Heeding Grandma’s advice to eat your leafy greens, get more rest and do good for others will help MTSU “bleed blue” to beat Western Kentucky again this fall!

The rivalry to replenish the American Red Cross’s local bank of blood products returns Oct. 3-5. The University is asking students, faculty, staff, alumni, neighbors and residents of surrounding communities to help surpass this year’s total collection goal of 1,050 units of blood to save lives and beat WKU.

The winner of the 2011 “Bleed Blue, Beat WKU” drive will be announced at halftime of the MTSU-WKU game on Thursday, Oct. 6, at Floyd Stadium.

MTSU is the reigning champion, collecting 551 of last year’s 1,059 units of blood. Since each donation can help up to three people, the universities’ combined efforts helped 3,177 hospital patients, Red Cross officials said.

“That’s what it’s all about,” said Diane Turnham, associate director of athletics at MTSU. “While it’s always great to compete against Western on the field, it’s also satisfying to help others. And we can do both with this blood drive. This is a competition that almost everyone can get involved in, and we hope they will.”

MTSU’s collection site is the Student Health, Wellness and Recreation Center. Donors can give blood:

• Monday, Oct. 3, from noon to 6 p.m.;
• Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and
• Wednesday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Reserved parking will be available for blood donors all three days.

While walk-in donors will be welcomed, Brittany Durham, donor-recruitment representative for the Red Cross’s Tennessee Valley Region Blood Services in Nashville, said donors can make appointments online to avoid waiting.

MTSU supporters can go to www.redcrossblood.org, click the blue “Enter Sponsor Code” box in the middle of the page and then enter “mtsu19” to register and make an appointment, Durham said.

For directions to the Rec Center, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/camprec/directions.php. For more information about the blood drive, visit www.mtsu.edu/events/.

— Gina E. Fann (Gina.Fann@mtsu.edu)