MTSU may have the trophy again, but the real winners are the thousands of neighbors, friends, family members and colleagues who’ll be helped by the blood donated by two competing universities.

MTSU Associate Athletic Director Diane Turnham, left, cheers as Chris Massaro, MTSU director of athletics, raises the American Red Cross’ MTSU vs. WKU Fall Blood Drive challenge trophy high Saturday, Oct. 10, in Bowling Green. MTSU supoprters donated 517 pints of blood at the Oct. 5-7 “Bleed Blue, Beat WKU” blood drive to WKU’s 486, winning the challenge trophy for the fifth time in six years. (MTSU photo by MTSU Athletic Communications)

“True Blue” MTSU donors out-bled Western Kentucky University Oct. 5-7 during the sixth annual blood drive, drawing 517 pints of blood to WKU’s 436 during the three-day annual event that MTSU calls “Bleed Blue, Beat WKU.”

The “Blood Battle” challenge trophy, presented during the third quarter of the MTSU-WKU game in Bowling Green Saturday, Oct. 10, is now MTSU’s for the second year in a row — and the fifth time since the drive began in 2010.

The announcement was a comfort to Blue Raider fans in the Hilltoppers’ 58-28 gridiron win.

“We cannot express how much we appreciate everyone’s hard work and passion,” said Patricia Wright, senior representative for the American Red Cross’ Tennessee Valley Region. “At the end of the day, we met the most important goal of helping patients in need. Thanks to you all, there are now hundreds of blood products on the shelves for anyone who needs it!”

“We can only give credit to the overwhelming support of the MTSU student body and university community,” said Dr. Gloria Bonner, assistant to MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee and head of the university’s “Bleed Blue” planning committee. “We are extremely appreciative for the show of support on behalf of this amazing community outreach initiative!

“The tremendous success of the 2015 competition blood drive, however, would not have been possible without the leadership, collaboration and support of our Red Cross and the countless MTSU volunteers, students, administrators, faculty, staff and community supporters.”

You can watch a video from this year’s “Bleed Blue, Beat WKU” blood drive below.

Hundreds of university community members showed up to donate lifesaving blood products for their neighbors at both university sites, according to American Red Cross officials.

MTSU has won five of the competitions and conducted its own successful drive in 2013 when Western wasn’t yet part of Conference USA.

“It’s an opportunity for all of us on the MTSU campus to give back to the community at large and to also give back to our own community here on campus,” said Ray Wiley, MTSU’s associate director of campus recreation, who also is a 30-year volunteer for the American Red Cross.

“It’s an opportunity for staff, faculty and students to work together for a common goal.”

Because each unit of blood can save up to three lives, MTSU’s donors alone now have affected nearly 9,500 lives since 2010. The combined MTSU-WKU totals have helped more than 18,500 people in the region.

“When somebody donates blood and they finish and they get off that bed, they are feeling good, because they know that they’ve saved up to three lives with that pint of blood they’ve donated,” said Wright.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to give people a chance to save lives. We don’t get a chance to do that very often.”

You also can listen to Wright and Wiley discuss the drive and the need for donors and volunteers on the Sept. 28 “MTSU On the Record” radio program below.

— Gina E. Fann (gina.fann@mtsu.edu)

MTSU Director of Athletics Chris Massaro, right, gets a little help from Stefanie Stalmasek of the American Red Cross as he donates blood Monday, Oct. 5, at the “Bleed Blue” blood drive inside the Campus Recreation Center.The annual three-day competition between MTSU and Western Kentucky ended with a blood-drive win for MTSU announced Oct. 10 during the football game with Western. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)