The world will no longer see those furry paws on ESPN College GameDay! Ben the golden retriever breathed his last after months of battling with leukemia. CFB Blitz reported the saddening news of Ben’s demise on Instagram on November 8. The cover featured a black-and-white photo of Ben Herbstreit (2014-2024) with the caption “Rest in Peace.” Inside, a series of heartwarming photos captured the loyal pet’s life. From his Michigan field access ID to his “wide retriever” tag, and even his leisurely strolls on the football field, every picture told a story.

The Instagram caption read, “Kirk Herbstreit announced today that Ben, his beloved Golden Retriever, who brought joy to football fans across the country over the last 2 years, has passed away following a battle with cancer.” Following this tragic news, fans united to plead for a noble cause to honor Ben for the memories that he left behind in college football. One fan wrote, “Ben should have a statue or some kind of monument at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.” 

Ben began hitting the road with Kirk Herbstreit in 2023 for GameDay appearances. The ESPN analyst said earlier in January, “I just wanted a companion out on the road with me, as much as I travel, and he’s my really good buddy.” But fate was cruel to the pair as Ben was diagnosed with leukemia in March. Despite undergoing major surgeries in July, Ben was able to come back to the field to entertain his favorite people. 

“It’s because it feeds his soul to be out on the road with people and interacting and meeting people,” Herbstreit said. The brave ‘linebarker’ was there for nine games despite the pain he’d been in. But the 2nd treatment in October saw his health drastically decline as Herbstreit provided a grim update. And now this grief! Fans want to make sure Ben is remembered forever!

Fans unite to honor Ben with a statue

Kirk Herbstreit’s beloved companion, Ben, deserves a monument erected in his honor for the sensation he brought to college football. One fan wrote, “RIP. We need a statue of this dog.” Don’t you think Ben deserves this for the smiles he brought to so many people’s faces?

After this, more fans echoed the request to erect a statue of Ben. Another person emphasized, “BUILD THE STATUE.” Even if a statue is impossible, Ben deserves a noteworthy tribute. 

Ben could be a different rendition of the loyal dog Hachiko, even if a statue isn’t built. A fan suggested, “NCAA 25 cover athlete PLEASE 🙏.” Not only that, another person hopes GameDay can give Ben a worthy tribute tomorrow. 

If Ben was alive and well, he would be wagging his tail about tomorrow’s GameDay appearance. A grieving fan wrote, “Best dog! Ben is making lots of tears shed, because we all loved him! This is a huge loss! I hope Gameday does a huge Tribute tomorrow! RIP Ben!” College GameDay will undoubtedly pay their tribute tomorrow at the Alabama vs LSU game in Baton Rouge. 

No matter how college football pays its tribute to Ben, the world knows how much the good boy meant to college football as a bundle of joy in an otherwise tense environment. His memories will live on, and one day we’ll be talking about how ESPN College GameDay had a golden retriever called Ben who was everybody’s sweetheart. RIP Ben Herbstreit!