In the woods, mornings are supposed to be peaceful, with only you, your dogs, and the sound of nature awakening. For Kirk Herbstreit, who has incorporated these walks into his daily routine, that’s what his typical mornings look like. It serves as a brief break for him before he finally returns to the chaotic world of football. But that sense of peace isn’t always maintained. It’s routine and peaceful one moment, and then the next moment, you’re absolutely thrown into total chaos.
In the recent episode of Nonstop by Kirk Herbstreit, he opened up about how he and his four dogs were attacked this one morning. “I took a stroll in the deep woods, and I’ve done this about a million times, and if you would have had a camera on me, you would have enjoyed it because one of the dogs must have gotten near and they’re off-roading a queen bee,” he said. “All of a sudden… bees 30 like honey bees on my legs into underneath my shirt…they’re all over the dogs … they’re on the ground like rolling trying to get bees off their ears,” he said, recalling the chaos. He counted nearly 15 stings himself, “luckily I’m not allergic to bees,” he said. But for him, the real pain was watching his four golden retrievers roll on the ground, covered in bees, attempting to shake them off. And that’s when his instincts kicked in.
“I look on the dogs. They’re covered on the dogs. I’m like taking my hat, trying to get them off the dogs, and they’re stinging me,” Herbstreit explained the whole situation. “That’s the part right there… the bees are stinging me and the dogs. I take my hat, I’m trying to get the bees off the dogs.” That kind of reaction was not surprising for someone who describes himself as a proud dog dad. From his beloved Ben, who died last year following a fight with cancer, to Peter, who now accompanies him to ESPN Gameday events across the nation, Herbstreit has long shared his life with golden retrievers. They are family to Kirk, not just pets.
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“Danger comes. Here’s bees. You are getting them off the dogs, “Herbstreit said, summing up his mindset. “They were everywhere…I’m about to go down, but I’m getting those damn bees off the dogs. Get off my dogs….I got welts all over my thighs and down in my calves,” he added. That level of dedication shows that Herbstreit poured all the love into his current dogs after losing Ben, who had been his companion for ten years. Herbstreit’s relationship with his dogs defines him just as much as football, whether it’s bringing Peter to work, introducing his five-month-old Beau to fans, or letting golden retrievers run wild in his Nashville home. He also made it clear where his priorities will always be, despite being stung, swollen, and bruised.
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Peter outshines Kirk Herbstreit in ESPN’s booth and beyond
Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels might have been blown out, but Kirk Herbstreit’s golden retriever Peter, stole the show. Herbstreit joked, “You call the rest of the last two minutes. It’s all you, kid,” as he lifted Peter onto the booth ledge with only a few minutes remaining. Rece even said, “Give him a headset,” and for a split second, Peter was the analyst America didn’t know they needed. Of course, he only offered a few pants before walking away, but the moment was enough to get fans excited.
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Fans have noticed that Herbstreit has had Peter by his side on the road ever since the tragic death of Ben, his longtime traveling companion. He has been compared to Taylor Swift. “Peter, I call you the Taylor Swift of college football. His popularity, it’s insane,” Herbstreit admitted. Beyond stealing the spotlight in Pat McAfee’s on-air kicking contest competitions and, yes, taking a dump during a $250,000 kick attempt, Herbstreit has often acknowledged that his popularity is “insane.” McAfee couldn’t resist narrating it live: “Peter is taking a dump in the middle of the field-goal kicking contest… now, through manure, great things grow.” The fan nailed the kick, only to step right into it.
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However, not everyone finds Herbstreit’s furry sidekick charming. Joey Galloway was clearly upset when Peter began licking Herbstreit’s face on camera during one of ESPN’s new episodes. “I mean, do we, do we have to?” Galloway remarked and then compared the interruption to a video game session that was cut short thirty-five years ago. He simply laughed it off. In the midst of a demanding, isolating travel schedule, the dogs are his means of feeling at home, not a gimmick. One thing is certain, though: the dog has become just as much a part of Herbstreit’s brand as the man himself, regardless of whether you consider Peter to be the Taylor Swift of college football or are simply sick of seeing him on screen.