Griz back with annual donor drive to help save lives

The Montana Grizzly football team will once again do its part to help save lives by rallying the University of Montana community to join the National Marrow Donor Program's (NMDP) "Get in the Game" registry, which finds potential donors of stem cells, platelets, bone marrow and more, and connects them with patients in need around the nation.

The Grizzlies will hold their sixth "Get in the Game" registration drive in the University Center on Thursday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Since joining the program in 2019 Montana has helped register over 1000 members of the UM campus community, soaring past the team's goal of 70 new signups each year. Out of those registrants Montana has had at least six donors selected to help save a life, including Stevie Rocker Jr. who donated bone marrow in 2025 to help a boy in Argentina he'd never met.

During the 2026 registration drive the team will don their uniforms and interact with fellow UM students and campus community members, encouraging them to "Get in the Game" and join the NMDP donor registry to potentially become the next lifesaving donor from Montana.

Started by former Villanova Head Football Coach Andy Talley and endorsed by the American Football Coaches Association, the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation's "Get in the Game" program works with hundreds of football programs and sports teams at colleges and universities across the nation each year to recruit new registry members.

Montana will continue its tradition of supporting the program this year under first year head coach Bobby Kennedy.

"Grizzly football is proud to once again take part in the NMDP program and help save lives. It's a small way for our student-athletes to give back to the community and hopefully make a positive impact on someone's life," said Kennedy

"We hope the campus community rallies around this program like they support us in the fall, and we can all help make a difference together."

The Grizzlies have a long history of supporting the NMDP registry in addition to Rocker. In 2013 former Grizzly running back coach Justin Green joined the registry and helped save the life of a nine-year-old girl by donating blood platelets. Former Grizzly wide receiver Ryan Burke also helped save a life by donating bone marrow in 2014 after matching with a patient in need. In 2023 defensive end Hank Nuce of Kalispell donated stem cells, as did Sloan McPherson of Savage in 2024.

Other student-athletes within Grizzly Athletics have been selected to be donors as well. In early 2024 track and field athlete Brooke Stayner of Missoula donated marrow to save the life of a 47-year-old woman with leukemia.

The Get in the Game program raises awareness of the global need for marrow donors and invites students, faculty, staff, and the community to join the national donor registry. To sign up as a committed registry member, people need to meet age and health guidelines and be willing to donate to any patient in need.

Registration is quick and easy and involves completing a health history survey and giving a swab of cheek cells. Those of diverse racial or ethnic heritage are especially needed. Donors and patients who share the same ancestry are most likely to match.

About the NMDP

For people with life-threatening blood cancers - like leukemia and lymphoma - or other diseases, a cure exists. NMDP connects patients with their donor match for a life-saving marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant. People can contribute to the cure as a member of the NMDP Registry, financial contributor or volunteer. NMDP provides patients and their families one-on-one support, education, and guidance before, during and after transplant.

NMDP is a nonprofit organization that matches patients with donors, educates health care professionals and conducts research so more lives can be saved. To learn more about the cure, visit nmdp.org or call 1 (800) MARROW-2. For more information on the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation visit talleybonemarrow.org.

2026 Grizzly Football NMDP registration drive:
When: April 23, 2026 – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: University Center
University of Montana
32 Campus Drive
Missoula, Mont. 59812

Griz Football NMDP Facts:
Year -   Registered Potential Donors
2025    249
2024    235
2023    213
2022    217
2019    137
Total    1051

University of Montana Athletics

Griz back with annual donor drive to help save lives

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