Alright fellow tapeheads, dim the lights, adjust the tracking if you need to (we’ve all been there), and let’s rewind to 1991. Picture this: You’re scanning the Comedy shelf at the local Video Barn, maybe after grabbing Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves or Terminator 2 from the New Releases wall. Tucked away, you spot a familiar face, but not where you expect him. It’s Dr. Sam Beckett… wearing shoulder pads? That’s right, Scott Bakula, fresh off leaping through time in Quantum Leap, quarterbacked his way onto the big screen in Necessary Roughness, a slice of pure early-90s sports comedy comfort food.
### Backs Against the Wall, Pigskin in Hand
The premise is deliciously simple, the kind of high-concept hook that practically screamed "Weekend Rental!" The powerhouse Texas State University Fightin' Armadillos football program gets hit with sanctions harder than Lawrence Taylor hitting a quarterback – no scholarships, no returning players who took perks, basically the whole team is gone-zo. Facing cancellation of the season, Dean Elias (a perfectly exasperated Larry Miller) allows Coach Ed Gennero (Héctor Elizondo, bringing his usual understated class) and salty assistant coach Wally Rig (Robert Loggia, chewing scenery like it’s game-day gum) to scrape together a team from the actual student body.
Enter Paul Blake (Bakula), a 34-year-old former high school phenom who famously quit the game years ago. He’s coaxed back to relive his glory days (and, you know, actually attend college) as the mature signal-caller for this ragtag bunch. And what a bunch they are! Stan Dragoti, who previously gifted us the relatable chaos of Mr. Mom (1983), clearly enjoys assembling this crew of misfits and oddballs.
### Assembling the Armadillos
The team roster reads like a glorious 90s comedy archetype checklist, and honestly, that’s part of the fun. You’ve got Andre Krimm (Sinbad in fine form, already a familiar face from A Different World), another older student bringing wisdom and aching joints to the defensive line. There's the giant, gentle Samoan Manu (Peter Tuiasosopo, whose character inspired legions of fans to yell "MANU!" at inappropriate moments), the barely-controlled rage machine Wyatt (Andrew Bryniarski, later Leatherface in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake), and even a young Jason Bateman popping up pre-Arrested Development fame.
And then there’s Lucy Draper, the soccer star turned placekicker, played by supermodel Kathy Ireland. It was certainly a casting choice that raised eyebrows back then, part of that early 90s trend of models crossing over, but Ireland brings a genuine sweetness to the role, holding her own amidst the testosterone. Remember how groundbreaking a female kicker felt back then? It adds another layer to the underdog story. A fun tidbit: the filmmakers actually filmed at the University of North Texas in Denton, whose Mean Green Eagles colors and mascot bear a striking resemblance to the fictional Armadillos, lending a surprising layer of authenticity to the college backdrop.
### More Than Just Fumbles and Pratfalls
Sure, Necessary Roughness leans heavily into familiar sports movie tropes – the disastrous first practices, the humiliating early losses, the inevitable training montage set to some upbeat rock track, and the climactic Big Game against a sneering rival (the University of Texas Colts, naturally). The humor is broad, sometimes bordering on slapstick, but it lands often enough thanks to the commitment of the cast. Bakula, despite reportedly having very little actual football experience before the film, sells the part of the reluctant leader with earnest charm. You believe him as the slightly world-weary guy just trying to get through this madness.
What elevates it slightly above standard fare is the veteran presence of Elizondo and Loggia. Elizondo, always a calming force, grounds the film as the ethical coach trying to build character as much as a winning team. Loggia, meanwhile, is a force of nature, barking orders and looking perpetually stressed – apparently, some of his most memorable lines were ad-libbed! And let's not forget the cameos from actual gridiron legends like Earl Campbell, Tony Dorsett, Roger Staubach, and Ed "Too Tall" Jones, adding a wink and a nod for the real football fans watching. Filming those scenes must have been a blast for the crew.
The film wasn't exactly a critical darling upon release, and its box office was respectable but not earth-shattering (around $26 million grossed on a $19 million budget – decent, but not a blockbuster). Yet, like so many films from this era, it found a long and happy life on VHS shelves and endlessly repeated cable TV slots. I distinctly remember catching this countless times on HBO or USA Network on lazy Saturday afternoons. It became a familiar, comfortable watch.
### The Final Whistle
Necessary Roughness is undeniably a product of its time. Some of the jokes haven't aged perfectly, and the plot follows a well-trodden path. But its heart is in the right place. It captures that specific brand of early 90s optimism and underdog spirit, wrapped in a genuinely funny ensemble comedy. The cast clicks, the football action (while comedic) feels grounded compared to today's hyper-stylized sports scenes, and there’s an infectious sense of fun pervading the whole enterprise.
Rating: 7/10
Justification: It earns a solid 7 for sheer nostalgic comfort, strong comedic performances from a great ensemble cast (especially Loggia, Elizondo, and Sinbad), and for perfectly bottling that specific early-90s underdog sports comedy vibe. It's predictable but executed with enough charm and humor to make it endlessly rewatchable. It won't change your life, but it will definitely make you chuckle and maybe feel a little warm and fuzzy.
Final Thought: For a dose of feel-good gridiron giggles straight from the era of bulky shoulder pads and renting tapes on a Friday night, Necessary Roughness still makes the cut. Go Armadillos!