People in an athletics department make themselves hard to replace in myriad ways, through their hard work or their knowledge or their ability to brighten the day of a co-worker going through a rough spot. Big and small, those things make up the complexities of any functioning unit. The human element cannot be overlooked when determining how things get done, which is good for us because otherwise we'd all get replaced by machines; those don't require sleep.

Of course, change is always inevitable, perhaps even moreso in collegiate athletics—people come and people go, and while it builds a network of people in the Rolodex (a very old-fashioned construct that people used before cell phones; ask your grandparents), it can leave voids when a much-loved department figure moves on to greener pastures. A little continuity goes a long way in this funny little world.

And that's why we decided to highlight two figures who have toiled endlessly, tirelessly and selflessly for the better part of a quarter-century as pillars of the Austin Peay community. Not that Bud Jenkins or Cedric McKinney are on the precipice of leaving us for new jobs—it's just that it's high time they got the recognition they were due.

Not that either would see it that way; this is not the first time we've sought to highlight what they do. It's just that they don't see themselves as their peers within the department do—as the linchpins that make this place what it is.

"There were a few people I always thought of as people who were irreplaceable and that was Bud and Cedric," said legendary former coach and athletics director Dave Loos. "We could not have functioned without them, and they're so under the radar, I was always impressed with them."

You'll note as we go along with our tale the conspicuous absence of two voices: those of Bud and Cedric themselves. Both have politely demurred, multiple times over the years, to do anything that might bring even a modicum of the deserved praise due to them. Bud has been frankly aghast anytime the concept of an interview, for this or anything else, has been brought up to him, while Cedric has laughed the notion off entirely.

Fortunately, their peers in and around the department have no such qualms about singing their praises.

"We talk about unsung heroes; to me, those two are the epitome of unsung heroes," said Sara Robson, Assistant Director of Athletics Operations and a pretty hard worker in her own right. "The amount of energy and dedication they put into this place that no one sees—the hours, the effort, the attention to detail, it's impeccable. To me, they work as hard—if not much harder—than anyone I've ever seen. Bud loves this place; he wants to do everything he can to not only make everyone's lives easier, but to make them happy. And we can't keep Ced away from here; even if he gets hurt, he's trying to get back here way too early, so we have to make him understand that he's as important as this place is and he needs to take care of himself. I think they're two pretty amazing guys."

A theme emerges when you talk to people about Bud and Cedric. For starters, they're a duo—Bud and Ced, Ced and Bud, can't have one without the other. Even thinking about an Austin Peay event without their presence is practically unfathomable, from basketball games to commencement and everything in between.

Hard work. Commitment. Unceasing optimism. Underappreciated (how underappreciated? We take photos of everything around here and I could not find a single photo of Bud and Ced together that didn't just accidentally catch them in the background of something else). Mention Bud and Cedric and those are the words you're most likely to hear from whomever you're talking to. And as much as we appreciate it, the student-athletes can see it too—and appreciate it even more.

Appreciate them in their time, Govs fans. The dynamic duo will reach retirement age sooner rather than later—they started working here in 1992, Bud exactly eight months before Cedric—and then we'll all be in trouble. No matter what department you're involved with here, whether you're a player, coach or staffer, Bud and Cedric are among the first people you call when you have an emergency, need some last-second help or just need to know where something is or how to do it. A half-century-plus of experience and dedication will be impossible to replace.

A lifetime of service will send both into a well-deserved retirement when the time comes. They've become icons of the institution, whether they want to be thought of that way or not—athletics directors and University Presidents have changed during their time, but the defining link for multiple generations of Austin Peay athletes has been Bud Jenkins and Cedric McKinney. It's long past time to give these gentlemen the congratulations and accolades they're due.

"From a student-athlete standpoint, people know that when they show up to a game or practice, everything is already set up and ready to go for them, and that's Bud and Cedric," said baseball-player-turned-development-officer Jordan Harmon. "It's very much appreciated, and the constant work ethic is seen day in and day out and there's nothing but respect for both of them. From a staff standpoint, I've gained even more respect for them because I see all the internal work they do and everything that goes into each event. They're truly invaluable to this program."

More Praise for Bud and Cedric

"It would be difficult to run the Dunn Center and athletic department if they weren't around. If you need to fix something, they have all the tools and most of the time they know how to fix it. They're in the building at all hours that people don't realize, not just for athletic events but for the outside events they have to take care of. They can get here at 5 or 6 in the morning and not leave until 1 in the morning." -- Joni Johnson, head athletic trainer

"Every day, I see in them two of the hardest working guys at Austin Peay. Those guys never stop moving, never stop working and they're always willing to volunteer to help somebody else out." -- Bobby Melanson, strength and conditioning coach

"This place runs smoothly because of them, and it's going to be a sad day when they leave, either one of them." -- David Midlick, head women's basketball coach

"I think they both have the most thankless job, but they do it without question, they never complain and they're always willing to help. They're super-awesome." -- Chandler Wellmann, assistant volleyball coach

"Bud always has a smile on his face, whether he's carrying a ladder or just walking around, and he's always happy to set the ladder down and help you. Ced's the same way, I don't think I've ever seen him without a smile on his face. The two of them together, you can't beat it, honestly." -- Taylor Wiseman, Director of Video Services

"We have a lot of hard-working people here, but Bud and Ced are the two hardest-working, most underappreciated people we have. Bud is just Bud; quiet, strong, unassuming, but one of the most necessary people here. He doesn't get a lot of 'thank-yous' but he continues to do it every single day. If I were to start my own company, he'd be the first person I'd call to hire because his work ethic is second to none." -- Tara Pfeifler, Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance

"Both of them will drop whatever they're doing to help you, with no complaint. They're some of the hardest-working, nicest people I've met in this business. I'm extremely thankful for them, they make our lives so much easier." -- Samantha Salkovitz, Director of Marketing and Fan Experience