Earlier this week College Gameday host, Kirk Herbstreit, announced the passing of his dog Ben who succumbed to a battle with cancer.
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Ben Herbstreit Tribute Brings Analyst to Tears
Despite his grief, Herbstreit was present for the November 9th taping of the ESPN program. During his appearance, Herbstreit was welcomed with a comforting gesture from his co-hosts.
The College Gameday crew put together a tribute to Herbstreit's late dog. Herbstreit was supposed to do the lead-in to the video package he narrated, but was overcome with emotion. He broke down in tears while being comforted by his co-host, Lee Corso in a tear-jerking moment.
Thank you again for all the outpouring of love for our Ben. I can’t tell you how much it means to me and my family.
He wasn’t just my best friend – he was America’s best friend ❤️ pic.twitter.com/WtpR2fHjjq
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 9, 2024
In the video, Herbstreit details that he initially started bringing Ben on the road to have a sense of companionship. But he ended up capturing the hearts of America, becoming a regular part of the television program.
"I'll be honest with you when I first started bringing Ben on the road, it was for me. I needed a travel companion, hotel rooms can sometimes feel like islands of solitude. And his warm presence began to feel like an anchor to home. Making my journeys feel less like wandering and more like belonging," Herbsteit said in the video tribute.
Kirk Pays Tribute to Ben in Touching Social Media Post
Herbstreit also paid tribute to Ben with a touching tribute on social media following his passing. In the post, Herbstreit details that there was "nothing left we could do," and he and his family ultimately had to say goodbye to the beloved golden retriever.
"This is really hard to write but so many of you have loved and cared about Ben that I wanted to let you know. We found out today the cancer had spread throughout Ben's organs and there was nothing left we could do-we had to let him go," Herbstreit wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"I've had dogs my whole life but Ben was 1 on 1. He was smart-loving-gentle-patient-inquisitive and welcoming to all. Always a big smile and a soft tail wag. He and I could communicate..he and I understood each other and had each others backs."
