Members of Kappa Theta Psi fraternity showed the ultimate school spirit this past weekend by running with a football from Indianola to Pella.

“This tradition serves two purposes,” said senior Tommy Williams. “It promotes school spirit and it’s a good way to bond with fraternity brothers.”

Kappa started this tradition two years ago. Williams’ high school friend who goes to Central gave Williams the idea.

“My friend told me how his fraternity runs the ball to Simpson when the game is here,” said Williams. “I told some guys about the idea, and now we run the ball to the game when it’s at Central.”

Eleven men from the fraternity left Indianola around 6 a.m. and arrived in Pella at noon. The six hour trip included a stop in Pleasantville at Williams’ home for breakfast.

There were three vehicles in the caravan and one man was running at all times with a football. There were no set shifts.

“Guys just ran until they got tired,” said Kappa President Josh Merchant.

Simpson and Central have one of the biggest rivalries in the Iowa Conference. There is always a question whether this rivalry is just good, healthy competition, or if it has turned into a tasteless extravaganza. For the past two years, Simpson students have received an e-mail from President R. Kevin LaGree discouraging the t-shirts and other behaviors typically exhibited at the games.

The tradition started by Kappa is a way to show Simpson pride. It’s something different than just wearing a T-shirt disrespecting the other team. The men were taking a pro-active step to show some positive school spirit.

Some men did wear their F.T.D shirts on their trip to Pella, but the shirts were not the focus of this particular act of school spirit.

“I hope this tradition continues,” said Williams. “It’s something really fun.”