One of the greatest quarterbacks to don the Blue and White of Indiana State will be one of four individuals to be inducted into the 2014 Class of the Indiana State University Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday. The induction ceremonies are sponsored by Old National Bank and will be conducted in the Sycamore Banquet Center.
Reggie Allen, a member of the Sycamore football team from 1978 to 1981, will be joined in the 23rd Class by two former track & field stars in runner Angie Menser-Lansing (1995 to 1998) and high jumper Steve Parker (1991 to 1994), and Alpha Cleary, an administrator, teacher, and coach at Indiana State from 1958 to 1988.
Allen was the quarterback for the Sycamore football team from 1978 through 1981, playing for Dick Jamison in 1978 and 1979 and for Dennis Raetz in 1980 and 1981. He was named the Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year and the quarterback for the MVC All-Conference team in 1979 after leading the Sycamores to an 8-3 record.
“I really didn’t know anything about Indiana State when I was in high school,” Allen said. “But I knew that I wanted to play quarterback and most of the schools wanted me to play defensive back. Coach Jamison promised me I would get a shot at quarterback.”
A high school coach of Allen’s had a son at Indiana State and the connection was made for the Pennsylvania native to visit Terre Haute. He also had a visit scheduled with Indiana who was coached by Lee Corso.
“My heart was in playing quarterback,” Allen said. “Indiana wanted me as a defensive back. Coach Jamison promised me a chance. I just didn’t know that there would be so many quarterbacks on the team.”
Allen was a promising six-foot, 185-pound quarterback from Monessen, Penn., who was al All-State signal caller in Pennsylvania as well as being a star guard in basketball. He was number two on the depth chart going into his freshman season along with another freshman and future good friend Mike Shannon. The ball bounced into Allen’s hands after Shannon suffered a career ending injury.
“Coach Jamison had also promised me I could try out for the basketball team which would have been a good year to do so with Larry Bird playing his senior year,” Allen said.
That chance evaporated when Allen was named the starting quarterback, a position he held throughout his career at Indiana State.
Allen had six games of throwing for over 200 yards during his career. He is still second on the total offense for a career list (6,102 yards) and third in passing yards for a career (5,094 yards). Allen completed 367 passes in 782 attempts for 5,094 yards and 29 touchdowns during his career.
He ranks in the top 20 for passing yards in a season three times (14th with 1,678 yards in 1980, 17th with 1,468 yards in 1979, and 18th with 1,435 yards in 1981) and in the top 20 for total yardage in a season three times (11th in 1979 with 1,895 yards, 12th in 1980 with 1,880 yards, and 19th in 1981 with 1,690 yards).
“I was blessed and I give all credit to God,” Allen said. “I made a lot of good friends at Indiana State and I am looking forward to seeing them again and watching this year’s team play.”
- 1979 Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year
- Second all-time in career pass completions (367), pass attempts (782)
- Fourth all-time in career touchdowns thrown (29)
- Second all-time in career offense (6,102 yards) 1978-1981
- Third in career passing (5,094 yards) 1978 -1981
- Six games over 200 yards passing (235 yards vs. Southern Illinois 1979; 210 yards vs. West Texas State 1981, New Mexico State 1980, Wichita State 1979; 205 yards vs. Louisville 1980; 200 yards vs. Wichita State 1981)
- Inducted into Hall of Fame October 9, 2014
