ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit was filled with emotion while he honored his late dog, Ben, during “College GameDay” on Nov. 9.
As NBC’s Today Show reports, Herbstreit, who announced on November 7 that Ben had died from cancer, couldn’t speak when host Rece Davis introduced a recorded tribute that Herbstreit made for Ben that featured clips of the dog frolicking and interacting with people.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t properly lead to this beautiful tribute the @CollegeGameDay put together,” he captioned a clip of the segment he shared on X. “Really wanted to thank all of you for the avalanche of love and support you’ve shown Ben. It gives me and my family such comfort knowing how he impacted so many people’s lives around the country. He was a beautiful and loving soul.”
In the tribute, Herbstreit said he initially brought Ben on the road with him because he needed a traveling companion to combat how lonely it could be. “His warm presence became my anchor to home, making my journeys feel less like wandering and more like belonging,” he said. “Ben wasn’t out here to become a social media star, but he became one just by being himself,” he continued.
Ben indeed became a star, as fans and those in the college football community embraced him since Herbstreit first brought him on the road in 2023, the same year that Herbstreit revealed Ben had become a certified emotional service animal.
Herbstreit also noted how the Rose Bowl named Ben its chief happiness officer, pointing out it was the perfect title for him. “That’s exactly what he did. He made everyone happy, and he did it without even trying. He just wagged that tail or nestled up against strangers like they were family. And that’s what they became,” he said.
As images of Ben with a wide range of people were shown on screen, Herbstreit said his pooch made friends with everyone he encountered. “Ben didn’t care who you were. Everyone deserved his love,” he said.
Herbstreit also lamented the limited time owners get with their dogs. “Dogs’ only flaw as a species is that they don’t live long enough, but the warmth they give us that never goes away, so neither will Ben. This man’s best friend, who became America’s best friend,” he ended the piece while fighting tears.
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