WATCH: Baton Rouge crowd chants for Ben as Kirk Herbstreit brings another dog on set
ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit accumulated a huge following for his insightful analysis while appearing on "College GameDay," a college football pre-game show. Herbstreit added another dimension to his appearance when he started bringing his dog Ben to the show's set wherever they pitched camp all over the country.
In July, Herbstreit announced that Ben had been diagnosed with leukemia, a type of cancer, which severely limited his ability to fight infections. This week, the ESPN analyst further revealed that Ben's condition had deteriorated to the point where he was immobile.
After Herbstreit took Ben to a holistic doctor in Pennsylvania, he announced that Ben died on Thursday, and fans and analysts offered their condolences.
On Saturday, Week 11, "College GameDay" traveled to Baton Rouge for the titanic Southeastern Conference clash between the LSU Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Herbstreit brought another of his three dogs to the show's set, eliciting chants of "Ben" from the gathered LSU fans who paid tribute to the popular dog.
On Thursday night, Herbstreit shared on X how difficult it had been for him to call the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals.
“Calling last night's game was very challenging,” Herbstreit wrote. “So fortunate to work with such an extraordinary group of people at @NFLonPrime — from the pregame show to the game and the people behind the scenes. Thank you for love and kindness to help me get through it. And thank you to the Bengals and Ravens for providing such a compelling game.”
Kirk Herbstreit shared special bond with Ben
Kirk Herbstreit first brought Ben to "College GameDay" in October 2023 for the pivotal Pac-12 clash between the Oregon Ducks and the Washington Huskies. It became a tradition after that, and Ben gained popularity over the past few months.
During an interview with AP News, Herbstreit revealed just how popular Ben had become.
“Just having him come out with me is the best companion you can hope for. He’s super chill and welcoming,” Herbstreit said. “What’s cool is taking him to the games. Both production groups have got to know him. He’s really become part of the team. If I don’t bring him to the meetings, people ask.”
Seemingly, Herbstreit will continue his tradition of bringing one of his dogs to "College GameDay," carrying Ben's legacy for the foreseeable future.