AUSTIN (KXAN) — If a big college football matchup is happening, one of the sport’s biggest celebrities will take it all in, and then probably nap.
It’s a 10-year-old golden retriever named Ben, and he’s stolen the hearts of fans everywhere.
Ben’s owner, ESPN College Gameday host and personality Kirk Herbstreit, started bringing him on the road, “to just hang out” last season. Ben’s temperament and attitude are incredibly easy-going, so much so that he’s been known to casually wander onto the Gameday set while the show is live. He also rolls around at midfield during the pregame moments of games and shows off his ultra-soft, fuzzy coat of fur that everyone marvels at when they pet him.
He’s just out there living his best life, Kirk said.
ESPN College Gameday host and analyst Kirk Herbstreit, along with his 10-year-old Golden retriever Ben, stopped by Raising Cane’s on MLK in Austin ahead of Saturday’s college football game between the Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs. Kirk brings Ben on the road with him regularly, and college football fans around the country are typically more excited to see Ben than they are Kirk, and he’s fine with that. They are pictured here with Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves and his dog Cane III. (KXAN photo/Billy Gates) 
ESPN College Gameday host and analyst Kirk Herbstreit, along with his 10-year-old Golden retriever Ben, stopped by Raising Cane’s on MLK in Austin ahead of Saturday’s college football game between the Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs. Kirk brings Ben on the road with him regularly, and college football fans around the country are typically more excited to see Ben than they are Kirk, and he’s fine with that. (KXAN photo/Billy Gates) ESPN College Gameday host and analyst Kirk Herbstreit, along with his 10-year-old Golden retriever Ben, stopped by Raising Cane’s on MLK in Austin ahead of Saturday’s college football game between the Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs. Kirk brings Ben on the road with him regularly, and college football fans around the country are typically more excited to see Ben than they are Kirk, and he’s fine with that. (KXAN photo/Billy Gates) ESPN College Gameday host and analyst Kirk Herbstreit, along with his 10-year-old Golden retriever Ben, stopped by Raising Cane’s on MLK in Austin ahead of Saturday’s college football game between the Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs. Kirk brings Ben on the road with him regularly, and college football fans around the country are typically more excited to see Ben than they are Kirk, and he’s fine with that. (KXAN photo/Billy Gates) ESPN College Gameday host and analyst Kirk Herbstreit, along with his 10-year-old Golden retriever Ben, stopped by Raising Cane’s on MLK in Austin ahead of Saturday’s college football game between the Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs. Kirk brings Ben on the road with him regularly, and college football fans around the country are typically more excited to see Ben than they are Kirk, and he’s fine with that. (KXAN photo/Billy Gates) ESPN College Gameday host and analyst Kirk Herbstreit, along with his 10-year-old Golden retriever Ben, stopped by Raising Cane’s on MLK in Austin ahead of Saturday’s college football game between the Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs. Kirk brings Ben on the road with him regularly, and college football fans around the country are typically more excited to see Ben than they are Kirk, and he’s fine with that. (KXAN photo/Billy Gates) ESPN College Gameday host and analyst Kirk Herbstreit, along with his 10-year-old Golden retriever Ben, stopped by Raising Cane’s on MLK in Austin ahead of Saturday’s college football game between the Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs. Kirk brings Ben on the road with him regularly, and college football fans around the country are typically more excited to see Ben than they are Kirk, and he’s fine with that. (KXAN photo/Billy Gates) ESPN College Gameday host and analyst Kirk Herbstreit, along with his 10-year-old Golden retriever Ben, stopped by Raising Cane’s on MLK in Austin ahead of Saturday’s college football game between the Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs. Kirk brings Ben on the road with him regularly, and college football fans around the country are typically more excited to see Ben than they are Kirk, and he’s fine with that. (KXAN photo/Billy Gates)
“He just brings love,” Kirk said. “He was called the Chief Happiness Officer at the Rose Bowl, and it really is true. It feeds his soul, being out there interacting and meeting people.”
Kirk regularly posts content featuring Ben on his social media platforms, everything from those viral moments on the Gameday set to Ben somehow knowing which hotel room they’re supposed to be in. He said it’s fun for him because he loves to see the joy his dog brings others, but he certainly wasn’t expecting it to blow up like it has.
“He takes it in stride,” Kirk said. “People have just been blown away when they get to interact with him.”
Ben’s days, like all of ours, are numbered. Kirk said Ben has been diagnosed with three different types of cancer, including leukemia, and is undergoing chemotherapy via both injections and pills.
Kirk said in March when they met with a veterinarian, they weren’t sure how long Ben had left. He said the treatments started at home but then progressed into taking him in for injections
Ben missed last week’s trip to Eugene, Oregon, because of an uptick in his numbers, but he’s responded well to a new type of medicine and was able to come to Austin, Kirk said.
“His numbers came down drastically,” Kirk said. “He’s a family member, and when you have a person or a dog going through something like this, you just want to keep them happy. Every day when I see his tail wagging, it’s a great day to celebrate.”
Will Ben meet Bevo?
Before the 2019 Sugar Bowl between Texas and Georgia, Bevo and Uga — Georgia’s live mascot — were involved in a spat. Uga got a little too close, apparently, and Bevo charged through the barriers, knocking a couple of people over with the Silver Spurs handling him scrambling to calm him down.
When Kirk was asked if he wanted Ben to meet Bevo, given Bevo’s history with canines, Kirk had a little bit of pause in his voice.
“Depending on Bevo’s mentality that particular day, he was clearly motivated with Uga,” he said. “I don’t know if Ben has that lateral quickness to get out of there, but I want to say hi during pregame, but I’ll do Benny a favor … and keep him a safe distance from Bevo.”
