Necessary Roughness, released in theaters on September 27, 1991, is a sports comedy that leans into the charm of underdog football stories while sprinkling in slapstick humor and lighthearted themes of redemption. The film doesn’t aim for gritty realism but instead delivers a breezy, feel-good tale populated by a colorful cast of misfits.
The story follows Texas State University Fighting Armadillos, whose once-proud football program is devastated by NCAA sanctions that leave the team stripped of scholarships and star players.
Enter Coach Ed ‘Straight Arrow’ Gennero (Hector Elizondo), a seasoned but weary coach brought in to hold the program together and with Assistant Coach Wally ‘Rig’ Riggendorf (Robert Loggia) at his side, Gennero assembles a ragtag squad of new recruits who barely resemble a functioning team.
At the center of this late-blooming lineup is 34-year-old Paul Blake (Scott Bakula), a former high school star quarterback who gave up his dreams years ago to run his family’s farm.
Now, given a second chance, Blake serves as both field general and inspirational leader.
He is flanked by a roster of oddballs: Jason Bateman as the uptight team captain, Sinbad as a chatty defensive lineman returning to college for the first time in years, and even a female kicker – played by model-turned-actress Kathy Ireland – who breaks barriers and scores points.
The team must confront not only more polished, powerhouse opponents but also cynics both inside and outside the university who doubt their legitimacy.
Alongside the football antics, the film builds light romantic tension between Blake and Professor Carter (Harley Jane Kozak), while comic relief is delivered consistently by Larry Miller’s smarmy dean and Rob Schneider’s over-the-top announcer.
Duane Davis and Andrew Bryniarski, who both would go on to star as college football players in The Program two years later, appear as members of the Fighting Armadillos.
ESPN commentator Chris Berman even pops up as himself, adding a touch of authenticity.
Jerry Rice, Evander Holyfield, Randy White, Roger Craig, Earl Campbell, Jim Kelly, Dick Butkus, Tony Dorsett, Ben Davidson, Ed “Too Tall” Jones and Herschel Walker all have cameos in a scrimmage game.
Hector Elizondo and Scott Bakula in Necessary Roughness (Photo/Paramount Pictures)
Performances and Comedy
Bakula imbues Blake with relatable decency and charm, making his late-life comeback arc surprisingly touching.
Elizondo and Loggia provide grounding presence as the film’s steady coaching duo, while Ireland and Sinbad bring flair to their unconventional roles.
Bateman portrays his young, idealistic student with a mix of earnestness and humor that foreshadows his later comedic career.
Though broad and often silly, the ensemble embraces the film’s cartoonish tone, ensuring laughs outweigh the clichés.
Reception for Necessary Roughness
Necessary Roughness grossed $6.5 million on its opening weekend, finishing second at the box office, trailing The Fisher King, which earned $7.1 million in its second weekend.
The film would gross $26.3 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave Necessary Roughness three out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
Necessary Roughness never entered the pantheon of great sports comedies, but it found a steady audience on cable and home video throughout the 1990s. Its good-natured blend of heart, humor, and oddball characters has kept it alive as a nostalgic favorite for fans of underdog sports stories.
With its light touch and charismatic cast, it endures as a pleasant reminder that the game isn’t always about winning—it’s about showing up and playing together.
