Champ, brother of famous Ripken, makes paw-sitive debut for NC State football
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- Champ debuts as NC State's new tee retriever, continuing Ripken's legacy
- Fans welcomed Champ with ovation at Carter-Finley during East Carolina game
- Family sees Champ's rise as tribute to Ripken and a boost to their training work
A new and highly energetic furry friend joins the N.C. State football sidelines this season as the team’s kicking tee retriever, following in his big brother’s footsteps.
Champ the Retriever made his debut for the Wolfpack against East Carolina, eight months after the unexpected death of Ripken the Bat Dog, his brother and beloved member of the Triangle athletics community.
The 2-year-old black Labrador and his family, the O’Donnells, received boisterous applause and a standing ovation from the fans at Carter-Finley Stadium last week when Champ was introduced for the first time.
“He’s done an amazing job. I think he jumped in with all four paws ready to go,” said Michael O’Donnell, Champ’s owner and dog dad. “I think I was the one that was more nervous than him.”
The dogs, from the same parents but different litters, are similar in many ways. Champ shares the same drive to retrieve and be around people. Champ seems to love the attention even more. He didn’t hesitate — O’Donnell said he almost had a hard time holding Champ back — and thrived under the lights.
“Ripken was there for, ‘Hey Dad, whatever you need me to do, I’m there for you, and let’s do it together,’” O’Donnell said. “Champ is more — he’s a bit goofier in many ways. He’s still very puppyish, but he’s also more there, like, ‘Hey Dad, get out of the way. The people are here for me, and it’s my time to shine.’”
Champ made his first appearance with the Holly Springs Salamanders at approximately 6 months old, though much of his puppyhood was spent observing Ripken, building a strong bond with the family and waiting his turn to appear on the big stage.
The family expected Champ to be Ripken’s successor in a year or two after his retirement, but O’Donnell said Ripken had other plans.
Ripken, 8, died at the end of December from complications of an undiagnosed medical condition. He, too, served as the kicking tee retriever at N.C. State games and the bat retriever for the Durham Bulls and the Salamanders. Ripken also performed the puck drop at several Carolina Hurricanes games. His final event came shortly before Christmas, when he retrieved tees for the Carolina Panthers. They won the game in overtime.
The family runs All-Star Dog Training, an independent training facility. Ripken’s efforts began as a way to advertise the business, which focuses on helping dogs do what they’re bred for — often in creative ways — while living happily and harmoniously with their families.
O’Donnell, who played college baseball, said this also allows him to be around sports again.
But what Ripken built — Ripken’s social media accounts have more than half a million followers, and Champ’s are growing — and what Champ is continuing surpasses anything O’Donnell could have imagined. The family received thousands of messages when Ripken died and continues to see support for his baby brother.
“I walk down the street and people recognize my dogs before they recognize me, which is awesome,” O’Donnell said. “It’s a cool experience, for sure, that my family and I get to share our dogs with so many people
“It means so much more to us. It’s not just for the business, it’s for everyone.”
This story was originally published September 5, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
