Eric Allen (2016) - Hall of Fame - Michigan State University Athletics

Eric Allen

Induction:
2016
Class:
1971

Eric Allen
Football/Track & Field (1969-71)
Georgetown, South Carolina
MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2016

HIGHLIGHTS:
• 1971 All-American and Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner, breaking two NCAA records, four Big Ten records and nine MSU records
• Set NCAA single-game records with 350 yards rushing and 397 all-purpose yards vs. Purdue in 1971
• Two-time football team MVP (1970 & 1971)
• Closed career as MSU's all-time leader in rushing attempts, rushing yards, rushing TDs and all-purpose yards

HALL OF FAME FEATURE: CLASS OF 2016

He was small in stature, but his impact on Spartan football lore was great. Standing just 5-foot-9, 161 pounds, Eric Allen earned the nickname "The Flea" during a career that saw him establish two NCAA records, four Big Ten records and nine MSU records, while earning All-America and Big Ten MVP honors.

A three-year letterman (1969-71) and two-time team MVP (1970-71) for legendary head coach Duffy Daugherty, Allen accounted for 4,446 career all-purpose yards and 30 touchdowns. He led the Spartans in rushing and all-purpose yards as both a junior and senior.

"I think I learned my running style playing touch football on sandlots back home," Allen told the Lansing State Journal shortly after the close of his career. "All you had to do to be tackled is be touched by one hand, and you got pretty cute avoiding that touch."

"In all respects, MSU did him a great honor in recruiting and educating him; he became a star," said Nathaniel Allen, Eric's brother and former Minnesota Viking. "MSU really enhanced him as a person and I feel really good about this honor. In terms of his legacy, it's a great honor from a great university."

Allen made significant contributions as a sophomore in 1969, finishing second on the team in rushing with 349 yards (76 attempts) and two touchdowns. He recorded his first-career 100-yard rushing game in the season opener against Washington. Allen also returned 29 kickoffs for 598 yards (20.6 avg.).

As a junior in 1970, Allen earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the league's head coaches after leading the team in scoring (10 TDs/60 points) and all-purpose yards (1,511). He rushed 186 times for 811 yards (4.3 avg.) and eight TDs. Allen produced five 100-yard rushing games, including a season-high 156 yards (23 carries) at Michigan. He eclipsed the 100-yard mark in each of the last four games: vs. Indiana (24-102), Purdue (28-121), Minnesota (31-142) and Northwestern (32-108). Allen also caught 10 passes for 125 yards (12.5 avg.) and two scores and returned 24 kickoffs for 549 yards (22.9 avg.).

As a senior co-captain in 1971, Allen broke two NCAA, four conference and nine school records en route to being presented the Chicago Tribune Silver Football award as the Big Ten's most valuable player and selected a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). He finished 10th in balloting for the Heisman Trophy. Overall, he led the Big Ten in rushing (1,494 yards), rushing TDs (18) and scoring (110 points), becoming the first player in league history to crack the 100-point milestone. His 1,283 rushing yards against Big Ten opponents also set a league single-season record. Allen ranked among the NCAA Top 10 in rushing TDs (tied for fifth with 18), yards from scrimmage (fifth with 1,769) and rushing yards (sixth with 1,494). Allen accounted for a then-MSU record 1,962 all-purpose yards as a senior.

After Allen was named Big Ten MVP, Daugherty told reporters, "Eric is the finest running back I've ever seen and we've had some great ones. He's got the ability to make tacklers miss by the barest of margins. He seemingly runs into their arms and then gets away. He changes direction so fast. He's only a blur in the films."

The Georgetown, South Carolina, native recorded seven 100-yard rushing games in 1971, including a then-NCAA single-game record 350 yards on 29 carries at Purdue. Allen also set a then-NCAA record with 397 all-purpose yards. He scored on TD runs of 24, 59, 30 and 25 yards against the Boilermakers. In an interview with MSU Alumni Magazine shortly before graduation in 1972, Allen reflected on his Spartan career.

"If I had to do it all over again, I'd do it the same way," said Allen. "Michigan State means a lot to me. The people here gave me a chance to prove myself and I can't ever forget that.
"My only regret is that we, as a team, didn't play as well as we could have. This sticks out like a thorn in my side."

His other 100-yard rushing efforts came against: Illinois (37-104), Oregon State (21-119), Wisconsin (21-247), Iowa (19-177), Minnesota (34-188) and Northwestern (29-112).
Shortly after his final game, Allen recalled what made him initially pick MSU -- saying the people made all the difference, even if he was a bit overwhelmed by the size of the campus.

"I've never regretted my decision to attend MSU, although I was dumbfounded when I got here ... still can't find some of those darn buildings on campus.

"But here I am free to live my own life. Do what I want, when I want, with whom I want and where I want -- no friction."

He closed out his career as MSU's all-time leader in rushing attempts (521), rushing yards (2,654), rushing TDs (28) and all-purpose yards (4,446). Today, Allen still ranks among the school's all-time Top 20 in all-purpose yards (seventh), rushing TDs (tied for ninth), total TDs (tied for ninth with 30), rushing yards (11th), rushing attempts (12th) and scoring (tied for 18th with 182 points).

"The individual records are incidental," Allen told the State Journal. "We didn't have big winning teams in my MSU career, and I have to look back and say, `Is it my fault?' and when you're carrying the ball 37 times in a game and you don't win, well, maybe it was my fault."

Had his teammates heard him question his abilities, they would not have allowed it. Years later, MSU All-America offensive guard and teammate Joe DeLamielleure spoke highly of Allen's skills.

"Eric had a remarkable senior year and he performed on a national stage. He put on a show while setting the NCAA single-game rushing record at Purdue. I almost felt guilty because I literally had to hold my block for only a second and he was gone. It was like being asked to babysit when the kids were already asleep. He was so shifty, like a rubber-band man.

"Eric had a couple of nicknames, including `The Flea' and `Easy.' We called him `Easy' because of his running style. He was such a peanut, but he wouldn't back down from anyone. Eric almost had a split personality. He was so friendly off the field, but he was so little, yet so tough. Eric was a great team player; he was never concerned about individual honors."

A multi-sport athlete, Allen earned two letters in track and field and emerged as one of the Big Ten's top triple jumpers, posting a personal-best 50-5 1/4 at the 1971 outdoor championships.

He was selected as a wide receiver by the Baltimore Colts in the fourth round (No. 104 overall) of the 1972 National Football League Draft. Allen opted to play in the Canadian Football League and spent four years with the Toronto Argonauts (1972-75). He accounted for 4,270 career all-purpose yards, averaging 15.2 yards per touch (281 touches). Allen had 130 career receptions for 2,401 yards (18.5 avg.) and eight TDs.

Allen passed away on October 27, 2015, in his hometown of Georgetown, South Carolina, at the age of 66.