Dressed in a fuzzy brown bodysuit, Tom Zikos walked into Rec Hall with a furry head and dangling floppy ears tucked under his arm.

"I am a bloodhound," Zikos (freshman-chemistry) said. "We were trying to recruit people for the blood drive."

Zikos stood outside of Rec Hall in the costume last week in hopes of signing up passers-by for the 11th annual Penn State-Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge.

Today marks the first day of the last week of the drive, and Penn State, with a score of 922 pints, is still trailing Michigan State's 1,188 pints.

The challenge's winning school will be announced at halftime of the Penn State-Michigan State football game on Saturday.

Zikos said that although it's been hard work trying to motivate people to donate, wearing the heavy bloodhound costume was worth the discomfort.

"The head was huge; every time I walked, it kind of bobbled. And the costume didn't smell very good," he said. "But it's a sacrifice I made. If we can get a few more people in here, I'm confident we can win and beat down Michigan State."

Red Cross spokeswoman Wendi Keeler said she has faith Penn State can overcome the current deficit.

"We have the highest percentage of donors per population," she said.

Keeler said Penn State students and faculty donate about 7,000 pints each year.

"We're pretty much on target, but Michigan State is doing better than they normally do," she said.

Courtney Goldberg (sophomore-marketing) said this year marked her first time donating blood, as a nurse tried to find a vein in her arm.

"I just hope I don't get lightheaded," Goldberg said, adding that she waited specifically for this blood drive to donate her blood.

"I wanted to be a part of it," she said. "I think it'll be nice for us to win [the challenge], since we probably won't win in football."

Keeler said she has heard many students echo the same sentiments, and they've said if Penn State can win somewhere, "let's win on donor beds."

Chris Wassong (freshman-civil engineering) said he was motivated to donate for a specific reason.

"My sister went here, and every year, they won [the challenge]," he said. "I had to continue [the winning streak] and donate so we could win again."

Some students, however, were not allowed to donate their blood for various reasons.

Ellen Lovelidge (senior-biology) said she tried to donate blood but was turned away.

"They couldn't find a vein. They always have problems with me," Lovelidge said, adding that she would try to donate again this week.

Keeler said despite any inconveniences, every donation helps to save an average of three lives.

Michigan State spokesman Terry Denbow said he expected Michigan would continue its lead.

"I expect on and off the field that the first land-grant university will win," Denbow joked.