Up Close With PSR
Kirk Herbstreit

Kirk Herbstreit has been an ESPN college football studio analyst since August 1996, joining host Chris Fowler and co-analyst Lee Corso on the wildly popular College Game Day. Herbstreit, who started as a sideline analyst at the all sports network the prior September, is also a game analyst for ESPN's first-ever three-man college football commentator booth covering Thursday night contests with Corso (analyst) and Mike Tirico (play-by-play).

Herbstreit's experience as a former standout Ohio State quarterbacklends itself to providing insightful and entertaining analysis. His talents were quickly noticed, as after just two seasons he was nominated for a 1997 Sports Emmy Award as television's top studio analyst, along with veterans Cris Collinsworth (eventual winner), Howie Long, Terry Bradshaw and Steve Lyons.

PSR’s George Von Benko recently interviewed Herbstreit.

PSR: A few weeks ago there was a great deal of consternation about the BCS, but it appears to have worked itself out.

KH: I don’t want to say I told you so, but I think people hit the panic button a little bit too early when it comes to being concerned about what are we going to do if we have eight or nine unbeaten teams. I think a lot of times people get too caught up in that. I think the real concern is what are we going to do if Miami and or Ohio State lose. Because now your going to be back to having five or six teams with one loss and now the chaos can start again. For now we can all relax, but it could get to the point where if you have a loss by Miami or Ohio State it could get pretty crazy again.

PSR: Will there ever be a division IA football playoff?

KH: I think eventually it will happen. I’ve talked to a lot of administrators and I think right now they’re all respecting the presidents and respecting the current contract. But with that said I think most of them behind closed doors would tell you that they’re looking forward to eventually having an opportunity to re-visit this and find out if this is the right answer. I think you’ll see it. You’ve got to get through this current contract first and after that I think a number of things could happen.

PSR: Your alma mater Ohio State is right in the thick of things are you surprised?

KH: Yeah, I mean you look at the way they’ve been able to win games and granted they’ve found ways to win and you have to give them the credit they deserve. If you think about other teams right now that are out there playing college football I think you could probably make a pretty strong case for other teams that are maybe more athletic and more capable. But the bottom line is Ohio State is one of two unbeaten teams. It is surprising and I think that like a lot of great teams the longer they remain unbeaten I think the more confident they become and the more legitimate they become.

PSR: Because of the schedule Iowa doesn’t play Ohio State and many people feel Iowa may be the Best team in the Big Ten.

KH: It’s just the way the schedule fell this year. The way Iowa is playing on the field right now I think you could make a pretty strong case that they’re not only playing as well as anybody in the Big Ten,

but as well as anybody in the country. Kansas State is a team that’s hot right now and USC is hot and Alabama, which is on probation, is hot. It would be great if we had some type of playoff, but the bottom line is it’s not about who’s playing the best right now, it’s about who’s unbeaten and who is in a position to control their own destiny and based on those rules you’ve got Miami and Ohio State.

PSR: What is the strongest conference in college football this year?

KH: I’d have to look at the Big 12 probably and say that week in and week out that’s probably the toughest conference because no matter what team your playing you’ve got to be ready to take on a team that is capable of knocking you off.

PSR: What do you think about the job Walt Harris has done at Pitt?

KH: Well, I’ve known Walt Harris for a long time and I knew what he was capable of doing and I knew it was a matter of him being given enough time and the resources, which Steve Pederson has provided. I knew that Pitt would be up and running and be a team that would become a legitimate contender in the Big East. I’m not shocked by what he’s done. I think if you look at the timetable in his sixth year I believe and it’s starting to come together. This is his most athletic team. The only thing I’m surprised about with this team is when he lost Priestley at quarterback because his offense is so sophisticated and he relies so heavily on having a balanced attack with a great passing game-after seeing Rod Rutherford I thought it might take Walt some time to develop him. To the credit of that young man he’s worked hard and he’s put himself in a position where he’s able to run this offense. That’s been the biggest surprise to me that they lost some great players from the passing side of that offense and yet they really haven’t missed a beat. You look at Brandon Miree who’s a new contributor and Larry Fitzgerald who might be along with Mike Williams of USC the best impact freshman in college football and then what your seeing out of Rod Rutherford. It’s a pleasant surprise and Walt Harris is one of the better coaches out there.

PSR: As we come down the stretch a lot of talk about the Heisman Trophy. Do you have a favorite for the Heisman?

KH: Well, if you could help me I’d love it. I have a vote and I’m going to wait until the final game is played on December 7 and then make my pick. It’s so tough and I think that it’s going to be one of those years when the guy is going walk up with the envelope and there’s going to be some tension. If the season were to end today based on traveling around the country I think conventional wisdom is that Ken Dorsey because of that 35-1 record would be the front runner.

PSR: What about Penn State’s Larry Johnson for the Heisman?

KH: I’ve loved this kid from the beginning of the year. He was one my players to look out for. My two guys were Johnson and Willis McGahee and they both had great years. Larry Johnson’s power and his instinct-he’s fought through a lot of adversity. Can he win the Heisman Trophy? Realistically I think he’s on the outside looking in. Does he deserve recognition for the Heisman? Absolutely I think he’s had a great year. The Heisman Trophy has as much to do with the team as it does anything else. If he beats Ohio State and Michigan all of the sudden the team has a higher ranking and his name is a much more known commodity than it is right now.