"Get Pumped for MT Football" Blood Drive is underway

In conjunction with the Blue Raiders' 6 p.m. Sept. 14 home football game against old rival Tennessee Tech, students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends are being encouraged to "Get Pumped for MT Football" and "Donate Blood-Wreck Tech!" during an American Red Cross blood drive.

The MTSU community can donate from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sept. 12-13 in Keathley University Center Room 322. (Tech held its drive Aug. 30-31.) The winner will be announced at halftime during the nationally televised (ESPNU) game.

"It's a way to get the community and campus involved," said Jennifer Kirk, event coordination, student programming. "We want to see who can donate the most blood. It's for a good cause."

Kirk said the MT-Tech blood drive was crafted as a way to "try to instigate a rivalry. They've not played in a while (eight years)."

Kirk said blood donation guidelines require donors to be at least 17 years old, at least 110 pounds, "healthy" and to not have donated blood in the last 56 days.

"'Healthy' means that you feel well and can perform normal activities," Kirk noted. "If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, 'healthy' also means that you're being treated and the condition is under control."

MT Athletics' Andrea Curran and SGA's Shane Fortner and Meagan Flippin joined Rich Kershaw, director of student programming, Student Life's Jonathan Pursley and News and Public Affairs personnel on the blood drive committee.