The annual Blood Battle between the University of Michigan and Ohio State University, the nation"s largest blood drive, ended in Ann Arbor last Friday after two weeks of collection but will continue in Columbus through the Thanksgiving holiday.

Although organizers of the event would not disclose the amount of blood that they collected on either campus since Ohio State is still collecting donations, they insisted that collection here came very close to their goal of 2,000 pints, roughly the amount of blood in 170 humans.

Sean Meyer, who organized the event at Michigan on behalf of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, said collection went "really well" and that it probably surpassed last year"s total by about 250 pints.

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks appear to have affected the output of blood donation, although Randy Hancock, the regional representative for the American Red Cross, said "I think it kind of went both ways."

He said the Red Cross experienced a significant increase in blood donation right after the attacks, receiving 8,000 new donors that month in southeastern Michigan instead of the average 2,000, but that these donors could not have given blood again so soon after their recent contribution.

Although the competition with Michigan"s rival Ohio State encouraged students to go to the collection sites, many students donated blood simply for humanitarian reasons.

"It"s partly because of the Blood Battle, but partly because I know that I"m blood type O, so a lot of people could use that," said Chrissy Dallas, a Kinesiology senior who donated blood last week.

"I just thought it was about time. They sent me an e-mail and I thought it was a good idea to do it," Rackham student Tom Shepley said after giving blood.

The University of Michigan has won the competition nine times, but Ohio State won last year with 1,681 pints two more than Michigan"s 1,679 pints.

Totals for both universities will be announced and the Blood Drop Trophy will be awarded Saturday to the winning school during the Ohio State-Michigan football game at Michigan Stadium.

Although collection has finished on this campus, but the Red Cross still encourages students to donate blood to alleviate the shortage in the country.

Those interested can make an appointment at http://givelife.redcross.org using the access code "goblue."