby Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium.

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The Pigskin Pass is a joint effort between student-athletes from the University of Delaware and Towson University. The event is a 58-mile relay run from the 50-yard line of Delaware Stadium to the 50-yard line of Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, with the purpose of delivering a special game ball prior to kickoff of the annual Towson-Delaware Football Game, which is slated for 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17.

Following the ceremony at Delaware Stadium, the Blue Hen student-athletes will run the game ball to Festival Park in Aberdeen, Md. Once the student-athletes arrive, they will be welcomed by Aberdeen Mayor Michael D. Bennett and Towson University student-athletes, coaches and administrators.

Following a brief ceremony, Delaware's mascot, YoUDee, will hand the ceremonial game ball off to Towson's mascot, Doc, and the Towson student-athletes will run the ball the rest of the way to Johnny Unitas Stadium starting Saturday at 9:15 a.m.

Once the Towson University students reach the campus, they will be joined by Special Olympics athletes in a pregame celebration, and to run the final leg into the stadium prior to kickoff. Officers from both Towson and Delaware's Student-Athlete Advisory Councils will present a check for the money they have raised together for Special Olympics programs to Maryland and Delaware Special Olympics athletes.

The Pigskin Pass is a joint community service initiative sponsored by the Student-Athlete Advisory Councils at both the University of Delaware and Towson University. Student-athletes raise money by registering to run in the event, and then getting additional sponsors to support their efforts. It is a visible example of athletes supporting athletes.

Last year, $22,000 was raised between the rival schools.