Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Football Team Contributes to Very Successful Blood Drive
3/30/2001 7:00:00 AM | Football
March 30, 2001
LEWISBURG, Pa. --- The Red Cross Bloodmobile collected 288 units at its blood drive at Bucknell University on Wednesday, including 112 units from football players and their friends and supporters.
"After the tremendous success we had here last year, this was not a big surprise," said Nancy Libbey, blood service coordinator for the Union County chapter of the American Red Cross. "We set a record with 329 units last year, and we were not far off from that mark again today. We appreciate the efforts made by Coach Gadd and Coach Tillman towards getting the team members to commit themselves to this community service. Their support accounted for nearly forty percent of the total units taken in during the drive."
For the second year in a row, head coach Tom Gadd challenged his players to a contest between the offense and the defense in giving blood. "The winners would get out of a little bit of running at one of the workouts," Gadd said. Players enlisted the support of their friends who in turn would credit either the offense or defense when they checked in for their donation. The defense got its revenge this year, surpassing the offense by 10 units, 61-to-51. "We try to make this valuable service a fun event by giving the kids something to compete for," Gadd said. During last year's drive, the offense and friends contributed 80 units and the defense donated 75.
The service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, coordinated campus publicity. Several of its members are trained by the Red Cross. Domino's Pizza and McDonald's Restaurant contributed food and orange drinks in what was a real community effort
Gadd plans on continuing the involvement of the team again next year. "We've enjoyed taking a very, very important service and making it more fun for our kids to take part. This is quickly becoming a Bucknell football springtime tradition."
