Big Dogs At Work

Big Dog Mindset | Celebrating athletes, unseen work and stories beyond the scoreboard. Every sport. Every level. Every era.

[Big Dogs At Work @BigDogsAtWork]

I’m beginning a new series here at @BigDogsAtWork:

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗘𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗗

Stories of athletes from every sport, every level and every era who lead through example, not the limelight.

Some have overcome extraordinary adversity.

Some have used their platform to carry something bigger than themselves.

Many have done both, often without receiving the attention their stories deserve.

Their stories may not always lead the headlines or fill the highlight reels. But through courage, perseverance, sacrifice and service, they remind us that some of the greatest things in sports will never appear on a scoreboard.

Because a Big Dog at Work is not defined by size, sport, position, statistics or spotlight.

It is defined by the work.

The standard.

What you overcome. What you carry. And who you lift along the way.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸.

This series is for them.

As you begin seeing the series, if an athlete comes to mind from any sport, any level or any era, please share their name and a little of their story in the comments below or send me a DM.

We’ll do the work to learn more and tell their story well.

Support the Big Dog mindset.
Celebrate the work.
Respect the grind.

#TheQuietStandard #BigDogsAtWork #MoreThanAGame

[South Dakota Football @SDCoyotesFB]

👀

#GoYotes

[Kansas Pregame @KansasPregame]

FINAL KANSAS PREGAME REGULAR SEASON FOOTBALL RANKINGS, brought to you by @SalinaOrtho, with locations in Belleville, Beloit, Colby, Ellsworth and Salina

This week's results presented some real challenges in updating our Kansas Pregame football rankings.
It's important to remember that our rankings are based on our assessment of each team's ability to compete for a state championship, rather than simply its record or most recent performance.

Here's a little analysis of each classification:

CLASS 6A:
We're pretty confident Mill Valley and Derby are the top two teams. From there, things get considerably more difficult to predict. The Panthers might even deserve the No. 1 spot.

Olathe North threw a wrench into the rankings with its overtime victory over Gardner Edgerton, but we still like the Blazers' postseason prospects better than those of the Eagles. If the two teams played 10 times, we think Gardner Edgerton would win at least six. That said, Olathe North is talented and appears to be coming on strong under first-year head coach Jason Peete.

The eastern half of the bracket should produce some outstanding playoff matchups.

CLASS 5A:
It feels like there's a fairly clear top tier of five teams, followed by another tier just below them. Of course, the playoffs could prove us wrong.

CLASS 4A:
Great Bend appears to be reeling a bit heading into the postseason, while McPherson looks to be on the rise. Bishop Miege is obviously the heavy favorite, but the rest of the field looks remarkably balanced.

CLASS 3A:
Andale's battle with Reno County Homeschool might give the rest of the field some optimism heading into the postseason, but we suspect that performance was an outlier and the Indians will return to form in the playoffs.

Hesston's victory over Chapman was impressive, while Cheney's injury concerns leave some unanswered questions. Still, we like the top four teams a little better than the rest of the field at this point.

CLASS 2A:
There are two possibilities here: Either Silver Lake is substantially better than everyone else, or this is the deepest classification in state history.

From No. 2 on down, we couldn't be less confident in our rankings right now.

CLASS 1A:
Sterling looks really good.

8-MAN DIVISION I:
It feels like the top three teams are probably a step ahead of the rest of the field.

8-MAN DIVISION II:
Two possibilities here: Either Axtell and Hanover are two touchdowns better than the rest of the field, or this is the deepest classification of 2026.

6-MAN:
We're very confident that our top five teams are the five best teams in the classification.

NOTE: South Barber's record reflects their forfeit win over Deerfield and the win over Billings, Okla., from the game that was played in place of that Deerfield game.

[Big Dogs At Work @BigDogsAtWork]

Submitted for your consideration: two rivals, one missing trophy, and a tradition awaiting its return.

Somewhere between Vermillion and Brookings lies a place beyond explanation.

You’ve just entered… the Jug Zone.

#BringBackTheJug #GoYotes #ForThePaw

[General Vitzthum @GenVitz]

Yotes,

The Little Brown Jug has kept score between the Yotes and Jacks since 1927. Its inscription offers a challenge: “TRY AND GET IT.” Curious words for a relic now absent from the rolls.

One wonders what hand might yet return the old prize to service.

For the Paw

[Colton Nichols @Colton_Nichols1]

Finished up the Regular Season throughout 8 games with 36 receptions, 680 yards , 7tds 19yrds Avg YPC , 85 Y/G. Now onto the post season! Go Stangs! @coachmudd2 @TimKaub27 @jeremycrabtree @ElevateRecruits

[Big Dogs At Work @BigDogsAtWork]

It’s rivalry week!

#GoYotes #ForThePaw #BringBackTheJug

[Big Dogs At Work @BigDogsAtWork]

@johncthayer

[Big Dogs At Work @BigDogsAtWork]

@sillyyrabbittt

[TheSongDog11 @TheSongDog11]

It’s in the top 10 oldest rivalry trophies…

IN ALL OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL!

WTF ARE WE EVEN DOING!?

BRING IT ALL THE WAY BACK!!!!

🔴🏆🔵

@BackthePackSD
@natesportsguy
@johnkgaskins
@MattJZimmer
@IceBorg

[Big Dogs At Work @BigDogsAtWork]

@grantlueders Mark @wdiamond605 and @howlwithus3 are in!

Consider this the people’s proclamation.

Of the people. By the people. For the people.

Our rivalry. Our tradition. Our Little Brown Jug.

We don’t need permission. We need a jug.

#BringBackTheJug #GoYotes #ForThePaw

[Big Dogs At Work @BigDogsAtWork]

Grant, do we really need permission? Leaders lead.

By the authority vested in us by absolutely nobody, we hereby decree: THE LITTLE BROWN JUG IS BACK.

Effective tonight. Motion carried. No committee required.

You handle the proclamation, @grantlueders we are cheering you on!

Go Yotes. For the Paw!

[Big Dogs At Work @BigDogsAtWork]

@grantlueders The people have spoken. Let the revolution begin, @TheSongDog11 is in too!

Our demands are simple: one little brown jug.

No committee. No permission slip. Just two teams and a tradition worth bringing back.

#BringBackTheJug

[Big Dogs At Work @BigDogsAtWork]

@grantlueders

[Big Dogs At Work @BigDogsAtWork]

Laurent and Florence-Agathe’s foundation helps young people explore sports and the arts through free programs that support learning, confidence and development.

Learn more about the Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Foundation here. The website is in French:

https://t.co/PRu2uIOX71

[Big Dogs At Work @BigDogsAtWork]

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗘𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗗

𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝟬𝟭𝟯 | Laurent Duvernay-Tardif | Football

In February 2020, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was the starting right guard for the Super Bowl champion @Chiefs.

That spring, he was working as an orderly in a long-term care facility near Montreal.

Same man. Very different responsibilities.

@LaurentDTardif had earned his medical degree from McGill University in 2018 while playing in the NFL. The coursework, clinical training and football preparation required years of balancing two demanding pursuits.

When the pandemic placed long-term care facilities under extraordinary strain, he offered to help.

He worked as an orderly, taking on the care and daily tasks patients needed. His medical degree did not make him too important for that work.

In July, he opted out of the 2020 NFL season.

He later described the experience simply:

“I was basically helping where help was needed.”

There was grief in that work. Patients died. The demands were unfamiliar, and the responsibility was real.

Laurent kept showing up.

What I appreciate is his willingness to learn from the nurses, orderlies and other caregivers around him. An accomplished professional athlete and medical graduate could still be a student.

That takes humility.

His commitment to serving others also extends to children. Alongside Florence-Agathe Dubé-Moreau, he co-founded the Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Foundation, which provides programs combining sports and the arts to support young people’s education and development.

His own life gives that work credibility. He pursued football and medicine without letting either become the whole of who he was.

There is a useful question in Laurent’s example:

When we have something to offer, are we willing to do the work that is needed, even when it carries a different title than the one we have earned?

For a time, his title was orderly.

He treated it as a responsibility worth carrying.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱.

#TheQuietStandard #BigDogsAtWork #MoreThanAGame

[The Howling Podcast @howlwithus3]

🚨 ICYMI, we are so excited to announce a new series/spinoff of the show! Select Wed nights we will talk to the coaches, players and people who made USD, Vermillion and South Dakota what it is! Premier show debuts this Wed night 8:30pm with @CoachAaronHorn! Make plans to tune in! Live on Youtube, X and Facebook per usual!

[Ryder King @Ryder21king]

Weeks 5-8
18 Tackles
1 TFL
4 PBUs

5’10 170 FS/CB

@Meechie_47 @BV_CoachTerrell

[Jacob Lockett @jacoblockett11]

Regular season (6-2)

944 total yards
719 receiving
8 TDS
45 rec
2 INT

[Kevin Lockett @klock81]

@DanSogard is a Straight DUDE! I really don’t understand college recruiting these days 🤔

[Tom Herzog @tomherzog]

I wonder how often we give up on someone because their progress doesn’t match our timetable.

Felix Anudike-Uzomah (@fanudike) faced surgery on both hamstrings, a long recovery and plenty of people calling him a bust. He kept working.

There’s a lesson here for every part of life. In our families, friendships, workplaces and the people we lead.

We can hold high expectations and still have patience. We can acknowledge where someone is struggling and still believe in what they’re capable of becoming. Our encouragement shouldn’t depend on whether they’re winning.

Most of us have needed someone to believe in us through a difficult stretch. We can be that person for someone else.

And when it’s our turn to struggle, we need to remember this ourselves.

Never give up on yourself. Or be too quick to give up on another.

Worth the read. Thank you, @SamMcDowell11 and @KCStar, for telling his story.

https://t.co/LOG50FjTGb

@Chiefs | @KStateFB