Before UCA ran up the score against North Alabama, Kappa Sigma ran a football from the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock to the Estes Stadium Stripes in a 33 mile homecoming game-day relay.
President Houston Davis was with his Kappa Sigma brothers on the Capitol steps at 5:30 a.m. to run the first leg of the relay.
“It’s a neat concept for them to be able to take [the game ball] from the Capitol to here at midfield in Estes Stadium. It’s a great tradition on homecoming, I’m glad to know that they do it,” Davis said.
Sophomore Kappa Sigma member Zack Benham ran four legs of the relay, “I had to get it going. … I started there [in the Capitol] with President Davis and then ran another three legs in Maumelle.” Beham said.
About the first leg with President Davis, Benham said, “Well, you know, I let him win.”
Davis laughed and said, “Yeah, I think they were probably being nice to me because their young legs can definitely move a lot faster than mine, but I kept up with them”
32 members of Kappa Sigma participated in the 33 mile relay. The members ran through the rainy weather, finishing the relay in roughly four hours.
Sophomore Kappa Sigma member Omar Franco organized the event. “The relay is a fundraiser for the military heroes campaign. The money raised from the relay will go to those who serve and can’t support themselves. We raised a little over $800. I am proud of all the guys that showed up and participated,” Franco said.
Sophomore Eli Calvert ran one leg of the relay in Maumelle. “Our philanthropy is military heroes, and I grew up with military heroes, so I don’t mind being out here in the rain for our military heroes,” Calvert said.
Sophomore Brad Lewis, Kappa Sigma’s president, ran in the first leg of the relay, “I was excited to support the cause. We wanted to make sure to come out and continue this tradition, even through the rain. It made me really excited that other people were also, not only willing, but excited to get out, show their support and wake up at the crack of dawn and get to the Capitol by 5:30 in the morning,” Lewis said.
The game day relay has become a homecoming tradition. It was not able to continue during the pandemic, but it resumed last year. The event is a part of Kappa Sigma’s philanthropy.
President Davis is a Kappa Sigma alum, “I was a Kappa Sig as an undergrad and I’m still obviously an alum. So certainly, I’m proud of all of our Greek organizations, but this group knows if they need somebody to run a mile out of 32, they know they’re going to jerk at my heartstrings to definitely run that mile,” Davis said.
“I just appreciate that it’s entirely their initiative to do this. I think it’s great, and then add that they’re raising money for veterans and military organizations, I mean, really we’re proud to be affiliated with something like that,” Davis said.