Allen Pinkett To Be Guest Speaker At 82nd Annual Football Banquet
Pinkett played six seasons in the NFL.

Nov. 28, 2001

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Former Notre Dame All-America running back Allen Pinkett, who graduated as the all-time leading rusher in Irish football history, will be the guest speaker for the 82nd annual University of Notre Dame Football Banquet.

Pinkett, who is in his first year as the analyst for Westwood One radio broadcasts of all Notre Dame football games, finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting following his senior season in 1985. He left Notre Dame as its career rushing leader with 4,131 yards — and ranked as the first Notre Dame player ever to rush for 1,000 yards in three straight seasons (1,179 in ’83, 1,268 in ’84 and 1,176 in ’85).

The Sterling, Va., native remains the career scoring leader in Notre Dame history with 53 touchdowns (49 rushing) and 320 points. He holds the Irish single-season mark for 100-yard rushing games with nine in 1993 and had 21 in his career. His high of 217 rushing yards came in a 1983 game at Penn State.

Pinkett, currently in the insurance and investments business in Houston, Texas, played six seasons with the NFL Houston Oilers and one with the New Orleans Saints before retiring in 1991.

The banquet, sponsored by the Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley, will be held Friday, Dec. 7, 2001, in the north dome of the Joyce Center on the Notre Dame campus. A reception on the concourse begins at 5:45 p.m. EST and the dinner begins at 7:00 p.m.

The program will include a special tribute to senior members of the 2001 Irish squad – as well as a series of awards honoring members of the Notre Dame team.

Tickets are $38 each and can be ordered at the Joyce Center second-floor ticket window or by phone (VISA, Mastercard or American Express) by calling 219-631-7356 (fax to 219-631-8231). Other questions should be directed to the Notre Dame athletic department at 219-631-8219. Deadline for ordering tickets is Monday, Dec. 3.

In addition to the dinner, all senior members of the ’01 Irish team will be available for autographs on the concourse during the reception. There also will be a silent auction of Notre Dame football photographs and memorabilia during the reception.

Proceeds benefit the Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley Scholarship Fund.