Ohio State Hit Kirk Herbstreit With Cold Shoulder After His Son’s Commitment To Their Biggest Rival

Kirk Herbstreit did not receive a single text from anybody at Ohio State after his son’s commitment to play college football at Michigan. It made him nervous about how he would be received in Columbus moving forward.

While there is not any bad blood between the former Buckeyes quarterback and the current coaching staff, the latter will not acknowledge That School Up North in any capacity.

Chase Herbstreit, son of Kirk, ranks as a three-star quarterback in the recruiting Class of 2025. He received only one scholarship offer from Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines. His father’s alma mater did not give him an opportunity so the 6-foot-2, 185-pound signal-caller committed to play in Ann Arbor.

Kirk told Pardon My Take that he understands the business side of college football. Ohio State had to do what it had to do— especially with the new scholarship restraints.

What an opportunity for him. You know that this is a kid that grew up a lifelong Ohio State fan, of all my kids, like he’s the guy that cried when they lose games, like he’s the Ohio State junkie. Ohio State did not really pursue him to the point of offering him a scholarship, and … they’re like, “Listen, man, we’re in this new world.”

— Kirk Herbstreit

On the flip side of that decision, Chase did what he had to do even though it is a little bit awkward. Michigan gave him a chance to play on scholarship. That is a huge honor.

Sherrone Moore and his staff believe, and I think they saw his competitive spirit and his fire and what he did on the field this year to give him an opportunity. It’s very different for our family because behind the scenes it’s scarlet and grey our entire lives.

— Kirk Herbstreit

Of course, a number of Ohio State fans were not happy to hear that a Herbstreit would even consider playing for their school’s biggest rival, let alone committing to do so. Kirk doesn’t care.

Yeah, I’ve kind of stayed out of that world a little bit. I haven’t seen a whole lot of reaction intentionally, just because I know people are thrilled, 20% are going to be jackasses. So I just decided, it’s one thing to take shots at me, but if you take a shot at my kid and you want to get in a fight, it’s not hard for me to want to do that. So, I just, I just try to ignore that stuff the best that I can, and just kind of stay focused on the positive.

— Kirk Herbstreit

With that being said, the Herbstreit family patriarch was a bit nervous about the reception he would receive during his first trip to Columbus after his son’s commitment. The Buckeyes’ coaching staff did not reach out to Kirk about Chase’s commitment. Not even Ryan Day. They (momentarily) shunned him!