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‘We had to let him go;’ Kirk Herbstreit announces death of beloved dog Ben

By WHIO Staff
Kirk Herbstreit and his dog Ben

Ben FILE PHOTO: ESPN sportscaster Kirk Herbstreit and his dog Ben look on before the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 28, 2024 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

By WHIO Staff

ESPN football analyst and Centerville native Kirk Herbstreit announced that his golden retriever Ben, who became a fixture at college football stadiums across the country, has died.

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Herbstreit made the heartbreaking announcement on social media on Thursday saying he was put down after battling cancer.

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“This is really hard to write but so many of you have loved and cared about Ben that I wanted to let you know. We found out today the cancer had spread throughout Bens organs and there was nothing left we could do,” Herbstreit wrote. “We had to let him go.”

The news brought on a flood of tributes online, with the phrase “RIP Ben” trending on X.

Herbstreit said Ben was one of a kind, calling him “smart-loving-gentle-patient-inquisitive-and welcoming to all.”

“He was with me more than anyone at home and traveling with me for work. Such an easy going companion,” he wrote.

Ben became a fixture in sports, accompanying Herbstreit to “College GameDay” and “Thursday Night Football.” He was known to make his way onto the field and into the broadcast booth, with several universities making special credentials for him.

College football teams, such as the Texas Longhorns and Arkansas Razorbacks, took to social media to share their condolences.

“We’re so lucky we got to meet you, Ben,” the Longhorns shared on social media, sharing a video of Ben meeting their mascot Bevo.

The official X account for the Rose Bowl Game remembered Ben, who served as their “Chief Happiness Officer” last year.

“Kirk, thank you for allowing Ben to be a part of our lives. We hope he enjoyed being our Chief Happiness Officer last year. He brought joy and happiness to everyone he met,” the account wrote.

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