BY JORDAN SCHRADER
Daily Staff Reporter
Published November 2, 2001
The University of Michigan football team may have beaten Ohio State University in last year"s matchup, but in the 2000 Blood Battle between students at both schools, Ohio State won 1,681 pints to Michigan"s 1,679.
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Sunday marks the start of the 20th annual Blood Battle, a blood drive leading up the Nov. 24 Ohio State-Michigan football game. For the next two weeks, members of the American Red Cross and Alphi Phi Omega service fraternity will be at various locations on campus to take blood donations.
"We plan on beating Ohio State pretty badly," said Alpha Phi Omega member Mike Thompson, an LSA senior. "In light of the events of September 11 we expect a large turnout."
Red Cross spokeswoman Amy Neale agreed that the tragedy has created a larger will to contribute.
"Blood needs were met the first week after the disaster," she said, a rapid response that showed Americans" desire to help in relief efforts.
The majority of blood collected from University sites will go to area hospitals, Neale said. However, if necessary it will be transferred elsewhere.
"If, God forbid, another disaster happens in the United States, some blood may go to help," she said.
According to information published by Alpha Phi Omega, the Blood Battle is the largest blood drive in the nation. This year"s goal is a total of 4,000 pints, which could save an estimated 12,000 lives.
Thompson attributes the success of the drive to the intense competition between Michigan and Ohio State.
"It"s the largest rivalry we have and it really motivates people," Thompson said.
Michigan has won nine of the battles, and a win this year would tie the score. The winning university will be awarded the "Blood Drop Trophy" during halftime at the football game.
The first blood collection will be Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the First Congregational Church on the corner of South State and East William streets.
Though walk-ins are welcome, the Red Cross urges donors to make an appointment. These can be scheduled by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or by logging on to http://givelife.redcross.org with access code "goblue."
