I don't like it when any Ohio State player or alumni gets bashed. Herbstreit's position as a public figure puts him in a slightly different position, but I wonder if posters might want to reconsider how critical they have been about him?
Herbstreit has a GOOD gig with the devil of Bristol. He's making millions and when it is gone, the highest earning years of his life will probably be gone. He has often erred at being too much of a Buckeye promoter and then tried to correct by promoting others.
I was very disappointed that he was not more supportive when ESPiN attacked Ohio State in that disgusting display of "sports entertainment" and untruth. I would have resigned and I mean that. There is more to life than money and integrity cannot be bought. But, I understood that he was at least not joining in and that he was raising his eyebrows at the right moments while Trev Alberts and Mark May went on their ridiculous assault (how's that workin' out for you, Trevie?).
Posters here often appear to think that the commentators on ESPN are free to express their opinions. I know from insiders that this is not true. Herbstreit essentially is playing a role. Even in the booth during games, if you watch, you will see that the commentators are being told what to say by the producers, albeit that they have had some input into that during pregame sessions between "analysts" and producers. Commentators are constantly referring to teleprompters and monitors in front of them at knee-level. This is "sports entertainment", not journalism.
It appears that Herbstreit received some unsettling market research results from ESPN showing that he is perceived to be way too supportive of Ohio State and was instructed to remedy the situation. This game gave him a perfect opportunity to suggest otherwise.
It is not very long ago that I saw Herbstreit asked on ESPN if Ohio State deserved to be a in the NC game, if that unprobable chain of losses were to occur (as it later did). He commented that he understood comments about Ohio State's relatively weaker schedule this year but "everyone knows what I would want, so why ask?".
Illinois was a "no-show" in USC's final home game of the year and I don't know what people expect Herbstreit to have talked about. They had to pull the color commentators from the Illini bench area because they looked like a family member died with only half of the first quarter gone. They mentioned the weather, the bands, and the song girls.
So, what was Herbstreit to have done? Talk about the wonderful job the Zooker did getting the Illini ready? Talk about Juice slashing his way through that USC defense? This Bush thing has been going on for years, the accusing parties are far from blameless saints, and there are enough lawyers in that stew to fertilize half of Ohio.
If Herbstreit rehashed what is known and the apparent lack of action by all parties, what would be the likely outcome? Things start moving? Or, more criticism that Herbstreit is an Ohio State goon?
All that was left was to talk about USC. That was what was on the teleprompter and that is what he talked about. The Big Ten should fine the Illini for that pathetic performance. Pathetic.
A wise man once said that the way to judge a tree is by its fruit. Whenever I find myself feeling quite aggrieved by Herbstreit's apparent lack of support, I try to focus on all of the good things he does quietly for Ohio football and Ohio State. The high school challenge that he started is, of itself, enough to get him a "get out of jail free" card.
I recognize that some people may not agree with me on Herbstreit after that strange performance and a number of things he said this year but I hope posters will remember three things:
a) The Big Ten is in a down year and there is a lot of criticism everywhere about that. Let's not judge Herbstreit for the stupidity that Zook and Bielma showed in their coaching in these bowls or those silly losses to 1-AA teams this year.
b) This guy is not exactly singing Hail to the Victors.
c) Herbstreit was the starting quarterback at Ohio State. I agree that he was not among our best ever, but he was the starting quarterback at Ohio State and if that is worthy of respect anywhere, it should be worthy of respect here on BP.
