By Alan Lytle
Lexington, KY – The University of Kentucky hasn't beaten the Tennessee Vols on the gridiron for a quarter of a century and it hasn't prevailed in the annual Big Blue Crush blood drive against UT in 8 years. UK Football Coach Joker Phillips is determined that both situations change this year on his watch.
"There's two streaks we gotta break. We haven't won since 2002. At the end of this week I expect one of them to be broken. In two weeks, we'll take care of the other one."
Phillips, the UK Pep Band and Cheerleaders were on hand at the Singletary Center for a rally this morning to kick off the annual blood collection contest between the two university communities. Kentucky Blood Center President and CEO Bill Reed, says there's more at stake than just bragging rights.
"What we draw this week will help ensure that all the hospitals throughout the Commonwealth, have enough blood products throughout the holidays. We'll end this week with very full refrigerators and we'll slowly use that blood through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's to ensure that hospitals and their patients have the blood that's required."
KBC has set a goal of 4,000 donors this week to take the trophy back from the Big Orange. And this year, in addition to blood drives across the campus, the main UK Collection Center will be at the Singletary Center. Reed says it will be open weekdays from 10 to 6. Other Central and Eastern Kentucky locations are listed at kybloodcenter.org. The blood drive officially ends Friday night.