College football fans criticize ESPN for merchandising around Kirk Herbstreit dog

Fans expressed frustration on social media following the launch of a retail pop-up store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, dedicated to merchandise for Peter, the dog belonging to ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit. The store opened during a weekend of college football coverage, drawing backlash from viewers who criticized the continued focus on the animal during broadcasts. Several social media users characterized the merchandising effort as forced and unnecessary, with some comparing the situation unfavorably to the presence of Pat McAfee on College GameDay. Critics labeled the store a distraction from game coverage, with some commentators calling the emphasis on the dog unnatural. It remains unclear how long the Baton Rouge store will maintain operations as the network continues its college football season coverage.

• 1:27 AMYahoo Sports — ‘1000x Worse Than Anything (Pat) McAfee Has Done’ – CFB Fans Rip ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit for ‘Delusional Narcissism’ Over His Dog Peter’s Store