You just knew a mea culpa was in the offing.
If you recall, former Notre Dame running back and current Irish radio analyst Allen Pinkett created quite the stir Wednesday by outlining his plan for the Domers’ return to prominence in football, which included adding “a few bad citizens” to the team as well as suggesting that a couple of criminals wouldn’t hurt either.
Suffice to say, the radio interview and Pinkett’s comments went over like flatulence at Mass. Irish athletic director Jack Swarbrick issued a statement describing Pinkett’s suggestions as “nonsense,” adding that “Allen does not speak for the university.”
Former Irish quarterback Joe Theismann blasted Pinkett, saying “he is so out of touch with life, it’s ridiculous.”
In the face of a wave of criticism, Pinkett took a significant step or eight back from the statements made during the interview in a statement released last 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.
“I understand that there may be consequences to my actions and accept whatever discipline is imposed.”
Pinkett has been an analyst on Irish football radio broadcasts for more than a decade. His employer, Notre Dame IMG Network, released a statement that read, in part, "[w]e completely disagree with those comments. ...we will be determining disciplinary action to be taken.”
UPDATED 2:36 p.m. ET: In a statement, IMG Notre Dame Radio Network announced that Pinkett would not serve as an analyst on this weekend’s Irish-Navy game. The statement went on to say that "[f]urther decisions on this matter will be made in the coming days.”