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CANTON, Ohio -- Known as the strongest man in the long, storied history of the National Football League, Sonoma State University alum Larry Allen, who played football for two seasons at SSU in 1992-93 and went on to have an indelible professional career, was one of seven former NFL greats that was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as part of the Class of 2013 on Saturday at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
Also enshrined with Allen on Saturday were former NFL greats Cris Carter, Curley Culp, Jonathan Ogden, Bill Parcells, Dave Robinson and Warren Sapp.
To see Larry Allen's enshrinement speech from Saturday's ceremony, click here.
A two-time All-American at Sonoma State and a member of the Sonoma State Athletics Hall of Fame and the NCAA Division II Football Hall of Fame, Allen was the first student-athlete in the 20 year history of football at SSU to be drafted into the NFL; he was selected in the second round (46th overall) by Dallas in 1994 and, despite being the 10th offensive lineman to be picked, Allen proved to be the most dominant, not just that year, but of all-time.
It was late in his rookie season when Allen made his first unforgettable impression, saving a touchdown by running down Darion Conner when it looked like the New Orleans linebacker, who intercepted a pass, only had Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman to beat down the sideline on Monday Night Football.Â
Click here to see the video.
While at SSU, Allen twice earned Kodak All-America and First Team Associated Press All-America honors and was an unanimous selection on several other All-America squads. He was so dominating that Allen was named the Northern California Athletic Conference (NCAC) Offensive Player of the Year as a lineman, unheard of for a player that didn't play quarterback, running back or wide receiver. As a senior in 1993, Allen gave up only one sack and was part of an offense that established ten new school records under then-head coach Frank Scalercio.
In the NFL, Allen was named to 11 Pro Bowls in 14 seasons, 10 of which came with the Dallas Cowboys -- more than any offensive player in Dallas' franchise history. In addition, Allen was a seven-time All-Pro selection, a member of the 1990's and 2000's All-Decade Teams and he won a Super Bowl ring with the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX on Jan. 28, 1996. He was instrumental in helping former Dallas running back, Emmitt Smith, sprint towards the all-time NFL rushing record.
Allen finished his playing career with the San Francisco 49ers in 2006 and 2007, but signed a one-day contract with Dallas prior to the 2008 season, enabling him to retire with the franchise that drafted him 14 years earlier. He is arguably the strongest person to ever play in the NFL, having recorded a bench press of 705 pounds and a squat lift of 905 pounds. In 2010, Allen was No. 95 on the NFL Films Top 100 Greatest Players list
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MUST-SEE LARRY ALLEN VIDEOS
Larry Allen Talks About Being Inducted
Dallas Cowboys: A Tribute to Larry Allen
Former Cowboys guard Larry Allen is selected to the 2013 Hall of Fame class
Larry Allen Bench Presses 700 Pounds
Larry Allen Prevents Pick-Six
Larry Allen -- Super Bowl XXX Introduction
Interview with Larry Allen at Sonoma State University
LARRY ALLEN RELATED STORIES
Cowboys OL Larry Allen didn't say much, didn't really need to, on way to Hall of Fame (AP, July 30, 2013)
Larry Allen took an unusual collegiate route to NFL (by Jim Thomas, CantonRep.com, July 29, 2013)
Former Cowboy Larry Allen will finally see spotlight at Hall of Fame induction ceremony, but mom won't be there to see it (by Brad Townsend, Dallas Morning News, July 28, 2013)
Larry Allen gave Patrick Willis his "welcome to the NFL" moment (by Michael David Smith, NBC Sports, Jan, 29, 2013)
LARRY ALLEN HOF RELATED LINKS
Class of 2013: Larry Allen
Hall of Fame Biography
Notes & Quotes
Video Bio
Player-Personalized Merchandise
Photo Gallery
PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
Pro Football Hall of Fame Video Tour
Pro Football Hall of Fame -- Celebrating 50 Years
Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013
Meet the 2013 Hall of Fame class
2013 ENSHRINEMENT FESTIVAL -- INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Enshrinement Festival Schedule
Tickets
Fawcett Stadium
