Bill Belichick’s North Carolina debut really went to the dogs on ESPN.

With just over two minutes left in TCU’s 48-14 drubbing of Belichick’s Tar Heels on Monday night, viewers who still happened to be watching saw a new member of the sports network’s broadcast booth: Kirk Herbstreit’s dog Peter. Herbstreit stood the golden retriever up and placed his front paws on the ledge where his broadcast materials were. “You call the rest of the last two minutes,” Herbstreit said. “It’s all you, kid.”

“Give him a headset,” play-by-play announcer Rece Davis said while laughing.

Herbstreit placed his headset on Peter for a few moments, but Peter refrained from any analytical insight beyond a few pants. “Well, the wheels are off,” Davis said as Peter stepped away from the mic with a few affectionate pats from Herbstreit.

Peter has often joined Herbstreit at games since the death last year of the announcer’s golden retriever Ben, who was Herbstreit’s faithful traveling companion and had become a familiar sight for college football fans.

(Photo of Kirk Herbstreit and Peter prior to the 2024 SEC Championship: Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

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Sep 2, 2025

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