Nate Herbig calls it “it’s kind of crazy honestly” on dissovling of Pac-12

Published August 8th, 5:00 EDT
by Bo Marchionte

Latrobe, PA – Steelers Nate Herbig spent three seasons playing for the Stanford Cardinal during his collegiate career. His beginnings in the Pac-12 resulted in freshman All-American honors, then followed by second and first team accolades in the now defunct Pac-12.

The recent unraveling of the conference has sent seismic shock waves throughout college football as the residue of Washington and Oregon leave the conference in limbo.

“It’s just kind of crazy to see it disband like that,” Herbig said after the Steelers morning practice at St. Vincent College. “I would have never thought (possible).”

The Pac-12 has effectively become the Pac-4 with Stanford, Cal, Oregon State and Washington State the sole remainders of one of the most prominent conferences in the history of college football. With national football championships being claimed by USC 11 times, California (5), Arizona State, Stanford Washington each claiming 2 and Colorado and UCLA each claiming one championship.

“They are going to have to do something dude,” Herbig said. “They are going to have to add teams from the Mountain West or something or go to the Mountain West. Maybe the Big 10 or Big 12.”

The options are endless but the ending of the Pac-12 as we know will be felt for a long time. The generational impact it had on college football cannot be duplicated. It’s a sign of the times that money wins out regardless of the magnificent heritage it might have.

“Just playing Cal every here for the axe,” Herbig said one was on his fondest memories of being a Cardinal. “That was our rivalry game. I used to love playing Oregon.”

The Pac-12 isn’t the only thing under attack by the maneuvers recently made by other former Pac-12 schools. The possibility of Stanford cancelling the football program all together has been mentioned as the complete fallout of the recent days remains active.

“Stanford and Cal, I just wouldn’t be surprised if they did,” Herbig said of cancelling the football programs. “They care more about their Olympic sports I feel like.

“It’s kind of crazy honestly.”

The former home of 11 Heisman Trophy winners, over 200 consensus All-Americans and over 125 College Hall of Fame players.

Yes, Nate, it is crazy and incredibly sad.