NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kirk Herbstreit's weekend schedule includes traveling around the country to be part of ESPN's "College GameDay" on Saturdays and then often boarding a plane to get to a different college football game as a color commentator that evening.

However, on most Friday nights he is likely in Nashville at Montgomery Bell Academy or wherever the Big Red football team is playing. There he's supporting twin sons, Jake and Tye, who are seniors, and son Zak, who is a sophomore.

"Oh I know (he's busy)," Jake said. "It doesn't matter. He has a lot of dedication.

"He'll come say, 'Congrats,' then he has to run. Every game he can get to, he does."

And that's fine with them. They are just happy to catch a glimpse of their father, who is one of the most polarizing college football personalities in the country.

Herbstreit, a former Ohio State quarterback and a longtime TV color analyst, has made it a priority to support his children, balancing a job that takes him to college football venues around the country in the fall with being a father to his four sons.

"It's a once-in-a lifetime opportunity," said Herbstreit, who moved to Nashville with his family in 2011. "Your kids only get this chance one time. I told ESPN when the twins were in eighth or ninth grade that if the boys are ever playing on Friday night, we have to figure something out where I can do what I need to do on Thursday and Friday on location, then I need to get back Friday afternoon to their games.

"ESPN has been really good about that. They know that I am going to still show up prepared and ready to do what I need to do."

Herbstreit's crazy travel weekend

Herbstreit goes to practices on Thursday and meets coaches for the game he is calling. On Friday morning he attends a "GameDay" meeting, then tapes a couple segments that air on ESPN later that night.

And by 3 p.m. Friday he's typically on a plane headed to wherever the Big Red are playing.

"It's awesome," Tye said. "It's really cool to have my dad there. He has to go through so much to make that happen. It's hard to fathom what he has to go through to get there."

Herbstreit doesn't get to attend all of MBA's games. He missed the Big Red's wins with Father Ryan and Pope John Paul II due to being at TCU and Oregon the past two weeks, respectively.

He said he can't travel back to anything west of the Rocky Mountains. He should be able to attend Friday night's home game with White Station. ESPN's "College GameDay" is at Penn State for the Nittany Lions' game with Ohio State.

Herbstreit sons key contributors

Tye, a 6-foot, 170-pound receiver, leads the Big Red with eight catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. Jake, a 6-0, 175-pound cornerback, has 13 tackles, an interception, fumble recovery and a defensive score.

The two have been invited as preferred walk-ons to Clemson and Southern Cal, Jake said.

"A few other schools have shown interest," Jake said. "I want to get my film out now."

Zak is a tight end and a reserve on the varsity.

"This is a once-in-a lifetime thing to have us all playing together," Jake said. "Zak has seen a few snaps, so it's pretty cool to have us all out there."

Continuing the Herbstreit football tradition

Jake and Tye always knew they wanted to be football players like their father, who was a two-sport high school star in Ohio.

Herbstreit was the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year during his senior year of high school and also a baseball standout. He signed with Ohio State, playing from 1989-92.

A fourth son, Chase, is a sixth-grader at Christ Presbyterian Academy. He too plays football and is a dual-threat quarterback.

The family grew up throwing the football in the backyard together. While it doesn't happen as often now as they are getting older, their dad still can spin a football.

"I love playing catch with him," Zak said. "He's actually the quarterback I use for game situations. I'm out in the backyard running wheel routes.

"He's still got an arm."

Jake and Tye also played baseball until their sophomore year when they shifted their focus more to football. They picked up track and field in the spring to help their speed for football.

But don't think conversations at the Herbstreit household are centered around football.

"Football is not all we talk about at home," Tye said. "He's just a normal dad.

"We like football."

Watching dad on TV

The younger Herbstreits don't often get to travel with their father on the weekend to watch him in person. However, they typically watch the show.

"It's cool seeing him on TV on Saturdays," Jake said. "I just see him as my dad. He's not a superstar. I've grown up with him just being my dad."

While they have asked their dad to say something on air as a bit of a subliminal shoutout to them at home, they don't give him any help with his college picks.

That's something he can handle.

"I let him do his own picks," Jake said.