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A Football Life - Marcus Allen

  • I am going to start this by saying that I will probably get ripped for this post. I am also going to say that I am nowhere near old enough to have watched Marcus Allen play and remember it.

    That being said, I am watching this program and finding out interesting info on Allen. He played Defense in high school. He played fullback/power back his first year or so in college. Then his Junior year he broke out and ran for 1,500 yards. His senior year he broke records. He ran upright (and elusive KEY DIFFERENCE) and was fast. Howie Long stated how TOUGH he was several times.

    I kept watching and it struck me that there are so many parallels (in my crazy mind) to OUR James Wilder. Like Allen, Wilder was wildly considered a top prospect that played both sides of the ball in high school. Allen specialized on Defense, not unlike Wilder. In college his coach was faced with a decision on where to play him. They chose offense, so did we. Both began their college careers as the "Big Back" and blocked early. Then when a Senior left (Chris Thompson) they were given a chance.

    Allen took advantage! While he seemed to be a faster and shiftier back at times he also seemed to run upright, just as wilder does. I am not here to claim Wilder is the next Marcus Allen, that would be absurd. However, I found some of the parallels quite interesting/similar. Even the picture of Allen as a high schooler resembles Wilder (to a degree). Finally, in high school Allen was kicked off his team for not being a team player. Wilder has had some well chronicled mishaps, but if he "gets it" and is the team player we think he should be (i think he already is) then I think Wilder will break out. If Wilder becomes 60-75% of Allen then we hit a home run!

    Again, I am not saying Wilder is the next Allen. I just found a few similarities.

    PJVNolefan

  • Can't imagine why you'd get ripped for that. Very thought-provoking post.

    googolplex ●

  • I hope your right. That would be awesome and would be someone that can help our new starting QB get in to a groove and win us a natty championship or 2

    StevenM1 ●

  • lynchmob Wilder is the next Allen! jk

    Hope he becomes as successful as Allen on the field and off the field! indian

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    williamsize

  • I am old enough to remember Allen at USC. He shared the backfield with Charles White until White graduated. White won the Heisman his senior year in 79 if I remember correctly. USC one the national Championship the year before. Back then it wasn't uncommon to have a Fullback that carried the ball 10-12 times a game. Allen did start along with White in a Pro-Set backfield. Although Allen is tall and ran upright he was more of a shifty guy. JWJ is a much more violent runner who seeks contact. Allen ran for well over 2000 yards his senior year, maybe 2500. Nole Nation would do cartwheels and backflips if we can get 60% of that out of JWJ. The back story is similar though. Allen broke out during his junior year after having to wait his turn behind a great back. I'm just excited we're back to having this type of talent waiting in the wings.

    metro5208

  • I like it, but keep in mind for every 1 break-through Allen there are hundreds of others who are big backs that didn't make...ran upright, and didn't make it...etc etc. That argument can be reversed, and there's more who couldn't make it work than those who could. I hope Wilder can.

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    FSU NUT

  • Actually a very good comparison, lots of similarities, but the game has changed a lot in the last 30 years. I'm too young to remember Allen in college, but I remember him in the league and I never would have thought of him as a big back or a fullback type. Wilder actually reminds me of another former Niner, Ricky Watters, in running style more than anything else.

    fishbrain

  • Good comparison. Eddie George also had a similar running style. Allen was very quick to the hole and simply outran everyone else if he made it to the second level. Bit of a clubhouse lawyer.

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    Ain't no cell phones under water!

    Nashnole ●

  • Pretty damning condemnation of Internet message boards that you were sure you'd get ripped for this. Good post.

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    Any comic fans out there, check out Tart, written by a Seminole Grad, who is incidentally... me. http://tartwebcomic.blogspot.com/

    beanoleKJ

  • I, on the other hand, should get ripped for my double post.

    This post was edited by beanoleKJ on 3/14/2013 at 6:50 AM

    signature image signature image

    Any comic fans out there, check out Tart, written by a Seminole Grad, who is incidentally... me. http://tartwebcomic.blogspot.com/

    beanoleKJ

  • beanoleKJ said...

    I, on the other hand, should get ripped for my double post.

    Naaaaaaah, you get a pass. 'Specially if you were sending from a mobile app., as those can get tricky sometimes. Where do you hail from?

    attachment
    signature image

    Ain't no cell phones under water!

    Nashnole ●

  • HAHA thanks guys for not ripping me. I posted here because this board is much more sensible than the other site. I wouldnt dare post it on chant.

    PJVNolefan

  • PJVNolefan said...

    I am going to start this by saying that I will probably get ripped for this post. I am also going to say that I am nowhere near old enough to have watched Marcus Allen play and remember it.

    That being said, I am watching this program and finding out interesting info on Allen. He played Defense in high school. He played fullback/power back his first year or so in college. Then his Junior year he broke out and ran for 1,500 yards. His senior year he broke records. He ran upright (and elusive KEY DIFFERENCE) and was fast. Howie Long stated how TOUGH he was several times.

    I kept watching and it struck me that there are so many parallels (in my crazy mind) to OUR James Wilder. Like Allen, Wilder was wildly considered a top prospect that played both sides of the ball in high school. Allen specialized on Defense, not unlike Wilder. In college his coach was faced with a decision on where to play him. They chose offense, so did we. Both began their college careers as the "Big Back" and blocked early. Then when a Senior left (Chris Thompson) they were given a chance.

    Allen took advantage! While he seemed to be a faster and shiftier back at times he also seemed to run upright, just as wilder does. I am not here to claim Wilder is the next Marcus Allen, that would be absurd. However, I found some of the parallels quite interesting/similar. Even the picture of Allen as a high schooler resembles Wilder (to a degree). Finally, in high school Allen was kicked off his team for not being a team player. Wilder has had some well chronicled mishaps, but if he "gets it" and is the team player we think he should be (i think he already is) then I think Wilder will break out. If Wilder becomes 60-75% of Allen then we hit a home run!

    Again, I am not saying Wilder is the next Allen. I just found a few similarities.

    I watched Allen play a lot. He was actually the sometime FB for Charles White at USC until White graduated.

    Allen and Wilder are not in the same solar system. allen had a better head on his shoulders and had infinitely better running back instincts than Wilder.

    There are few similarities. They both run/ran upright-that is about it. Allen was a truly great running back. Truly great. Wilder hasn't even even shown himself to be a good rb yet. He has had some flashes of being a good rb but is not one yet.

    FWIW Wilder is not in his dad's class while he was at mizzou.

    TNOLE27 ●

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