Floors face off in Augustana’s ‘Dog Eat Dog’
In residence halls at Augustana, bragging rights aren’t won in the classroom — they’re earned on the court, field and even in the pool. “Dog Eat Dog,” (DED) an annual Recreational Services floor-vs-floor competition, turns dorm life into a year-long battle for points, pride and community spirit.
“It started out in the 90s,” said Hunter Rud, assistant director of Recreational Services. “Now it’s a pretty big deal. People get really competitive and have fun with it.”
According to Rud, DED events include pickleball, dodgeball, volleyball, beanbag, softball and a triathlon. The schedule kicked off with pickleball in September. Dodgeball is set for Oct. 23 and the beanbag tournament for November. This spring, volleyball will take place in March and softball in April, and the triathlon will wrap up the year on the first weekend of May.
The competition includes around 15 teams with 200–400 participants throughout the school year. Floors earn points based on participation and placement in each intramural sport as well as participation in any late-night events, with the highest-earning floor being crowned champion at the end of the year.
“It’s usually the floor that has the most participation that ends up doing well,” Rud said. “But if you get a good number of people for the triathlon at the end of the year, that can determine who wins.”
For most students, getting involved starts with a friend or a Viking Advisor (VA) encouraging them to join.
“A lot of my friends told me to join,” said sophomore Brooklyn Sturm, who is competing with floor two of Wagoner Hall. “It’s just a fun competition between floors.”
Sturm said her floor joined DED to stay active and make new connections on campus.
“It’s fun to get out there and play,” she said. “You don’t have to be good at everything. It’s just about trying and doing something different.”
VA Sabrina Silvestre, the two-time DED champion who oversees floor two of Wagoner, said she thinks of DED as a way to bring her floor closer together.
“Even if people aren’t athletes, I tell them to show up and have fun,” Silvestre said. “It’s about being involved.”
Rud agreed, saying the event’s purpose extends far beyond competition. He added how the competition gets people out of their rooms and connects with students. Floors often form traditions and friendly rivalries that carry over year after year.
“Some people get really into it,” Rud said. “They come up with chants, wear matching shirts and bring a ton of energy. It’s awesome to see that school spirit.”
At the end of the year, the winning floor receives custom t-shirts and a spot on the DED champions board displayed in the Elmen Center. For many, though, it’s not just about the prize.
“It’s really about community,” Silvestre said. “You might start out not knowing anyone on your floor, but by the end, you’re cheering and laughing together.”
Whether it’s a dodgeball game, late-night event, cornhole competition or the final triathlon showdown, Dog Eat Dog continues to be one of Augustana’s most spirited traditions, one that brings friendly competition and good times.
