BY KYLE MARIE McMAHON | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE O’DONNELLS
Imagine a Saturday night under the lights in a packed Carter-Finley Stadium. N.C. State has just kicked off, and the crowd is energized, their frenzied cheers filled with anticipation. But their roars quickly turn to boos as a man rushes onto the field to retrieve the tee. Not because of the man himself—he’s in full Wolfpack gear—but because he’s not on four legs. Murmurs ripple through the crowd. “Where’s Ripken?!”
For years, the talented black Labrador retriever was a fixture at N.C. State games, barking in excitement before bounding confidently onto the field to collect the tee. That bark, rare in his early years, only happened at Carter-Finley with its energized fan base of 90,000. Players would join in and shout, “Get amped like Ripken!” The high energy meant he needed a little reprieve, only chasing down the tee during the half where N.C. State led the kick off, hence the boos.
But Ripken’s story didn’t begin under stadium lights. It began—as all the best dog stories do—at home.
Michael and Melissa O’Donnell adopted Ripken in 2016, carefully researching the right breed to be a working dog and ambassador for their dog training business, now called All-Star Dog Training. They knew a trainer in Idaho and flew out to get the last puppy in a litter from Cowboy Kohl, Boise State University’s tee retriever. But Ripken quickly became more than a business partner. He was a beloved family member—gentle, quiet, patient. “He was very lovey. The kids would lay all over him, and he would just relax,” says Melissa.
Ripken’s calm demeanor served him well when he began retrieving bats for the Holly Springs Salamanders in 2019. Trained by Michael, a former college baseball player, Ripken waited patiently for his cue before dashing onto the field to retrieve bats with a soft bite—carefully learned through hours of training with aluminum bats and bumpers.
The novelty quickly became legend. Ripken was a natural, and his fame took off—helped along by his trademark gold chain and a GoPro harness that let fans see his retrieves from his perspective. By 2021, he was working with the Durham Bulls and taking on kickoff duties at N.C. State. He appeared at the NHL Stadium Series, dropped the puck for the Carolina Hurricanes, and even had his name worked into a Jake Owen concert lyric. On nights when they got to be in a suite, he’d scoop up dropped popcorn to his heart’s content, and maybe sneak into other suites for a hot dog or two.
But the best part of Ripken’s journey happened off the field. “Ripken was my sidekick,” Michael says. “Everywhere I went, he went. And at the end of the day, he’d curl up on the couch or in front of the fireplace with the kids. He taught stronger love.” Melissa adds, “They drove all over town and trained, sitting on fire hydrants or a wall, so he would come home and just want to chill and snuggle and be loved on.” At home, Ripken was just a dog. He wrestled with his canine siblings, soaked up snuggles, and enjoyed family trips to their vacation spot in Topsail Beach—affectionately called “Ripken’s Retreat.”
Ripken’s success and work commitments made Melissa worry. In 2022, they brought home Rivers—genetically Ripken’s nephew—who was an incredible working dog, yet skittish. Rivers shadowed Ripken, but wasn’t born to be in the spotlight. So in June of 2023, the O’Donnells welcomed a new pup into the family: Champ, Ripken’s blood brother and heir to the legacy.
Energetic and affectionate, Champ is everything his name suggests—a little goofier, a little louder, but with the same love for people and passion for play. He’s very affectionate, and would tug on Ripken’s jowls to play when Ripken just wanted to chill. “Champ has that goofy run, and so much energy,” Melissa says. “But he’s so sweet and eager to learn. That dog has never met a face he didn’t want to kiss,” she adds with a laugh.
Though still young, Champ began shadowing Ripken last year. The plan had been to split the 2025 season before Ripken retired at age 10. But Ripken’s health suddenly declined, and he passed away in January 2024. “He waited until the offseason,” Michael says quietly. “He gave everything he had.” The outpouring of support was overwhelming. Fans from all over the world reached out with condolences. “He wasn’t just our dog—he was everyone’s dog,” he says. “We knew how much Ripken meant to everyone, and it is awesome to see continued support and love for him, and that he was able to share his love with everyone.”
Grieving Ripken hasn’t been easy—for the O’Donnells or their dogs. “Rivers laid in Ripken’s bed and cried for days,” Melissa shares. “Champ did the same. It was heartbreaking.”
Still, there’s hope and joy in watching Champ step up, slowly filling the giant paw prints left behind. “We hope people will give him time,” Melissa says. “He’s learning. It’s a big job, and those are big paws to fill. But we think he’s up for it.” Michael agrees. “Champ’s already showing signs that he might be even stronger at the job. He learned from Ripken. He’s faster, more confident.”
But more than anything, he’s carrying on Ripken’s spirit. Champ is working Salamanders and Bulls games, and will likely return to Carter-Finley in the fall. Like Ripken, he rides shotgun with Michael during the day and plays with the kids when they’re home. Michael will lie on the floor and try to spend time with Rivers, too, but Champ will butt in for attention.
With the O’Donnels ramping up business to train and share the skills they developed with Ripken, the future is filled with possibility. And while statues and plaques might be in the works to honor Ripken’s impact on North Carolina sports, the real legacy lives on in Champ—and in the hearts of every fan who cheered a little louder for a dog in a gold chain, racing toward a bat or a tee with joy in his eyes.
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