November 12, 2011; College Park, MD, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish team debuts their new helmet design prior to the game against the Maryland Terrapins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-US PRESSWIRE
The Notre Dame football program has struggled to remain relevant as a top tier college program since the departure of former head coach Lou Holtz. The program has floated around .500 racking up a record of 107-78. That isn’t enough for the Irish fan base that demands greatness from their football squad.
How can they change that? Well, former All-American running back and current Irish radio announcer Allen Pinkett offered up some advice to Notre Dame during an appearance on the McNeil and Spiegel Show.
What does Notre Dame need? Some criminals.
“I’ve always felt like, to have a successful team, you gotta have a few bad citizens on the team. 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 didn’t stop there. Instead, he elaborated on exactly what kind of criminal he wanted. No murderers or rapists, just some players that will bring a little edge to the team.
“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, or guys that are willing to cuss in public and don’t mind the repercussions of it. That’s the type of criminal I’m talking about.”
Perhaps Pinkett was just trolling us all and trying to get Notre Dame in the news? No. He meant exactly what he said. He continued to drive home his point that some bad apples are just what the doctor ordered in South Bend.
“I absolutely meant that. 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 won in the past. They always have a couple of criminals.”
It is an interesting stance to take but Pinkett’s point was delivered loud and clear. I’m sure those at Notre Dame aren’t fond of criminals being attached to their program so they may have a few words with Pinkett before he is allowed to speak on the air again.
