Dawgs and Gators come together for good cause

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By Tim Guidera - bio | email

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) – The rivalry never dies, but once again fans of both teams were giving the gift of life today at the fourth annual UGA-FL Blood Drive.

"It's a great time when the Dawgs and Gators get together on common ground,'' said Diane Parker, president of the Savannah chapter of the UGA Alumni Association. "Our goal today is to give thanks by giving life to others.''

So the teams' colors were out at the American Red Cross Donation Center on Tibet Ave. in Savannah. And a different field was set for a showdown between the fan bases, one in which winning is nice, but certainly not everything.

"In the emails I put out I mentioned that we've lost the last several years in this and we want to turn the tide,'' said Frank Katz, secretary of the Savannah Gator Club. "But the last thing I put in there is give the gift of life. It is an important cause to give blood.''

And never more important than at this time of year.

"During the holidays people are traveling and they don't have much time to donate,'' said Allison Waters, a donation recruiter with the Red Cross. "And because they're traveling, there are usually more car accidents and other situations like that, which means the demand for blood goes up. But the supply that's coming in is less, so the more donations we get the better.''

The side that generated more donations today would get a different kind of bragging rights than are earned in Jacksonville every year.

"That's pretty much life and death,'' Katz said of the UGA-FL game. "But this is a lot of fun.''

And both sides were anxious to get in on the fun and, of course, the cause.

"We are very dedicated the local Georgia chapter as well as the Gators here as far as going out and recruiting people to come here,'' said Parker. "We just want to help everybody as far as giving that time, that blood. I know it's a busy time of year, but if people can just take 30 minutes, 45 minutes tops and roll up their sleeve for a good cause.''