First published 2021
Kirk Herbstreit opens his story in Ohio, where football runs through bloodlines like a religion. His father Jim captained Ohio State thirty-two years before Kirk wore the same uniform and carried the same responsibility. But this memoir reaches beyond the gridiron glory. Herbstreit survived his parents' divorce, endured a parade of difficult stepparents, and battled crippling shyness that kept him hiding in classroom corners. His college playing career brought frustration more than triumph. After graduation, he rejected a safe sales position to chase an impossible broadcasting dream. The gamble paid off when ESPN's College GameDay transformed him into the sport's most recognized voice. Herbstreit takes readers inside television production meetings, onto the iconic Saturday morning set, and into broadcast booths where he calls the biggest games. He shares insights from legendary coaches like Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney, players like Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning, and colleagues including Chris Fowler and Lee Corso. Yet the book's heart lies in watching his father battle Alzheimer's disease until his death in 2016, a painful journey that deepened Herbstreit's understanding of legacy and perseverance.
Genres: autobiography, sports, memoir, biography-memoir, football, college
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Setting: Ohio, Ohio State
Period: 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s
400 pages · Hardcover · Atria Books
Content warnings: depression, mental-illness