Football: Braves emphasizing “Mandan grit” as the regular season approaches

MANDAN, N.D. — As the football season rapidly approaches here in North Dakota, teams are working to prepare for Friday night lights. One of those teams: the Mandan Braves.

This Braves team is relying on what they call Mandan Grit, a philosophy that head coach Todd Sheldon has embedded throughout the program during his tenure as head coach. Mandan grit emphasizes the Braves mentality of getting to work each day at practice and every game, making every play count and fighting until the final whistle.

“I pride this program on the fact that we get out there and do stuff,” Sheldon says. “We don’t go out and necessarily beg for things, but we’re going to go out and do stuff. We’re going to go move cattle panels and horse panels and bike rack and we’re going to set things up and tear things down and we’re going to do real work. Part of that is that’s who we are. We’re going to show up and do work when it’s required.”

“You’ve got to have Mandan grit,” defensive end Austin Bay adds. “Got to fight no matter what. You get knocked down, you got to get back up. You’ve got to keep fighting. It’s in our blood.”

The Braves open their season at home against the reigning state runner-up, Shanley, on August 23rd.

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