Out of the Pocket

Football, Fatherhood, and College GameDay Saturdays

By: Kirk Herbstreit, Gene Wojciechowski

Narrated by: Kirk Herbstreit

This powerfully intimate, plain-spoken memoir about fathers and sons, fortitude, and football from the face and voice of college football—Kirk Herbstreit—is not just “a window into the game, but also a peek into what makes him special: his heart” (David Shaw, head coach, Stanford University).

Kirk Herbstreit is a reflection of the sport he loves, a reflection of his football-crazed home state of Ohio, where he was a high school star and Ohio State captain, and a reflection of another Ohio State football captain thirty-two years earlier: his dad Jim, who battled Alzheimer’s disease until his death in 2016.

In Out of the Pocket, Herbstreit does what his father did for him: takes you inside the locker rooms, to the practice fields, to the meeting rooms, to the stadiums. Herbstreit describes how a combination of hard work, perseverance, and a little luck landed him on the set of ESPN’s iconic College GameDay show, surrounded by tens of thousands of fans who treat their Saturdays like a football Mardi Gras.

He takes you into the television production meetings, on to the GameDay set, and into the broadcast booth. You’ll live his life during a football season, see the things he sees, experience every chaotic twist and turn as the year unfolds. Not to mention the relationships he’s established and the insights he’s learned from the likes of coaches and players such as Nick Saban, Tim Tebow, Dabo Swinney, and Peyton Manning, as well as his colleagues, including Chris Fowler, Rece Davis, and his “second dad,” the beloved Coach Lee Corso.

Yes, Kirk Herbstreit is the undeniable face and voice of college football—but he’s also a survivor. He’s the quiet kid who withstood the collapse of his parents’ marriage. The boy who endured too many overbearing stepdads and stepmoms. The painfully shy student who always chose the last desk in the last row of the classroom. The young man who persevered through a frustrating Ohio State playing career. The new college graduate who turned down a lucrative sales job after college to pursue a “no way you’ll make it” dream career in broadcasting.

Inspiring and powerful, Out of the Pocket “proves the importance of perseverance and family” (Peyton Manning).

Must Read for College Football Lovers

If you love college football, you will love this book. It really is that simple. I couldn’t stop listening. Stayed up waaaaay to late on a work night listening. Herbstreit is an insightful and intentional guy who loves his family and football.

New Perspective on the Buckeyes ( a little 😏)

As a Penn State fan, the most difficult part of this book was all the talk about Ohio State. 😉 I really like Kirk and have always liked the way he presented himself as a kind, respectful, college football knowledgeable man. I love when the authors read their books! I think it gives the books more authenticity. Kirk did not disappoint. Thank you for your vulnerability. I love a good back story! Highly recommend!!

Fabulous

Really a great story that opens up the life a man we all see on Saturdays, but now get a tru opportunity to know.

Outstanding Human

This book gives you a look into Kirk’s life. While we may glamorize his celebrity status he is just one of us. He & his wife are so humble. He has always been a favorite of mine. I can appreciate that he’s not afraid to show his emotions. More men need to be like him!

An inspirational story told by a living legend

Absolutely loved this book, binged it in almost a day and couldn’t put it down or stop listening to it. Kirk’s iconic voice definitely made this an easy listen, and his passionate telling of his life and experiences made it one of my favorite audiobooks. If you love college football, College Gameday, and/or need some inspiration for anything you’re doing in life, I’d highly recommend this book. My one and only gripe…is that it wasn’t longer. I’m hoping for a part 2 in the near future!