The Alabama vs Georgia match-up on September 28 was supposed to be about the players. Surprisingly it was about a fluffball. While Jalen Milroe and Co. had hit the gridiron they thought to win their GOAT Nick Saban’s daughter Kristen’s heart. But poor Tide players! They lost to a four-legged furry friend: ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit‘s dog Ben.

Kristen has been so wooed by the doggo, that instead of posting about the Bama show-stealers, she went to dedicate a whole post for Herbstreit’s pet which came as a subtle jab for Georgia. Guess what? It was the same doggo who led the ESPN star to fire back at the critics. 

Kristen Saban the latest fan of Kirk Herbstreits’s doggo

Already things were heated up before the Alabama vs. Georgia matchup. And it was Kristen who decided to take it a notch higher. But in a very subtle way. What came off as her love for Herbstreits’ dog was straight away a brutal way to attack Smart’s Georgia. Before the game, Kristen Saban clicked some pictures with the famous doggo and posted them with the caption, “The only dawg I want to see today.” It did not take her much time to realize that Ben had been the lucky charm for Bama. Then right after Tide crushed the Dawgs with their 41-34 stellar performance Kristen thought of sharing a post with Herbstreits’s dog with a lovey-dovey caption, “Will never get over snuggling with floofy Ben.”

The golden retriever has been an absolute fan favorite. Before Kristen, it was Al Michaels who gave his heart to Herbstreits’s 10-year-old doggo. “You know what? I’m not an animal person,” Michaels said in an interview with Sports Illustrated. He went on showering his love, “Kirk brought him last year, and all of a sudden, I found myself in love with that dog. He’s a golden retriever. He’s beautifully behaved. Kirk is able to bring him around, and he doesn’t even have him on a leash.” But even then the retriever was not marked safe from fan rage. 

Kirk Herbstreit stands in Ben’s defense

To mark the official start of the college football season, the veteran duo Herbstreit and Rece Davis were called on the day of the LSU Tigers vs USC Trojans game. And being everyone’s favorite furry friend, Ben accompanied his master. It was during the show, that the doggo interrupted them. Then ESPN had to go with a wider shot giving a glimpse of the production team. Ben had also tagged along with the commentator during the College GameDay. 

And right there, the fans started to pour in, unleashing their fury at the beloved canine. Attacks on X went with Herbstreit failing to keep his pet under control, “What led to you deciding to bring Ben along for the ride?” To which the ESPN star replied, “He’s my best friend. Love him like a family member-Because he is.”

The lavish style that Ben shared with his master made a fan jealous and question the commentator’s choices, “Dog should be playing with other dogs. Not trapped on a private jet and locked in a broadcast studio. Not good Kirk. Also Bama should’ve been in your top 12.” And Kirk Herbstreit went with a brutal jab, “You’re a moron! Beat it!” Why worry? When people like Kristen and Michaels are Ben’s biggest supporters.

Besides such interesting game scoops, if you are interested in exploring concepts like NIL and NFL, you can check on the latest episode of the Think Tank podcast.