FSU fans did not forget that Kirk Herbstreit lobbied against the Noles making the 2023 College Football Playoff field before they were ultimately left out as an undefeated ACC Champion. During the first College GameDay of the season in Dublin, Ireland ahead of FSU-GA Tech, Noles fans overwhelmed Herbsreit with so many boos that he was inaudible when speaking.
Kirk Herbstreit getting booed on College Gameday will not get old today #FSUFootball pic.twitter.com/iyIkoY2m5w
— Garrett Savage (@GarrettWSavage) August 24, 2024
Fans not only booed, but one fan even wore a custom shirt depicting Herbstreit as a clown.
An apparent Florida State fan finally managed to get his Kirk Hebrstreit clown t-shirt on the air during Friday's episode of 'The Pat McAfee Show' in Dublin. pic.twitter.com/4WvVkNjOgY
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 23, 2024
Others displayed inflammatory signs.
Uh oh @KirkHerbstreit pic.twitter.com/UB9NPW3Ifh
— Football (@BostonConnr) August 24, 2024
This was pleasing to several analysts who believe Herbstreit had this coming for his supposed role in keeping FSU out of the 2023 College Football Playoff field in favor of one-loss SEC Champion Alabama.
Take the check, take the losses?
— Bud Elliott (@BudElliott3) August 24, 2024
Got Bama in, got Saban on gameday.
Getting booed small price to pay? https://t.co/OjwnOPQKqb
UPDATE:: Lots of ejections from @CollegeGameDay of people with signs too critical of @KirkHerbstreit. I hope nobody huwts his feewings.
— Skip Foster (@skipfoster) August 24, 2024
Hate to see Herbie getting booed this much. It would such a shame if FSU fans kept it up for the whole 3 hours….
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) August 24, 2024
Nick Saban made sure to clear his name and Herbstreit's when discussing the 2023 CFP.
Nick Saban wants to inform Kirk Herbstreit that he got 1,000 phone calls when Alabama made the CFP over Florida State.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 24, 2024
"He didn't have anything to do with them not getting in the playoff, and I didn't either." pic.twitter.com/bmS9YIaNvp
Not sure who Saban convinced with that.
Some FSU fans wanted a truce with Kirk Herbstreit
Not every FSU fan wanted to see Herbstreit drowned in hate. Some wanted a truce with the national analyst and former Ohio State quarterback.
"My guess is he's moved on and will not bring it up except as a historical commentary on what happened to FSU last year," said former FSU sports information director and interim athletic director Wayne Hogan (h/t The Palm Beach Post).
“Never trouble your mind by replaying the last loss. Look forward to the next win. Herbstreit is a performer. Cheer for the Noles and let Kirk play his part in the story," said Charlie Barnes, whose love of FSU and ability to inspire fellow supporters for Seminoles Boosters, Inc.
They didn't get it. Not even close.
Herbstreit had acknowledged before the game that the fans in Ireland could be rowdy.
"Think Ireland folks are fired up from what I hear. Excited for them. Also hearing Noles bringing massive contingent over-which is great!" Herbstreit wrote on X on August 17.
They certainly were fired up, but not in a way Herbstreit probably appreciated.
It's hard to imagine this will be the last time FSU fans share their feelings about Herbstreit's CFP lobbying for everyone but FSU in 2023.