This year, Syracuse University defeated its rival — the Huskies of the University of Connecticut — not only on the basketball court, but on a different kind of playing field.

The second annual ‘Are You Up For the Challenge?: Give Blood’ competition began the same day as the first basketball game that pitted the two rivals up against each other. Following a nail-bitingly close defeat last year, the Orange walked away victoriously after a second round of the blood drive challenge.

Students flocked to 10 different blood drives, hosted by university events as well as by various greek chapters, and collaborated to donate 419 units of blood. Despite having a distinct advantage with an enrollment size of nearly 8,000 more students than SU, UConn raised only 418 units of blood, conceding a narrow victory to the Orange. Plans are already in the works for the event’s trophy to be returned to Syracuse in a presentation ceremony.

The SU vs. UConn Blood Battle began as a joint effort between the Connecticut and New York-Penn American Red Cross offices in 2009 to increase blood donations and awareness of the cause on college campuses.

‘It’s a worthwhile cause in addition to a healthy competition between two basketball schools,’ said Bridget Yule, director of Student Centers and Programming Services. ‘Syracuse University will definitely participate again next year.’

Out of the 10 blood drives held in April, the event at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry on April 6 raised the most blood, coming in at 66 units. The highest-gaining event for SU’s campus occurred in the Schine Student Center on April 11, which raised 55 units of blood.

Each unit of blood donated by SU students is used to benefit three patients. Lynn Fox, senior account manager for the Red Cross, said this means that 1,257 local patients will be helped through the proceeds of the competition. This year,all donations benefited the Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.

‘All but one drive hit or exceeded the goal for the day,’ Fox said. ‘Our area hospital patients and their families are recipients of this great gift of life. The SU community has given them health and hope for the future.’

Next year’s event will coincide with a February basketball game matching Orange and the Huskies once again, Yule said. At this year’s opening event, an unlikely number of participants exceeded expectations by raising 28 more units than the original goal.

‘The team managed to recruit 44 first-time donors,’ Yule said, ‘Do you think that number is a coincidence?’

SU will look to defend its title next year and top UConn in a tiebreaker matchup for a best two out of three victory. A number of planned blood drive events are set to happen around campus next spring semester for a rematch of this year’s blood battle.

‘I look forward to several more blood drives on campus throughout the year,’ Fox said.

ervanrhe@syr.edu

Published on May 2, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Erik: ervanrhe@syr.edu | @therealvandyman