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Out of the Pocket: Football, Fatherhood, and College GameDay Saturdays
This powerfully intimate, plain-spoken memoir about fathers and sons, fortitude, and football from the face and voice of college football—Kirk Herbstreit—is not just “a window into the game, but also a peek into what makes him his heart” (David Shaw, head coach, Stanford University).
Kirk Herbstreit is a reflection of the sport he loves, a reflection of his football-crazed home state of Ohio, where he was a high school star and Ohio State captain, and a reflection of another Ohio State football captain thirty-two years his dad Jim, who battled Alzheimer’s disease until his death in 2016.
In Out of the Pocket, Herbstreit does what his father did for takes you inside the locker rooms, to the practice fields, to the meeting rooms, to the stadiums. Herbstreit describes how a combination of hard work, perseverance, and a little luck landed him on the set of ESPN’s iconic College GameDay show, surrounded by tens of thousands of fans who treat their Saturdays like a football Mardi Gras.
He takes you into the television production meetings, on to the GameDay set, and into the broadcast booth. You’ll live his life during a football season, see the things he sees, experience every chaotic twist and turn as the year unfolds. Not to mention the relationships he’s established and the insights he’s learned from the likes of coaches and players such as Nick Saban, Tim Tebow, Dabo Swinney, and Peyton Manning, as well as his colleagues, including Chris Fowler, Rece Davis, and his “second dad,” the beloved Coach Lee Corso.
Yes, Kirk Herbstreit is the undeniable face and voice of college football—but he’s also a survivor. He’s the quiet kid who withstood the collapse of his parents’ marriage. The boy who endured too many overbearing stepdads and stepmoms. The painfully shy student who always chose the last desk in the last row of the classroom. The young man who persevered through a frustrating Ohio State playing career. The new college graduate who turned down a lucrative sales job after college to pursue a “no way you’ll make it” dream career in broadcasting.
Inspiring and powerful, Out of the Pocket “proves the importance of perseverance and family” (Peyton Manning).
Kirk Herbstreit is a reflection of the sport he loves, a reflection of his football-crazed home state of Ohio, where he was a high school star and Ohio State captain, and a reflection of another Ohio State football captain thirty-two years his dad Jim, who battled Alzheimer’s disease until his death in 2016.
In Out of the Pocket, Herbstreit does what his father did for takes you inside the locker rooms, to the practice fields, to the meeting rooms, to the stadiums. Herbstreit describes how a combination of hard work, perseverance, and a little luck landed him on the set of ESPN’s iconic College GameDay show, surrounded by tens of thousands of fans who treat their Saturdays like a football Mardi Gras.
He takes you into the television production meetings, on to the GameDay set, and into the broadcast booth. You’ll live his life during a football season, see the things he sees, experience every chaotic twist and turn as the year unfolds. Not to mention the relationships he’s established and the insights he’s learned from the likes of coaches and players such as Nick Saban, Tim Tebow, Dabo Swinney, and Peyton Manning, as well as his colleagues, including Chris Fowler, Rece Davis, and his “second dad,” the beloved Coach Lee Corso.
Yes, Kirk Herbstreit is the undeniable face and voice of college football—but he’s also a survivor. He’s the quiet kid who withstood the collapse of his parents’ marriage. The boy who endured too many overbearing stepdads and stepmoms. The painfully shy student who always chose the last desk in the last row of the classroom. The young man who persevered through a frustrating Ohio State playing career. The new college graduate who turned down a lucrative sales job after college to pursue a “no way you’ll make it” dream career in broadcasting.
Inspiring and powerful, Out of the Pocket “proves the importance of perseverance and family” (Peyton Manning).
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2021
241 people are currently reading
1091 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
September 27, 2021
Aside from Chapter 20, "Perspective" I really enjoyed this read. Until 2020, College GameDay was perhaps my favorite TV show, and I still enjoy it, but not as much as I used to.
Kirk is obviously a humble, talented man who loves his family and I respect him a great deal.
Chapter 20 was a social justice walk-off that was disappointing, even though I think Kirk is coming from an honest place. There are those of us who study themes like post-modernism, critical race theory, so-called "systemic racism," police shootings, etc., the way Kirk studies game film. Personally, I know of no morally sensitive person who believes that racism doesn't exist in the USA. However, that doesn't mean racism is nearly as widespread as people like Kirk Herbstreit portray it to be. All racism is evil at its core, but citing anecdotal evidence of racism to push a narrative that the USA is a racist country is dishonest and only exacerbates the problem. Kirk even threw in the, "as a white guy" line was always comes across as a phony type of self-deprecation. He mentioned in the book that sports for him used to be color blind. Maybe he should go back to that.
Kirk is obviously a humble, talented man who loves his family and I respect him a great deal.
Chapter 20 was a social justice walk-off that was disappointing, even though I think Kirk is coming from an honest place. There are those of us who study themes like post-modernism, critical race theory, so-called "systemic racism," police shootings, etc., the way Kirk studies game film. Personally, I know of no morally sensitive person who believes that racism doesn't exist in the USA. However, that doesn't mean racism is nearly as widespread as people like Kirk Herbstreit portray it to be. All racism is evil at its core, but citing anecdotal evidence of racism to push a narrative that the USA is a racist country is dishonest and only exacerbates the problem. Kirk even threw in the, "as a white guy" line was always comes across as a phony type of self-deprecation. He mentioned in the book that sports for him used to be color blind. Maybe he should go back to that.
May 30, 2023
Serial complainer. Whenever something doesn't work out, Kirk is a victim and blames everyone else and everything around him. Whenever he gets what he wants, it was his own hard work and drive. People say he is so humble, but I don't see it. Not a very good quarterback, and kind of annoying on TV.
Regardless, there are a few interesting stories in this book. The writing style is irritating, though.
Regardless, there are a few interesting stories in this book. The writing style is irritating, though.
July 2, 2021
This book was received as an ARC from Simon & Schuster - Atria books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I remember when I saw my first episode of college gameday (my brother had it on every Saturday all day) and noticing Kirk Herbstreit in how professional and intelligent he was on the game and how America loved him in being so personable. This lead me to like him on the show but, when I read Out of the Pocket, I respect him now even more. I know how difficult it is when your parents go through a nasty divorce and all you have left are your brothers and sisters, it's tough to have self-esteem and live out your dream and for Kirk, that was playing Ohio State Football as the quarterback and becoming the world's leading college football analyst. While I was reading about Kirk's childhood, I could not help but think how far I have come in my career. From a struggling student with a learning disability to a public librarian. Thank you Kirk for that.
We will consider adding this title to our Biography collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
I remember when I saw my first episode of college gameday (my brother had it on every Saturday all day) and noticing Kirk Herbstreit in how professional and intelligent he was on the game and how America loved him in being so personable. This lead me to like him on the show but, when I read Out of the Pocket, I respect him now even more. I know how difficult it is when your parents go through a nasty divorce and all you have left are your brothers and sisters, it's tough to have self-esteem and live out your dream and for Kirk, that was playing Ohio State Football as the quarterback and becoming the world's leading college football analyst. While I was reading about Kirk's childhood, I could not help but think how far I have come in my career. From a struggling student with a learning disability to a public librarian. Thank you Kirk for that.
We will consider adding this title to our Biography collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
January 19, 2026
My first audiobook. I really enjoyed feeling like Kirk was in the car with me telling these stories about things I’m so interested in. And my eyes definitely welled up during the chapter about Lee Corso
August 22, 2021
Our family has known Kirk for years, and he did a great job in telling his story, which was so enlightening about his life. He has become a wonderful father, which is the best thing you can ever say about a man. He appreciated all his family, friends and co-workers, and pays tribute to them throughout this book. He never forgot his humble roots, and all of us are so proud of what he and his family have survived and become. Congratulations on this exceptional book, and thank you for the acknowledgment of our son Steve, my wife, Barb and me. We have been privileged to know Kirk and his wonderful family.
December 30, 2021
A must read for fans of Ohio State, football in general, or College Game Day. I recommend the audio version read by Herbstreit himself. He admits he’s an emotional guy, and the reader can hear that when he describes his family, his love for Ohio State, and especially when he talks about Coach Corso. I’ve always enjoyed the interactions between Corso and Herbstreit on Game Day, and this audiobook really shows how strongly “Herbie” feels about “Coach”.
March 24, 2022
A must read for any college football fan. Kirk tells his story and reveals his struggles in college to make an impact on the team and his unlikely successes at ESPN when he wasn’t a star player in college. At times drags on about old Ohio State seasons but overall solid read.
May 29, 2024
As a huge college football fan, specifically a Michigan alumni, I love everything college football. ESPN Game Day is the first thing on in my house in the fall, followed by any and every college game I can watch. I've always been a fan of Kirk so when this book popped up as a suggestion I knew I had to read it.
What I did not know is how humble and devoted Kirk is....to his family, to his team, to his ESPN family. And that he is passing that down to his 4 boys. I enjoyed hearing about his youth, growing up playing football, his rise to fame and everything in between.
I have always admired his relationship with Lee Corso, or "Coach". Since his stroke, Kirk has really taken Coach under his watchful eye and I've always admired that about him! I love Kirk's early morning Saturday Instagram posts with Coach before game day. They have such a unique and special relationship, and it's wonderful they have each other!
As a Michigan fan, I was nervous this book would be all OSU. Don't get me wrong, there is a LOT about OSU football. But Kirk is about as non-partial as he can be and I admire that about him. (And I'm sorry for the 5% of U of M fans who have not treated you well!) I loved hearing about the UM/OSU rivalry. This was a great book to read in the off-season because it made me that much more excited about fall football.
I highly recommend this book if you are a lover of Game Day, college football or just honest, humble men. It was a great read!
What I did not know is how humble and devoted Kirk is....to his family, to his team, to his ESPN family. And that he is passing that down to his 4 boys. I enjoyed hearing about his youth, growing up playing football, his rise to fame and everything in between.
I have always admired his relationship with Lee Corso, or "Coach". Since his stroke, Kirk has really taken Coach under his watchful eye and I've always admired that about him! I love Kirk's early morning Saturday Instagram posts with Coach before game day. They have such a unique and special relationship, and it's wonderful they have each other!
As a Michigan fan, I was nervous this book would be all OSU. Don't get me wrong, there is a LOT about OSU football. But Kirk is about as non-partial as he can be and I admire that about him. (And I'm sorry for the 5% of U of M fans who have not treated you well!) I loved hearing about the UM/OSU rivalry. This was a great book to read in the off-season because it made me that much more excited about fall football.
I highly recommend this book if you are a lover of Game Day, college football or just honest, humble men. It was a great read!
November 10, 2023
Kirk Herbstreit is just as likable in his book, Out of the Pocket, as he is on College Gameday. Herbie won't be awarded a Pulitzer anytime soon, but that doesn't make this book any less a fantastic read. He is honest about his struggles. I particularly resonated with the complex relationship that existed between him and his father. In fact, Herbie gave voice to my own soul a number of times. His humble approach to his own story brought me to tears on multiple occasions - but maybe I'm just getting soft in my old age. I was particularly tore up when he talked about his relationship with Lee Corsoe, his commitment to be a good father, and his struggle to have a relationship with his own father.
Herbstreit's story is vibrant and engaging. But his insight into the state of the current college football game is down right prescient. We need voices like his to protect this sport that I love. He is old-school, hard-working, and loyal. He is both a fan and a professional who can call a game down-the-line. He sees the struggles that the game is facing. Better than anyone else I have read, his finger is on the pulse of CFB. Reading his thoughts on the state of the game would be worth the effort in reading this book by themself, but mix in his fascinating story (and I hate Ohio State, ya'll), and this book is a must read for the college football sports fan.
Herbstreit's story is vibrant and engaging. But his insight into the state of the current college football game is down right prescient. We need voices like his to protect this sport that I love. He is old-school, hard-working, and loyal. He is both a fan and a professional who can call a game down-the-line. He sees the struggles that the game is facing. Better than anyone else I have read, his finger is on the pulse of CFB. Reading his thoughts on the state of the game would be worth the effort in reading this book by themself, but mix in his fascinating story (and I hate Ohio State, ya'll), and this book is a must read for the college football sports fan.
December 31, 2024
This was a very interesting book, especially in providing the reader with insights concerning Kirk’s view of the OSU coaching staff during his playing days and also his open distain for Brent Musburger.
Another aspect of Kirk’s book that is relatable to more people than not, is the financial struggle many middle class families undergo but it isn’t visible to the naked eye. His discussions of his family having difficulty putting food on the table during the early years after his parents divorcing, is a good example of this struggle.
I did think Kirk’s constant reference to his “blue collar” up bringing is a football term overused. This is especially indicative when at the end of the book Kirk admits he can’t do any handiwork and is pretty sure there is not a tool box in his house. The blue collar reference is a go to description for many football guys to describe a tough team, when in reality most players lack blue collar skills. In fact, many of those players lack those skills because football has been such an all consuming sport that there is no time for a player, even at a young age, to learn blue collar skills.
Lastly, Kirk receiving a medical sales rep job, starting at 100k in the mid 90’s, is telling. Nothing against Kirk, but I doubt many folks get that kind of starting offer without having played quarterback for a prestigious football university and being good looking.
A great book and would love to see a new edition with insights to his son committing to Michigan and being used as an OSU troll.
Another aspect of Kirk’s book that is relatable to more people than not, is the financial struggle many middle class families undergo but it isn’t visible to the naked eye. His discussions of his family having difficulty putting food on the table during the early years after his parents divorcing, is a good example of this struggle.
I did think Kirk’s constant reference to his “blue collar” up bringing is a football term overused. This is especially indicative when at the end of the book Kirk admits he can’t do any handiwork and is pretty sure there is not a tool box in his house. The blue collar reference is a go to description for many football guys to describe a tough team, when in reality most players lack blue collar skills. In fact, many of those players lack those skills because football has been such an all consuming sport that there is no time for a player, even at a young age, to learn blue collar skills.
Lastly, Kirk receiving a medical sales rep job, starting at 100k in the mid 90’s, is telling. Nothing against Kirk, but I doubt many folks get that kind of starting offer without having played quarterback for a prestigious football university and being good looking.
A great book and would love to see a new edition with insights to his son committing to Michigan and being used as an OSU troll.
October 20, 2021
I listened to the audio version of this book. I am a huge college football fan, and since college I have been waking up Saturday mornings in the fall, well maybe not all the time in college, to watch College Gameday with Herbie, Corso, and the rest of the college football crew. When I saw this book was coming out I knew it was a must read, and it didn’t disappoint.
Kirk Herbstreit had always come off as a likable TV personality whenever he is on ESPN, and this book does nothing to change that image. “Herbie” walks us through his life from the time he is a kid with divorced parents to the present day. As he tells his story it seems extremely genuine and heartfelt. He covers it all, and isn’t afraid to call himself out when he screwed up.
I learned a ton about Mr. Herbstreit in this book that I didn’t know before, and it was told as a story that kept you engaged as a listener. Another aspect I really liked is Mr. Herbstreit (if he were reading this review, I imagine him cringing as I call him Mr.) read the audio version himself. I felt that really added to the enjoyment of the book.
Overall this is a must read for college football fans. Especially those who spent many a years watching College Gameday. Overall an easy five star rating.
Kirk Herbstreit had always come off as a likable TV personality whenever he is on ESPN, and this book does nothing to change that image. “Herbie” walks us through his life from the time he is a kid with divorced parents to the present day. As he tells his story it seems extremely genuine and heartfelt. He covers it all, and isn’t afraid to call himself out when he screwed up.
I learned a ton about Mr. Herbstreit in this book that I didn’t know before, and it was told as a story that kept you engaged as a listener. Another aspect I really liked is Mr. Herbstreit (if he were reading this review, I imagine him cringing as I call him Mr.) read the audio version himself. I felt that really added to the enjoyment of the book.
Overall this is a must read for college football fans. Especially those who spent many a years watching College Gameday. Overall an easy five star rating.
February 8, 2025
Kirk Herbstreit was the starting quarterback at Ohio State during my senior year of HS. That's the year I remember becoming an Ohio State football fan - not because my family was, but because I actually watched & felt it. I am a proud OSU alum & I still love OSU football!
I have always liked Kirk Herbstreit as a commentator with a local connection. He just seemed like a genuine guy. I just finished listening to his book Out of the Pocket. He narrates it. I didn't know his story, but I loved this book!
If you like college football, perseverance, & audio books, this one is worth your time! I don't think it's even necessary to like Ohio State football. His journey is so much more than that. This is my first 5 star book review of the year!
I have always liked Kirk Herbstreit as a commentator with a local connection. He just seemed like a genuine guy. I just finished listening to his book Out of the Pocket. He narrates it. I didn't know his story, but I loved this book!
If you like college football, perseverance, & audio books, this one is worth your time! I don't think it's even necessary to like Ohio State football. His journey is so much more than that. This is my first 5 star book review of the year!
August 4, 2024
As a sports fan and college football fan who likes Kirk herbstreit and is aware of him but doesn’t know his entire story, this was an awesome book. There was definitely some added personal context where my mom has been a fan after actually going to high school with him, so it was fun to read about his background and make those connections. Overall tho, unlike a lot of sports books, he actually did a really good job of giving us some of the behind the scenes and things we didn’t know about his climb in the media world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2022
Wow. Great insight on who Herbstreit is. I did not know much about his past other than he was a Buckeyes. He really keeps the main thing the main thing on Gameday and the book reiterated why. He loves college football period! I always liked him on Gameday and game coverage. I may not always agree with his perspective but it know he’s not being a homer. It was an easy read if you love sports.
June 10, 2025
Overall, very good. It’s nice to read books by people you listen to regularly. Being able to hear Herbie’s voice in this book really makes it an easier read. Would recommend to those who love college football and grew up loving college football.
September 8, 2025
Kirk Herbstreit has been ESPN’s premier college football analyst for as long as I can remember. It was fascinating to learn about his early life and journey to the top of ESPN. He also provided a lot of behind the scenes details from his many years on College Gameday. The chapters detailing his close relationship with Lee Corso were especial moving. It’s a worthwhile read for any college football fan.
January 13, 2026
A phenomenal read for any fan of College Football. I’m a die hard Michigan fan, and I still loved every minute of this book. Kirk Herbstreit has provided an intimate look into his storied career and we are privileged to be a part of it.
April 24, 2022
Pretty good book. I enjoy watching Kirk on GameDay and was able to learn some cool things about him from this book, including how much of a family man he is.
October 17, 2025
I listened to this one on audio (narrated by Kirk) and loved it! Any OSU fan or college football fan will enjoy this one.
August 3, 2022
Great read on football, faith and family and the importance of each in Kirk’s life. Fascinating perspective into a man who’s worked hard each ste of the way to get where he is.
January 7, 2024
I enjoyed Kirk’s stories & the experiences he shared but it was too wordy. Could have easily been 100 pages less & been good.
October 22, 2021
You guys! I loved this book! If you enjoy college football even just a little bit, I highly recommend this book. I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Kirk himself.
October 10, 2021
Eight schools in just as many years, parents divorcing, new step-parents, more divorces, more new homes, overwhelming shyness, red-faced when emotional and almost always feeling out of place. It doesn’t sound like the prerequisites for Kirk Herbstreit’s stellar career as a sportscaster and star of College GameDay.
But Herbstreit always had football and no matter what school he landed in, he made the team, and he was a star. It might not have been enough—not with a stepmother who didn’t mind entertaining male guests in front of her stepson when his father was out of town, a barely tolerable stepfather, and constantly saying goodbye to friends, attempting to make new ones, and trying to hide out in the back row of the classroom in his newest school. But what else could a kid like Herbstreit learn to do but stuff his feelings deep inside and throw the ball. It worked.
For a while.
Herbstreit was playing for Ohio State University just as his father had. But things weren’t going well. He didn’t quite fit in with the program. Suddenly he wasn’t a star. He was barely on the team.
In other words, it wasn’t working.
“I’ve always been the guy who tried to say the right thing, to tell people what I thought they wanted to her,” says Herbstreit in his new autobiography, Out of the Pocket: Football, Fatherhood, and College GameDay Saturdays written with longtime ESPN reporter Gene Wojciechowski. “I’m a shy guy, the one who holds things in—it’s my way. I’m an introvert by nature.”
On the phone Herbstreit seems like the kind of guy you could talk to for hours. He’s friendly, he’s chatty, he listens, he doesn’t need to dominate the conversation, he’s open about his feelings, and he cries at sentimental movies.
So what happened to the stuffing feelings thing?
“I’ve come a long way from what I was,” says Herbstreit. “I just evolved.”
But it was more than that. He took a huge step. It seems there’s was this funky looking OSU team doctor.
“He had this look to him,” Herbstreit recalls about the team’s therapist. It’s not an unusual comment about psychiatrists.
“It was 1990, forget 2021,” says Herbstreit about deciding to talk to a mental health professional. “I remember going into his office looking over both my shoulders, like Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting. I was very standoffish, giving the answers he might want to hear. I was just giving him canned answers, then he started talking to me about my background, saying tell me about your mom, your dad, and I suddenly started talking about what I’d been through. He was the first person I really talked to about all this. He became my confident, my guy. I was skipping when I went into his office. When the season ended, I went up to get three different awards, the last time I went up was to get the most valuable player, I just got it out, I said there’s this guy, it was such a credibly positive experience. It was a game changer.”
Herbstreit was the youngest of three siblings, John and Teri, who after their parents’ divorce lived with their mother, a struggling car sales person. When she didn’t sell a car, they didn’t eat. They often scrounged for food. Their father? Missing in action. But to give him his due, he may have taken one too many hard blows to the head while playing football for Ohio State. It changed him, Herbstreit’s mother claimed. Whatever the cause, his father was remote and withdrew from his kids’ life for long periods after the divorce. He married a woman who kicked John out of the house. Teri took over a big part of parenting her younger brother, giving up a big chunk of what should have been her fun years.
But Herbstreit revered his father, no matter what. When the family still lived together, he would go down to the basement and lovingly unpack his father’s football momentous from his days as a player and then coach at OSU. And there was his dad’s Captain’s Mug—the ultimate trophy.
And in Herbstreit’s last year at Ohio, he would get his own OSU Captain’s Mug.
How often does that happen?
“In 130 years in football it’s happened three times,” says Herbstreit, who after a pause adds, “some kids go through divorce angry, I never had that, I just wanted my dad. He was my hero—he was Zeus, he was Superman, when I finally got voted captain, the first person I wanted to call was my dad.”
But his father had a hard time listening. It taught Herbstreit, the father of four sons, how important it was to listen to his kids.
After his senior year, Herbstreit was offered a totally awesome job as a medical supply sales rep—six figures, a company car, and 401k plan. But he wanted to be a sports talk show host and he also had an offer doing just that. It paid $12,000 with no benefits. Seems like an easy decision.
It was.
Herbstreit took the radio sports job with WBNS 1460. He worked his way up and up and until he got the call.
A try out for College Game Day. He was a disaster—he was visibly sweating and his face turned bright red. Afterwards the only thing Herbstreit could remember was that he jabbered away but not what he said. Oh and he did recall Lee Corso kindly telling him over and over again to relax. It was bust he thought, knowing he was up against the much better known Mike Adamle who was considered a shoo-in for the job.
But we know how it turned out. Herbstreit has been on College GameDay for more than 30 years.
As long as we’re talking football, does Herbstreit have any comments on Justin Fields, the new Chicago Bears quarterback?
“Congratulations, congratulations, you’ve got a great player, who has a chip on his shoulder and is competitive, the players will love their teammate,” says Herbstreit in what is music to the ears of Bears fan.
But Herbstreit always had football and no matter what school he landed in, he made the team, and he was a star. It might not have been enough—not with a stepmother who didn’t mind entertaining male guests in front of her stepson when his father was out of town, a barely tolerable stepfather, and constantly saying goodbye to friends, attempting to make new ones, and trying to hide out in the back row of the classroom in his newest school. But what else could a kid like Herbstreit learn to do but stuff his feelings deep inside and throw the ball. It worked.
For a while.
Herbstreit was playing for Ohio State University just as his father had. But things weren’t going well. He didn’t quite fit in with the program. Suddenly he wasn’t a star. He was barely on the team.
In other words, it wasn’t working.
“I’ve always been the guy who tried to say the right thing, to tell people what I thought they wanted to her,” says Herbstreit in his new autobiography, Out of the Pocket: Football, Fatherhood, and College GameDay Saturdays written with longtime ESPN reporter Gene Wojciechowski. “I’m a shy guy, the one who holds things in—it’s my way. I’m an introvert by nature.”
On the phone Herbstreit seems like the kind of guy you could talk to for hours. He’s friendly, he’s chatty, he listens, he doesn’t need to dominate the conversation, he’s open about his feelings, and he cries at sentimental movies.
So what happened to the stuffing feelings thing?
“I’ve come a long way from what I was,” says Herbstreit. “I just evolved.”
But it was more than that. He took a huge step. It seems there’s was this funky looking OSU team doctor.
“He had this look to him,” Herbstreit recalls about the team’s therapist. It’s not an unusual comment about psychiatrists.
“It was 1990, forget 2021,” says Herbstreit about deciding to talk to a mental health professional. “I remember going into his office looking over both my shoulders, like Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting. I was very standoffish, giving the answers he might want to hear. I was just giving him canned answers, then he started talking to me about my background, saying tell me about your mom, your dad, and I suddenly started talking about what I’d been through. He was the first person I really talked to about all this. He became my confident, my guy. I was skipping when I went into his office. When the season ended, I went up to get three different awards, the last time I went up was to get the most valuable player, I just got it out, I said there’s this guy, it was such a credibly positive experience. It was a game changer.”
Herbstreit was the youngest of three siblings, John and Teri, who after their parents’ divorce lived with their mother, a struggling car sales person. When she didn’t sell a car, they didn’t eat. They often scrounged for food. Their father? Missing in action. But to give him his due, he may have taken one too many hard blows to the head while playing football for Ohio State. It changed him, Herbstreit’s mother claimed. Whatever the cause, his father was remote and withdrew from his kids’ life for long periods after the divorce. He married a woman who kicked John out of the house. Teri took over a big part of parenting her younger brother, giving up a big chunk of what should have been her fun years.
But Herbstreit revered his father, no matter what. When the family still lived together, he would go down to the basement and lovingly unpack his father’s football momentous from his days as a player and then coach at OSU. And there was his dad’s Captain’s Mug—the ultimate trophy.
And in Herbstreit’s last year at Ohio, he would get his own OSU Captain’s Mug.
How often does that happen?
“In 130 years in football it’s happened three times,” says Herbstreit, who after a pause adds, “some kids go through divorce angry, I never had that, I just wanted my dad. He was my hero—he was Zeus, he was Superman, when I finally got voted captain, the first person I wanted to call was my dad.”
But his father had a hard time listening. It taught Herbstreit, the father of four sons, how important it was to listen to his kids.
After his senior year, Herbstreit was offered a totally awesome job as a medical supply sales rep—six figures, a company car, and 401k plan. But he wanted to be a sports talk show host and he also had an offer doing just that. It paid $12,000 with no benefits. Seems like an easy decision.
It was.
Herbstreit took the radio sports job with WBNS 1460. He worked his way up and up and until he got the call.
A try out for College Game Day. He was a disaster—he was visibly sweating and his face turned bright red. Afterwards the only thing Herbstreit could remember was that he jabbered away but not what he said. Oh and he did recall Lee Corso kindly telling him over and over again to relax. It was bust he thought, knowing he was up against the much better known Mike Adamle who was considered a shoo-in for the job.
But we know how it turned out. Herbstreit has been on College GameDay for more than 30 years.
As long as we’re talking football, does Herbstreit have any comments on Justin Fields, the new Chicago Bears quarterback?
“Congratulations, congratulations, you’ve got a great player, who has a chip on his shoulder and is competitive, the players will love their teammate,” says Herbstreit in what is music to the ears of Bears fan.
September 12, 2021
I had a notable affinity for Kirk from a young age and also grew up in and around football. I knew I would likely enjoy this book. But, it was even better than I anticipated. Well-written and heartfelt, I loved hearing Kirk read his own words about football, family, and life. He did not shy away from telling the hard stories of his childhood and playing career, or from speaking on the issues outside of the sport, including COVID and social justice movements. I’m proud to have been a fan of Kirk and College Gameday and to read this as the 2021 season begins.
April 12, 2025
Kirk has always been a longtime favorite of mine, but after reading this you almost feel like you know him personally. He is such a genuine individual that you just feel like he is your neighbor and he would spare you 5 minutes on the street, just to chat about nothing. A great read for anyone who is a fan of his work.
June 20, 2025
I love Kirk! Also, I felt like an ESPN insider listening to this! Cool stuff! I wish there were more mentions of the pups 🐕
May 24, 2023
I read this book simultaneously with a book on Michigan football. I live in Columbus, Ohio, and have since 1998. I really started paying attention to college football around 1988--when my beloved WVU had their first undefeated regular season--but have zero memory of Kirk Herbstreit as a football player. I'm not 100% sure when I became aware of Herbstreit, but it was for certain from College Game Day.
Most college football fans treat Herbstreit unfairly, in my opinion. Sure, I've had some fun at his expense when he stated that Clemson would absolutely destroy West Virginia in the 2012 Orange Bowl, but I have never thought him to be a "homer" or anything other than a thoughtful and neutral college football analyst. Fellow WVU fans deride him as strictly an Ohio State guy--Kirk admits that it's hard to turn that off, since he was an Ohio State QB and captain--while Ohio State fans hate him for not always saying only positive things about the Buckeyes and daring to say good things about Michigan. I've never noticed this, I've never thought he had an agenda, but I'll just say I disagree.
The reason I say this is as Kirk addresses early in his book: folks see him as the golden boy with all of the advantages, but this is simply untrue. Herbstreit recounts the broken home, the struggles his mother had paying bills and putting food on the table after his parents' divorce. He talks about his passion for sports and the recruiting process (that he grew to hate). He discussed how Michigan may have been a better fit, how John Cooper immediately offered him a scholarship, and how he wished he would have taken a bit longer to decide since he had no idea what sort of offense Cooper would run. He talks his frustration and how he had decided to quit Ohio State and transfer. He discusses his struggles as a QB and so on.
When college was over, he had a degree in business and a very lucrative job offer as a medical sales person...that he turned down for what amounted to chicken feed to stay connected in sports. All in all, this is a story of a motivated individual that put himself out there and simply decided "I'm going to give this my all" after preparing massively...and succeeding. This is certainly inspiring.
Herbstreit goes in depth on his relationship with Lee Corso, how challenging it was to work with Brent Mussberger, and how grateful he was for help along the way. His love for the sport of college football is obvious.
He does not shy away from giving his opinions though: he doesn't care for the transfer portal, folks sitting out of games, and other topics. That said, his strongest words are for the "10% of fans" (especially Ohio State) that ruin it all for everybody (this phrase is my generalization of what he says). He felt forced to move from Columbus for his family's safety, which is absolutely sad...as he states, it's a game, it should unite us.
I had no idea how much Kirk had to overcome to achieve what he has. I, probably like so many others, had assumed an upper middle class upbringing with all the advantages that brings. This was simply untrue. This book will be a treat for college football fans, especially those that enjoy Herbstreit's work.
Most college football fans treat Herbstreit unfairly, in my opinion. Sure, I've had some fun at his expense when he stated that Clemson would absolutely destroy West Virginia in the 2012 Orange Bowl, but I have never thought him to be a "homer" or anything other than a thoughtful and neutral college football analyst. Fellow WVU fans deride him as strictly an Ohio State guy--Kirk admits that it's hard to turn that off, since he was an Ohio State QB and captain--while Ohio State fans hate him for not always saying only positive things about the Buckeyes and daring to say good things about Michigan. I've never noticed this, I've never thought he had an agenda, but I'll just say I disagree.
The reason I say this is as Kirk addresses early in his book: folks see him as the golden boy with all of the advantages, but this is simply untrue. Herbstreit recounts the broken home, the struggles his mother had paying bills and putting food on the table after his parents' divorce. He talks about his passion for sports and the recruiting process (that he grew to hate). He discussed how Michigan may have been a better fit, how John Cooper immediately offered him a scholarship, and how he wished he would have taken a bit longer to decide since he had no idea what sort of offense Cooper would run. He talks his frustration and how he had decided to quit Ohio State and transfer. He discusses his struggles as a QB and so on.
When college was over, he had a degree in business and a very lucrative job offer as a medical sales person...that he turned down for what amounted to chicken feed to stay connected in sports. All in all, this is a story of a motivated individual that put himself out there and simply decided "I'm going to give this my all" after preparing massively...and succeeding. This is certainly inspiring.
Herbstreit goes in depth on his relationship with Lee Corso, how challenging it was to work with Brent Mussberger, and how grateful he was for help along the way. His love for the sport of college football is obvious.
He does not shy away from giving his opinions though: he doesn't care for the transfer portal, folks sitting out of games, and other topics. That said, his strongest words are for the "10% of fans" (especially Ohio State) that ruin it all for everybody (this phrase is my generalization of what he says). He felt forced to move from Columbus for his family's safety, which is absolutely sad...as he states, it's a game, it should unite us.
I had no idea how much Kirk had to overcome to achieve what he has. I, probably like so many others, had assumed an upper middle class upbringing with all the advantages that brings. This was simply untrue. This book will be a treat for college football fans, especially those that enjoy Herbstreit's work.
September 1, 2023
Really loved this book - excellent way to kick off football season. Kirk has become my favorite analyst over the years and it was so fun to read his entire story. I don't really remember him as a player so it was super interesting to hear him talk about his playing career and how it unfolded. And then from there how he got into media. It really is a wild story, and on a certain level, there's plenty I can relate to, and then of course on a different level, he's achieved so much that seems a million miles away. He really did luck out - as he even points out, he probably wouldn't be given the opportunity by today's broadcasting standards. It's too exclusive of a club. Sounds like he had a hard childhood and that is always tough to hear, but what I love is how he turned that into a positive when he became a father. He seems like such a good dude. Just look at the way he treats Lee Corso, especially after his stroke. He doesn't want praise for it but it is so praise worthy. It's sad that kindness of that level needs to be praised but society kind of sucks that way anymore. We don't care about one another enough. So it's nice to see a weekly example of that kindness on a National broadcast. But everything is not roses for everyone all the time - oh my gosh the story about the abscess - I can't even imagine. Made me cringe just reading it. And all the travel he has to take up - gosh it sounds exhausting. Fun and rewarding I'm sure, but exhausting. And it was a bummer to hear he didn't really get along with Brent Musburger. But like true professionals, you'd never notice. Mostly I just love his passion for the game of college football and his enthusiasm and I like reading about how prepared he is for the show all the time. I loved reading about the evolution of Game Day and how he talks about his colleagues. I found it to be a rewarding and fun book to read - heck of a life that guy has. Perfect book for football season.
September 2, 2021
I dropped cable about four years ago when our local provider decided to extort us on the prices, so I've missed seeing the evolution of Game Day on ESPN. I always liked Herbstreit and I remember him when he was with Ohio State. I thought, though, this would be another memoir "written" by a jock who, while pretending to be modest, crows majestically about his achievements.
Instead, I read a great look at the career of a hard-working who had to overcome some of the struggles the rest of us deal with. This is no golden-spoon athlete who gets it all easily.
Herbstreit is modest. He's honest about his time at Ohio State and the "wasted" first few years dealing with a coach and offense not suited to his skills. He's also almost surprised he got the ESPN job, and he's not afraid to give his opinions. Although, he's not a fan of sportscasting legend Brent Musburger, he does acknowledge Musburger is royalty in the sports world. I was also surprised at Herbstreit's dedication to his family. He may fly to some campus for Game Day on Thursday and then fly to the game site if it's at a different location that Saturday and then return home late that evening to be with his family. That speaks a lot of a person in itself.
This was a great book to read to kick off the college football season. There are games we all remember as fans, but Herbstreit adds more behind-the-scenes things and some heartfelt observations about old coaches (Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, John Cooper, et al.) that make this better. A must for any college football fan, a sports fan or simply a good human fan.
Instead, I read a great look at the career of a hard-working who had to overcome some of the struggles the rest of us deal with. This is no golden-spoon athlete who gets it all easily.
Herbstreit is modest. He's honest about his time at Ohio State and the "wasted" first few years dealing with a coach and offense not suited to his skills. He's also almost surprised he got the ESPN job, and he's not afraid to give his opinions. Although, he's not a fan of sportscasting legend Brent Musburger, he does acknowledge Musburger is royalty in the sports world. I was also surprised at Herbstreit's dedication to his family. He may fly to some campus for Game Day on Thursday and then fly to the game site if it's at a different location that Saturday and then return home late that evening to be with his family. That speaks a lot of a person in itself.
This was a great book to read to kick off the college football season. There are games we all remember as fans, but Herbstreit adds more behind-the-scenes things and some heartfelt observations about old coaches (Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, John Cooper, et al.) that make this better. A must for any college football fan, a sports fan or simply a good human fan.
January 26, 2022
I'm a lifelong Alabama fan. An SEC fan. I'm well aware that many Tide fans don't care for Kirk Herbstreit, but I've never been one of those fans. I may not have a lot of love for the Buckeyes, but I've been a fan of Herbie for years. Many call him an Ohio State homer, but personally I think he's one of the least biased (and most knowledgeable) analysts out there. He calls it like he sees it. This book made me respect and appreciate the man even more. He seems very down-to-earth, has worked his ass off to earn every bit of his success, and has a love for the game like no other.
I only had two (minor) complaints about this outstanding memoir. Firstly, his repeated error of referring to Alabama's former All-American guard as Chance Womack instead of Chance Warmack. An honest mistake, not a huge deal, except for the fact that multiple times throughout this book that he mentions how people have gotten HIS name wrong. Secondly, in the section of his book referencing Urban Meyer, he makes it seem like Meyer's head coaching jobs ended solely because of his health, and no mention was made whatsoever of the huge scandals that have followed Meyer around from school to school. I understand that Kirk is good friends with Meyer, so I can understand not wanting to speak poorly of him in the book, but completely ignoring the controversies that have surrounded Meyer definitely comes off as a bit dishonest.
Those two complaints aside, this book was phenomenal and one of the best sports memoirs I've ever read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves college football.
I only had two (minor) complaints about this outstanding memoir. Firstly, his repeated error of referring to Alabama's former All-American guard as Chance Womack instead of Chance Warmack. An honest mistake, not a huge deal, except for the fact that multiple times throughout this book that he mentions how people have gotten HIS name wrong. Secondly, in the section of his book referencing Urban Meyer, he makes it seem like Meyer's head coaching jobs ended solely because of his health, and no mention was made whatsoever of the huge scandals that have followed Meyer around from school to school. I understand that Kirk is good friends with Meyer, so I can understand not wanting to speak poorly of him in the book, but completely ignoring the controversies that have surrounded Meyer definitely comes off as a bit dishonest.
Those two complaints aside, this book was phenomenal and one of the best sports memoirs I've ever read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves college football.
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