Kirk Herbstreit, Urban Meyer, Clark Kellogg and more: Ohio State produces broadcasters
They say those who can play sports, do, and those who can’t only talk about it. Or something like that. But Ohio State has a strong history of its coaches and players doing both.
Everyone knows about Herbie and Clark, but the list of radio and TV personalities who have passed through Columbus over the past 75 years is impressive in both quality and quantity.
In choosing a top 10, which are based on a combination of national recognition and on-air talent, I bounced my picks off two former Ohio State football players who hopped into the media business after their NFL playing days ended. Former linebacker Bobby Carpenter co-hosts a morning sports talk show on WBNS radio and has done work with ESPN. Ben Hartsock talks college sports on Sirius XM, with focus on the Big Ten. The former tight end also has done work for ESPN and FOX.
Carpenter and Hartsock rubber-stamped the list, but independent of each other agreed that people should keep an eye on A.J. Hawk, who co-hosts the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN.
“No one is making $30 million a year in sports media (like McAfee), let alone for doing a daily show,” Carpenter said. “It’s not just millennials (tuning in), but really anyone under 45.”
Hartsock added, “A.J. is hitched to the McAfee bandwagon. Who knows the end game of that?”
Hartsock also mentioned former OSU basketball player Mark Titus, who wisely turned his role as a benchwarmer into blogging fame and fortune. Or at least fame. He also hosts a podcast and has appeared on multiple media platforms.
All that said, neither Hawk or Titus cracks the top 10. Not yet, anyway. My top choices mostly have shown staying power and all have or had a national presence. No doubt Ohio State fans are familiar with football radio color commentator Jim Lachey and men’s basketball radio analyst Ron Stokes, but those two former Buckeyes are not in the same category of celebrity “reach” as the other selections.
Let the debate begin.
Kirk Herbstreit
OSU connection: Starting quarterback, 1992
Media resume: Worked in Columbus radio before signing on with ESPN in 1996 and has become one of the best-known college football analysts.
“You get interviewed a lot at Ohio State, and it becomes very comfortable to you,” Herbstreit said as he was rising through the broadcasting ranks. “For guys who played at Ohio State, broadcasting kind of comes naturally.”
Jack Buck
OSU connection: Graduate
Media resume: Began his career by broadcasting Ohio State football and basketball games for WCOL in 1948, then joined WBNS TV before becoming the radio voice of baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals from 1954 to 2001. He covered multiple World Series and Super Bowls. Was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, the Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Radio Hall of Fame in 1995. Died June 18, 2002.
Buck’s low, marbly voice went out loud and clear over St. Louis superstation KMOX for nearly 47 years, his trademark phrase, “That’s a winner,” sending Cards fans off to bed happy. Equally famous was his national CBS radio broadcast of Kirk Gibson’s winning pinch-hit home run against the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. As the injured Los Angeles Dodgers star rounded the bases, Buck exclaimed, “Unbelievable … I don’t believe what I just saw.”
Clark Kellogg
OSU connection: Starting forward, 1979-82
Media resume: CBS as game analyst and studio co-host; TV analyst for Indiana Pacers; ESPN; Big East Network.
Kellogg is the ultimate pro, able to mix it up with Charles Barkley or break down X’s and O’s with equal ease. He has worked the NCAA men’s basketball tournament since 1993.
Lou Holtz
OSU connection: Worked one season (1968) as an assistant under Woody Hayes
Media resume: 10-year college football analyst for ESPN (2005-2015); worked in a similar role at CBS in the 1990s.
After retiring from coaching for good in 2004, Holtz brought the same motivational-speaker persona to the broadcast booth, where his aw-shucks schtick made him one of the top personalities in broadcasting.
Urban Meyer
OSU connection: Head football coach 2012-2018; graduate assistant 1986-87
Media resume: Fox Sports college football studio co-host/analyst 2022; 2019-20; ESPN analyst 2011.
Meyer has made a smooth transition from coach to co-host by bringing an insider look to his job that includes taking viewers inside play design and in-game strategy.
Cris Carter
OSU connection: Starting wide receiver 1985-86
Media resume: HBO’s Inside the NFL; ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown; co-hosted First Things First on FS1.
Carter was just one of dozens of former NFL players serving as an ESPN talking head until his “C’mon Man” rants went viral.
Bob Knight
OSU connection: Member of the 1960 NCAA basketball national champions
Media resume: ESPN college basketball analyst, 2008-2015.
It is no shock that the General never quite got the hang of the more subtle forms of TV work, but that’s why he provided entertaining theater. You never knew what was going to come out of that mouth. More surprising is that the volatile coach, famous for his disdain of most media, lasted as long as he did.
Tom Weiskopf
OSU connection: Golf team before turning pro in 1964
Media resume: CBS golf analyst, covering the Masters (1981, 1985-95) and after 2008 contributing to ABC’s coverage of the British Open. Died Aug. 20, 2002.
Weiskopf’s most famous line came during the 1986 Masters as another former Buckeye, Jack Nicklaus, made his back-nine charge to victory. Asked to describe Nicklaus’ mindset over the closing stretch, Weiskopf said, “If I knew the way he thought I would have won this tournament.”
Jim Jackson
OSU connection: Two-time All-American guard (1991-92)
Media resume: Analyst for Fox Sports, Turner Sports, Los Angeles Clippers; formerly Big Ten Network.
Jackson understands the ins and outs of both college and the NBA, bringing that experience (19-year pro career) to the studio and broadcast booth.
Robert Smith
OSU connection: Starting tailback 1990, 1992
Media resume: Began career in 2005 with ESPN before moving to Fox Sports, where his role has been as college and NFL game and studio analyst.
Smith has always been an independent thinker not afraid to tackle tough subjects. His strong opinions were not always appreciated at Ohio State, but they play well in the broadcast booth.
Honorable mention: Carpenter; Hartsock; Hawk; Joey Galloway (ESPN college analyst); Chris Spielman (left media in 2020 to work in Detroit Lions front office); Glen Mason (formerly with Big Ten Network); Kris Watt (OSU women's basketball analyst); Dustin Fox (ESPN and Cleveland local radio); Joshua Perry (NBC analyst for 2023 Big Ten games); John Cook (Golf Channel); Tyvis Powell (Big Ten Network), Ed Sneed (former on-course golf reporter for CBS); Russ Hellickson (former OSU wrestling coach who served as top Olympic analyst).
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Kirk Herbstreit, Urban Meyer and more: Ohio State produces broadcasters
