Notre Dame radio analyst Allen Pinkett suspended three games
Former Notre Dame running back and current radio analyst Allen Pinkett will miss the next to Notre Dame football games after being suspended by The Notre Dame IMG Radio Network following controversial comments he made during a radio interview.
Pinkett was already suspended for Notre Dame's season-opener against Navy this past weekend and will now miss the team's home-opener against Purdue and its following game against Michigan State.
"Allen has done a great job for the Notre Dame IMG Radio Network over the past four years, has a supportive fan base, and most importantly, has expressed deep heartfelt remorse for his choice of words, which were not in the spirit of college athletics," Notre Dame IMG Radio Network said in a statement. "After careful deliberation and thorough discussion, we believe the right decision is to allow a truly repentant Allen Pinkett an opportunity to return to the booth beginning with the fourth game of the college football season."
During an appearance on a
“I've always felt like, to have a successful team, you gotta have a few bad citizens on the team,” Pinkett told the show. “I mean, that's how Ohio State used to win all the time. They would have two or three guys that were criminals. That just adds to the chemistry of the team. I think Notre Dame is growing because maybe they have some guys that are doing something worthy of a suspension, which creates edge on the football team. You can't have a football team full of choir boys. You get your butt kicked if you have a team full of choir boys. You gotta have a little bit of edge, but the coach has to be the dictator and ultimate ruler.”
Pinkett would go on to say he didn't want "mass murderers or rapists. I want guys that maybe get caught drinking that are underage, or guys that maybe got arrested because they got in a fight at a bar."
Pinkett issued an apology for his remarks later that night.
"I am deeply sorry and did not intend to take away the focus from the upcoming season opener. I especially would like to offer my sincere apology to the current members of Notre Dame's football team, including Coach Kelly, the entire Notre Dame community, the IMG College Audio Network and the Ohio State football program. As a proud Notre Dame graduate, I wish nothing but the best for our football team and the University."
