QB Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN Analyst)

[muffler dragon]

Originally Posted by Jaxbuck

(in one of the rare instances it wasn't filled with cock).

If I'm not mistaken, I heard the other day that Mark May, Musberger and Cowherd all bitch slap each other in order to see who's going to stand in PC's shadow each weekend.

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

All this gushing over PC and yet there isn't one word about the HUGE Reggige Bush scandal that is continuously swept under the rug. Think back to the '04 Alamo Bowl and notice the gigantic disparity...

[daveeb]

Herbie is a good analyst when he gets to prepare 8 hours ahead of time. When he has to analyze the game on the spot, like when in the booth, he is not that great. He is the Chris Berman of college football analysis.

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by daveeb

Herbie is a good analyst when he gets to prepare 8 hours ahead of time. When he has to analyze the game on the spot, like when in the booth, he is not that great. He is the Chris Berman of college football analysis.

No teleprompter. The author of those words is also debatable.

[Steve19]

I don't like it when any Ohio State player or alumni gets bashed. Herbstreit's position as a public figure puts him in a slightly different position, but I wonder if posters might want to reconsider how critical they have been about him?

Herbstreit has a GOOD gig with the devil of Bristol. He's making millions and when it is gone, the highest earning years of his life will probably be gone. He has often erred at being too much of a Buckeye promoter and then tried to correct by promoting others.

I was very disappointed that he was not more supportive when ESPiN attacked Ohio State in that disgusting display of "sports entertainment" and untruth. I would have resigned and I mean that. There is more to life than money and integrity cannot be bought. But, I understood that he was at least not joining in and that he was raising his eyebrows at the right moments while Trev Alberts and Mark May went on their ridiculous assault (how's that workin' out for you, Trevie?).

Posters here often appear to think that the commentators on ESPN are free to express their opinions. I know from insiders that this is not true. Herbstreit essentially is playing a role. Even in the booth during games, if you watch, you will see that the commentators are being told what to say by the producers, albeit that they have had some input into that during pregame sessions between "analysts" and producers. Commentators are constantly referring to teleprompters and monitors in front of them at knee-level. This is "sports entertainment", not journalism.

It appears that Herbstreit received some unsettling market research results from ESPN showing that he is perceived to be way too supportive of Ohio State and was instructed to remedy the situation. This game gave him a perfect opportunity to suggest otherwise.

It is not very long ago that I saw Herbstreit asked on ESPN if Ohio State deserved to be a in the NC game, if that unprobable chain of losses were to occur (as it later did). He commented that he understood comments about Ohio State's relatively weaker schedule this year but "everyone knows what I would want, so why ask?".

Illinois was a "no-show" in USC's final home game of the year and I don't know what people expect Herbstreit to have talked about. They had to pull the color commentators from the Illini bench area because they looked like a family member died with only half of the first quarter gone. They mentioned the weather, the bands, and the song girls.

So, what was Herbstreit to have done? Talk about the wonderful job the Zooker did getting the Illini ready? Talk about Juice slashing his way through that USC defense? This Bush thing has been going on for years, the accusing parties are far from blameless saints, and there are enough lawyers in that stew to fertilize half of Ohio.

If Herbstreit rehashed what is known and the apparent lack of action by all parties, what would be the likely outcome? Things start moving? Or, more criticism that Herbstreit is an Ohio State goon?

All that was left was to talk about USC. That was what was on the teleprompter and that is what he talked about. The Big Ten should fine the Illini for that pathetic performance. Pathetic.

A wise man once said that the way to judge a tree is by its fruit. Whenever I find myself feeling quite aggrieved by Herbstreit's apparent lack of support, I try to focus on all of the good things he does quietly for Ohio football and Ohio State. The high school challenge that he started is, of itself, enough to get him a "get out of jail free" card.

I recognize that some people may not agree with me on Herbstreit after that strange performance and a number of things he said this year but I hope posters will remember three things:

a) The Big Ten is in a down year and there is a lot of criticism everywhere about that. Let's not judge Herbstreit for the stupidity that Zook and Bielma showed in their coaching in these bowls or those silly losses to 1-AA teams this year.

b) This guy is not exactly singing Hail to the Victors.

c) Herbstreit was the starting quarterback at Ohio State. I agree that he was not among our best ever, but he was the starting quarterback at Ohio State and if that is worthy of respect anywhere, it should be worthy of respect here on BP.

[OregonBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Steve19

Illinois was a "no-show" in USC's final home game of the year and I don't know what people expect Herbstreit to have talked about. They had to pull the color commentators from the Illini bench area because they looked like a family member died with only half of the first quarter gone. They mentioned the weather, the bands, and the song girls.

So, what was Herbstreit to have done? Talk about the wonderful job the Zooker did getting the Illini ready? Talk about Juice slashing his way through that USC defense? This Bush thing has been going on for years, the accusing parties are far from blameless saints, and there are enough lawyers in that stew to fertilize half of Ohio.

...

c) Herbstreit was the starting quarterback at Ohio State. I agree that he was not among our best ever, but he was the starting quarterback at Ohio State and if that is worthy of respect anywhere, it should be worthy of respect here on BP.

Uhh, how about not doing a free promo for the USC football program? There's a difference between giving a team their due and practically rooting for them.

c) Does Maurice Clarett deserve respect anywhere too? He was our starting RB for our first NC team in 30+ years. Going to tOSU doesn't automatically give you a free pass. You're still open to criticism.

[Tresselbeliever]

The real Herbstreit was on the sidelines during the OSU-Miami game. His real strength as a commentator is that he's got the best pulse of what's going on the world of college football better than anyone. Being a commentator also means stating a lot of opinions, so just let the man speak.

[Tresselbeliever]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

Uhh, how about not doing a free promo for the USC football program? There's a difference between giving a team their due and practically rooting for them.

So I guess you weren't all that happy about him jumping up and down on the OSU lines during the game against Miami either?

[OregonBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Tresselbeliever

The real Herbstreit was on the sidelines during the OSU-Miami game. His real strength as a commentator is that he's got the best pulse of what's going on the world of college football better than anyone. Being a commentator also means stating a lot of opinions, so just let the man speak.

He can speak and so can we.

So I guess you weren't all that happy about him jumping up and down on the OSU lines during the game against Miami either?

This isn't about whether or not he likes tOSU. It's about how unprofessional he was during the Rose Bowl. Mussberger's getting old and going downhill just like Keith Jackson a few years ago so it's understandable that he'll say some outlandish things but I expect more out of Kirk. The best commentator working at ESPiN is Todd Blackledge.

[Steve19]

Oregon, you have every right to comment on that display. Herbstreit said some really silly things.

I also think that Todd Blackledge does a pretty good job as a commentator. I don't hold it against him that he left Canton to play for Penn State. He returned to Canton and still lives there, I think. It would be interesting to compare what he does for Ohio football, in comparison to Herbstreit (which I query out of ignorance, not with some intent).

My post attempted to make two points, to which I think you probably agree based on your post you have made in recent years.

First, the guys who criticize Herbsteit's performance in the Rose Bowl broadcast should stick to criticizing that. There is no need for bashing his performance as a quarterback at Ohio State.

Second, people who criticize his performance should be critical of what he did, instead of making accusations about him as a person. We don't know why he behaved as he did and it is impossible to make an informed decision about him from these behaviors unless we do.

If you go back and search, you will see that I have been very critical of Herbstreit's commentary at times. It has been very hard to not be critical, especially when he performs as he did in the Rose Bowl. However, he has had some very good broadcasts as well, and many BP posters have claimed that he is the best analyst over the years.

Whatever position you take on him as an analyst, Herbstreit does a lot of good for Ohio State and Ohio football and we should all remember that.

[Tresselbeliever]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

He can speak and so can we.



This isn't about whether or not he likes tOSU. It's about how unprofessional he was during the Rose Bowl. Mussberger's getting old and going downhill just like Keith Jackson a few years ago so it's understandable that he'll say some outlandish things but I expect more out of Kirk. The best commentator working at ESPiN is Todd Blackledge.

I agree that it's tough listening to all the SC lovin' but I respect Herbstreit because he really has a very good pulse on the state of these major programs around the nation, and even though we all know SC is very good right now, it really doesn't bother me to hear someone else say it.

This is nothing compared to his campaign to get Michigan into the NC game last year. That one really ticked me off. If he starts to even murmur about a split title, that would tick me off too.

[BuckeyeMike80]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

He can speak and so can we.

Sure we can.

However when the comments degenerate to "catching PC's jizz" comments, that's going a bit too far, don't you think???

Not that you said it, but I think that is what Steve is getting too....

[OregonBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Steve19

First, the guys who criticize Herbsteit's performance in the Rose Bowl broadcast should stick to criticizing that. There is no need for bashing his performance as a quarterback at Ohio State.

Second, people who criticize his performance should be critical of what he did, instead of making accusations about him as a person. We don't know why he behaved as he did and it is impossible to make an informed decision about him from these behaviors unless we do.

Absolutely. I have no qualms about him as a person and his playing days have nothing to do with his job. Those are cheapshots. I was just defending those who were strictly criticizing how he handled the Rose Bowl telecast and other games.

Originally Posted by Tresselbeliever

I agree that it's tough listening to all the SC lovin' but I respect Herbstreit because he really has a very good pulse on the state of these major programs around the nation, and even though we all know SC is very good right now, it really doesn't bother me to hear someone else say it.

This is nothing compared to his campaign to get Michigan into the NC game last year. That one really ticked me off. If he starts to even murmur about a split title, that would tick me off too.

I don't disagree with you at all. Kirk seems very bright. That's why it's so disappointing he perpetuates this USC/SEC power bull[censored].

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMike80

Sure we can.

However when the comments degenerate to "catching PC's jizz" comments, that's going a bit too far, don't you think???

Not that you said it, but I think that is what Steve is getting too....

Yep, I think we're now on the same page.

[muffler dragon]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMike80

Sure we can.

However when the comments degenerate to "catching PC's jizz" comments, that's going a bit too far, don't you think???

Not that you said it, but I think that is what Steve is getting too....

I edited it.

[MaxBuck]

I have never understood the antipathy so many Buckeye fans express toward Herbstreit. It's not as though ESPN is going to hire TWO guys to essentially be fulltime tOSU homers; Spielman filled their quota.