Champ, the team's newest tee-retrieving dog, is stepping into the spotlight for his debut. He takes over for his late brother, Ripken, the beloved bat and tee dog who became a fan favorite with the Durham Bulls, NC State, and even the Carolina Hurricanes before passing away earlier this year.
"ESPN even said this is an NC State tradition and Champ was carrying on the legacy, and I thought that was the coolest thing I've ever heard," said Michael O'Donnell, Champ's owner and founder of All Star Dog Training. "It's going to be an emotional night for sure. I told my wife to get the tissues ready. I'm going to try not to cry, but we'll see what happens."
Champ has already shown off his skills retrieving bats and tees at Durham Bulls games and several Triangle high school matchups. Now, he's preparing to perform in front of more than 60,000 fans at Carter-Finley.