Orange or Maroon? Show your Colors of Commitment
Whether your blood runs maroon or burnt orange, in a couple of weeks it’ll be that time again to help your team save lives in the annual Colors of Commitment Blood Drive Challenge.
The long-time rivalry between the two oldest public universities in the state of Texas, University of Texas Longhorns and the Texas A&MAggies, has been seen on the football field for years. So long ago, that many students today probably couldn’t tell you how it all came about.
But, every Thanksgiving Day (or Thanksgiving weekend), the Aggies and the Longhorns sit back to root on their team during the Lone Star Showdown. The game gets fierce and the fans gets rowdy, but that’s what Texas college football is all about.
Last year, the Longhorns won convincingly, but the same could not be said for their efforts to help save lives.
The Colors of Commitment is a challenge today, but when it started almost a decade ago, the blood drive event was a way to give back. In 1999, in preparation for the big game, the Aggies held their traditional pep rally and bonfire. That year, a long-standing turned into a tragic event and 12 students lost their lives.
The tight knit A&M student body rallied around and decided they would honor their fellow classmates by hosting an annual blood drive event. Little did they know, years later Longhorns would roll up their sleeves to join the cause.
With Longhorns and Aggies active in the drive, it only made sense to build a friendly competition known as the Colors of Commitment Blood Drive Challenge.
Since 2006, the Aggies have brought in significantly more donors. But 2009, is a new year and anything could happen.
Aggies:
2008 – 2,025 lives saved.
2007 – 1,698 lives saved.
2006 – 1,116 lives saved.
Longhorns:
2008 – 1,005 lives saved.
2007 – 462 lives saved.
2006 – 456 lives saved.
Starting November 18 through November 22, whether you’re a Longhorn or Aggie or just a supporter of one of the two, you can come in and credit your group (Texas group code: UTEX and A&M group code: 1234). Each will receive a limited edition t-shirt and enter for a chance to win tickets to the Thanksgiving Day game in College Station.
A devoted Longhorn myself, I must admit I will be rooting for my fellow Longhorn life-savers. But when it comes to saving lives – everyone wins, especially the patients whose lives were saved!
Who will you be rooting for?








