ESPN, Fowler and Herbstreit

[LAVol1]

Kirk Herb needed to just STFU, he couldn't hide how happy he was over OSU dominating. I thought ok maybe it's because I am a UT fan, Kirk bothers me. Nope. He might be jacking off before the 2nd half begins, he was that over the top giddy over OSU.

I am close to a former colleague of Herbie. He said Herbie is out for himself, not a team player. This from one of the best, most humble people I have ever known, who I have not ever heard a disparaging remark about anyone not named Herbstreit.

 

[OrangeInKy]

Lol. Ok bro.

 

[DaddyChad]

We have a large number of fans who want announcers to call games as if they are Tennessee fans themselves. What they don’t, those fans cry about it.

I wouldn’t be upset about it. Honestly don’t mind Herbstreit most of the time. McElroy, Fowler, Danielson etc really annoy me. Mowins is just painful. Mostly my issue is most the announcers suck. Kirk despite whatever bias is at least good at his job most of the time imo. Maybe I’m alone in that.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Herbstreit was making the Rose Bowl game unwatchable along with his sidekick. I finally muted the tv and the game became easier to watch.

The Skycast is awesome when available. No BS broadcast crew, just the stadium announcer, the bands and all 22.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

It would help if we hadn't got dominated. They called off the dogs, Ohio State could have scored over 50 easy

Not a conspiracy theory guy, but
it is COMPLETELY asinine for them to assign Herbstreit to two straight OSU games. Just invites challenges to objectivity. With his history Fowler too. Was he not the TRAILER TRASH NARRATIVE creator back in the day? Getting old! Maybe that was Reese. Anybody????

 

[feathersax]

Herbstreit is bi-polar and gets in his feels a lot but he regularly goes out of his way to praise UT. Nearly 26 years later…I’ve still got a kick to the nuts with Fowlers name on it.

He's been known to get weepy...in addition to dorky.

 

[carolinaviking]

Ohio State specifically hates Herbstreit because he isn’t a Buckeye pumper.

Don't be ridiculous. Herbstreit is a hero to OSU fans comparable to Heath Shuler for Tennessee fans. His love of OSU comes through in his broadcasts, but only because we are aware he was an OSU QB. If you listen to his analysis of non-OSU games, he's equally energized when the big plays happen. When UT played Bama, he sounded like a VFL when the Vols made great plays. If anything, he subdues his passion for OSU in the name of professionalism.

 

[carolinaviking]

I've been a Vols fan since the 70s (though admittedly not passionate until the Shuler years), and I think Herbstreit is the best sports commentator I've ever heard. And when teamed up with Chris Fowler, those two are phenomenally good. Go give a listen to other commentators. Nobody comes close. I've never been bothered by any overwhelming bias against UT. I'm happy to hear excellent analysis combined with passionate commentary, frankly. If anything, some folks around here are pretty unrealistic in their expectations regarding the esteem with which the media should hold Tennessee.

 

[njvols]

What digs? I think you and others are too sensitive

Agree...I didn't take any slight from them. Any time they mentioned Tennessee, it was merely stating fact, that was reinforced by OSU dominating Oregon in a similar way.

 

[RockyTopTommy]

So…..

Verne sucks.
Gary sucks.
Nessler sucks.
Kirk sucks.
Fowler sucks.
Kessling sucks.

Is there anyone that glazes the Vols enough, and hides their eyes to our shortcomings?

Verne and kessling are fine, the rest of them do suck

 

[ZZ13]

I don't like announcing pairs that sound like they are doing a TV show with themselves as the lead characters. That's what I get from Fowler/Herbie. Same with Gus Johnson. I like most of the NFL announcing teams. They seem to know how to get out of the way of the game.

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

Herbstreit is literally singing the osu fight song

How they allow this guy to do tOSU games is beyond me. He homers for them enough when he’s not calling their games. When he is, it’s unbearable.

Best advice is just to turn the sound off. Or don’t give them the viewership when you have the opportunity. House of Mouse doesn’t care about anything unless it’s money.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

If UT sports as well as college SEC sports, I wouldn't watch any of their networks! I am so tired of the constant digs against UT by the network. I stopped watching sports center and most everything on ESPN after the Fowler comments years ago. Now, they can't get enough of taking digs at UT in this Rose Bowl game. Unfortunately, ESPN has taken over college sports. So, us UT fans will have to continue to give them the audience and make them money. I hate it!

More importantly, prayers go out to all those that lost family members and friends today and those with hurt family members and friends from the horrific and unnecessary evil. It is sad that 2025 started out that way.

ESPN still has Sports Center? I haven't watched that in 20 years.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Don't be ridiculous. Herbstreit is a hero to OSU fans comparable to Heath Shuler for Tennessee fans. His love of OSU comes through in his broadcasts, but only because we are aware he was an OSU QB. If you listen to his analysis of non-OSU games, he's equally energized when the big plays happen. When UT played Bama, he sounded like a VFL when the Vols made great plays. If anything, he subdues his passion for OSU in the name of professionalism.

I mean Kirk literally moved from Columbus to Nashville specifically because of how he was treated by Buckeye fans. Regardless of what you think, many Buckeye fans have disliked him for years and feel like he has an axe to grind against the Buckeyes dating back to Jim Tressel and Terrelle Pryor.

It might sound ridiculous to you, but that’s how Vol fans sound to most people when they whine about how everyone is against them too.

 

[savannahfan]

Herbstreit was making the Rose Bowl game unwatchable along with his sidekick. I finally muted the tv and the game became easier to watch.

If you think they were bad, then you didn't watch/listen to the other game. One guy shouting and screaming at every play of any consequence and the other rattling like a wind=up toy after every play. He was so bad that I enjoyed the senseless commercials. As a side note, I think H & his sidekick are the best out there in the college game.

 

[savannahfan]

Not a big McAfee fan but watching his 'cast over Fowler/Herbie.

McAfee - - now there is a fellow that there is no need for in the business.

 

[Rocky Top T]

So, you're not a he/she either?

Been a he for over 60 years too

 

[ATLVols]

We deserve it. You earn being respected by not crapping the bed every time you need to prove you have finally gotten over the top. They have been long conditioned for 15 year that when the national spotlight has shone on Tennessee at a time to prove we are the best, we did not come through. They stood up for Tennessee in the past and we wet the bed over and over. They won’t go “all in” on Tennessee anymore until we overly prove it in the biggest games.

We are now beating Alabama and Florida again, so we have some respect. But until you actually beat UGA or win some playoff games, we have not earned the respects as an elite program again.

 

[SpookyAction]

I am close to a former colleague of Herbie. He said Herbie is out for himself, not a team player. This from one of the best, most humble people I have ever known, who I have not ever heard a disparaging remark about anyone not named Herbstreit.

I see what you are saying, but Herbie is a team player.
He takes very good care of Corso. Corso keeps doing his schtick, and Herbie makes sure he gets the chance. Herbie is Corso's main backer to keep him on-air and having a purpose.
A man out only for himself would want Corso replaced by a far more capable person. Herbie nurtures and protects Corso.

 

[onevol74]

Lol Big 10 fans feel like everyone at ESPN hates them and favors the SEC. Ohio State specifically hates Herbstreit because he isn’t a Buckeye pumper.

But yes, everyone conspires to hold Tennessee down. If not for the media, we would have beaten Ohio State.

Media had nothing to do with our product on the field in Columbus. Our coaching staff has to own it.

 

[onevol74]

I love the fact that UT was such a big factor in the Rose Bowl media’s mind. We need the publicity. Reminds me of the 90’s when everyone kept referring to FSU.

 

[GVF]

At what point did they call off the dogs? They scored their last TD in the fourth quarter with their starters still playing. Also, Ohio State has nearly as many yards in the first half against Oregon as they did the entire game against us.

Yep. We actually played tough D on OSU all things considered against a team hellbent on putting the UM loss behind them. We just gave up a bevy of quick big plays to start the game. And for most purposes shut them down in the 2nd half scoring wise.

There was nothing worse for the teams in OSU's path than losing that UM game at home. They prob would already be out of the playoff otherwise to UT or UO. But, they are doing their job, so it is what it is.

 

[GVF]

They are saying “against Tennessee “ a LOT. To me they’re using it as comparison, but not derogatory towards us.

That's the way I took it. Basically saying OSU has been lit the last two games since UM.

 

[GAVol]

Not a conspiracy theory guy, but
it is COMPLETELY asinine for them to assign Herbstreit to two straight OSU games. Just invites challenges to objectivity. With his history Fowler too. Was he not the TRAILER TRASH NARRATIVE creator back in the day? Getting old! Maybe that was Reese. Anybody????

It was “trailer park frenzy”. Not gonna lie, I thought it was funny.

 

[Owl-flavored]

Not a conspiracy theory guy, but
it is COMPLETELY asinine for them to assign Herbstreit to two straight OSU games. Just invites challenges to objectivity. With his history Fowler too. Was he not the TRAILER TRASH NARRATIVE creator back in the day? Getting old! Maybe that was Reese. Anybody????

IMHO, I don't think it's that deep. It's just putting the number one team on the number one game.