Last week, the Becker Bulldog football team — along with coaches and managers — traveled to TCO Performance Center in Eagan to watch the Vikings practice with the Tennessee Titans.

However, it was more than just a trip to training camp as Head Coach Dwight Lundeen made a special request to have the team meet up with former Bulldog and current Titan Dillon Radunz.

Last month, the Titans placed Radunz on the active/physically unable to perform list at the start of their training camp. Radunz suffered a late season injury last year after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament on Dec. 18. He played 11 games with four starts in his second season, seeing action on 280 offensive snaps.

The Bulldog football team loaded up in two school buses last Wednesday and took the long road trip to Eagan to enjoy the day at TCO Center. The boys enjoyed a free lunch at TCO and while waiting for practice to begin, they had the opportunity to participate in numerous activities including performance drills on a playing field and tossing the ball around in healthy competition.

Later, the troop from Becker sat in the bleachers under the hot sun to watch the Vikings stretch, run drills and kick field goals. A while later, Lundeen again cashed in some favors by getting the kids to view the scrimmage between the Vikings and Titans from the sidelines.

Following practice, Radunz found his way over to the team who were huddled near some stairs and he gave a rousing speech to the youngsters that was appreciated by all. Radunz spoke of eating healthy, drinking lots of water, building up muscle and staying driven. He also talked about the importance of listening and heeding the coaches direction while giving their best to the sport. Radunz reiterated several times how he thinks it is utterly important to stay active in high school and participate in as many activities and sports to flourish in life.

Radunz also stressed the importance of never doing any illegal drugs or supplements and staying true to himself and his beliefs.

Radunz was also interviewed for Channel 45 by Joe Schmidt before he returned to the Titans locker room.

The Bulldog players — refreshed from seeing one of their own make the “big leagues” — returned to their home town later in the afternoon with renewed zest and zeal for the upcoming football season.