Allen Pinkett Suspended 3 Games Without Pay
(CBS) Following controversial comments made on 670 The Score last week, Notre Dame radio analyst Allen Pinkett has been suspended three games without pay, the Notre Dame IMG Network announced Tuesday.
The suspension includes last Saturday's game against Navy in Dublin, Ireland, meaning Pinkett will miss the next two games against Purdue and Michigan State before returning for the Michigan game Sept. 22.
"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," the network said in a statement.
Some reports indicated the radio network was considering firing Pinkett.
"I love this school as much as I love my kids and would never want to compromise the ethics and morals of my alma mater, Notre Dame," Pinkett said in a statement. "I would again like to offer my most sincere and heartfelt apology to all those affected by my inappropriate comments, particularly the University, the school's hard-working and courageous student athletes, all Fighting Irish fans and team supporters, our friends at The Ohio State University, and my colleagues at IMG Notre Dame Radio Network.
"This offering of forgiveness is an extremely humbling life lesson. I will work very hard to make the most of this second chance in representing the high standards and proud tradition of Notre Dame football."
Pinkett was sent home early from Ireland last week after making controversial comments during an interview on 670 The Score.
"I've always felt like, to have a successful team, you gotta have a few bad citizens on the team," Pinkett told The McNeil and Spiegel 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."
When given a chance to clarify his comments, Pinkett said:
"I absolutely meant that," he said. "Chemistry is so important on a football team. You have to have a couple of bad guys that sorta teeter on that edge to add to the flavor of the guys that are going to always do right. … You look at the teams that have one in the past. They always have a couple of criminals."
