Kirk Herbstreit not a fan of on-air fandom: ‘I think it hurts your credibility’

For all his faults, Kirk Herbstreit still has his objectivity.

You might disagree, especially if you remember his emotional reaction in the booth after Ohio State steamrolled its way to another national title. But there was more to that moment than fandom. Herbstreit was dealing with the loss of his dog and his wife’s breast cancer diagnosis.

It was a rare slip of emotion from someone who otherwise tries to keep his personal ties out of the booth.

Herbstreit has praised Ryan Day for weathering the storm of criticism, and make no mistake, he’s an Ohio State lifer. But he’ll call out Buckeye fans over and over again. Some other fan bases might not see him as neutral, but Herbstreit’s biggest fear is sitting in the booth with Chris Fowler for an Ohio State–Alabama game and having people think he’s rooting.

He flat-out rejects the idea that objectivity in broadcasting is dead. Sure, if you’re someone like Bill Simmons, Stephen A. Smith, or Pat McAfee, he’ll give you a little more room, because the shtick is part of the brand. Even McAfee hams it up for West Virginia on College GameDay. But Herbstreit? He says he’d never do that with Ohio State.

“That’s why Ohio State fans probably don’t care for me,” he told John Crist on the Net Positive Podcast. “It might be different if you’re in the studio, but if you’re calling games and let’s say you’re an Alabama fan — and I’m calling an Ohio State-Alabama game — how the hell can you take what I say seriously if I’m saying, ‘We, almost caught…’ I would never do that. I don’t think you can cheer when you do games on a national level.”

“You watch SportsCenter and Elle Duncan is sitting there cheering for Georgia,” Herbstreit continued. “She’s openly cheering. I’m not a fan of that personally. I think it hurts your credibility. When that team is playing other teams, fans are looking at you like (*dismissive hand gesture*)… That’s different.”

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But it’s not all that different from how Mike Tirico sees it, either. A former die-hard Mets fan, the Sunday Night Football voice walked away from public fandom years ago. Not because anyone asked him to, but because he felt his credibility mattered more. Herbstreit feels the same. He’s cut from the same cloth.

You don’t have to like him — plenty don’t — but he’s not trying to be liked. His approach isn’t for everyone, but it’s rooted in the belief that objectivity still matters in the broadcast booth. And at a time when more on-air personalities are embracing open fandom, Herbstreit continues to take what he feels is a different path.