FRISCO, Texas – Larry Allen spent 12 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Barely knew him.
Oh, knew the stories. How at a young age growing up in Compton, Calif., he suffered stab wounds from a fight at age 11. How when he went to take his combine physical, teams were leery of a rotator cuff and those pronounced upper body scars. They ordered an MRI. This 6-3, some 335 pounds of a barrel-chested human being at 22 years of age couldn't fit in the MRI tube. Inconclusive results.
Oh, there is the time from a flat-footed start at the line of scrimmage, he chased down Saints linebacker Darion Connor some 50 yards to prevent a Pick 6. There was the time he benched pressed 700 pounds and had been known to squat 900. There is the urban legend that NFL defensive players came down with the Larry Allen Flu days before having to face him, also known as Larry Allen-itis. Or the stories that when he first arrived in college, the older players in practice started counting the line to make sure they weren't up when Larry's turn came in one-on-one drills.
"Not many people wanted to play against him," says Mike Zimmer, here on his second defensive coordinator tour of duty, having arrived himself right along with second round draft choice Larry Allen in 1994.
73 views from the amazing life and playing career of the Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys Guard Larry Allen.
William A. Boykins
Digital Media Producer / Webmaster
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Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen (73) celebrates following the NFC Championship Game, a 38 - 27 Cowboys victory over the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 14, 1996, at Texas Stadium in Irving, Tex. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Al Messerschmidt Archive
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Oakland Raiders vs. Dallas Cowboys at Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Sunday, August 15, 1999. Raiders beat Cowboys 10-3 in a preseason game. Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen (73). (AP Photo/Al Golub)
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Guard Larry Allen #73 of the Dallas Cowboys before the game against the Oakland Raiders at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on October 2, 2005. The Raiders defeated the Cowboys 19-13. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
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Offensive guard Larry Allen #73, tackle Flozell Adams #76, and Andre Gurode #65 of the Dallas Cowboys march toward the line of scrimmage against the Oakland Raiders at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on October 2, 2005. The Raiders defeated the Cowboys 19-13. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
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Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen (73) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Washington Redskins Oct. 4, 1998, at RFK Stadium in Washington. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins 31â€"10. (Allen Kee via AP)
Allen Kee
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Dallas Cowboys' Larry Allen is pictured in action against the Philadelphia Eagles, date and location unknown. (AP Photo)
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Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen (73) is seen in action during Super Bowl XXX Jan. 28, 1996, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. The Cowboys defeated the Steelers 27–17. (Tony Tomsic via AP)
Tony Tomsic
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Dallas Cowboys offensive guards Larry Allen (73) and Ron Stone (65) pose with running back Emmitt Smith (22) during Media Day before Super Bowl XXX in Tempe, AZ, Jan. 23, 1996. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Paul Spinelli/NFL Photos/Paul Spinelli/NFL Photos
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Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen (73) awaits the snap against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, CA, Nov. 10, 1996. The Cowboys defeated the 49ers 20-17. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Paul Spinelli/NFL Photos/Paul Spinelli/NFL Photos
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Oakland Raiders vs. Dallas Cowboys at Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Sunday, November 19, 1995. Cowboys beat Raiders 34-21. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman (8) shakes hands with guard Larry Allen (73). (AP Photo/Al Golub)
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Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen (73) claps on the field while facing the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, CA, Nov. 10, 1996. The Cowboys defeated the 49ers 20-17. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Paul Spinelli/NFL Photos/Paul Spinelli/NFL Photos
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Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen (73) holds his son on the sideline after facing the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, CA, Nov. 10, 1996. The Cowboys defeated the 49ers 20-17. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
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Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Larry Allen (73) holds his child after a game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, CA, Nov. 10, 1996. The Cowboys defeated the 49ers in overtime 20-17. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Paul Spinelli/NFL Photos/Paul Spinelli/NFL Photos
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Dallas Cowboys offensive guard Larry Allen (73), quarterback Troy Aikman (8), and center Derek Kennard (60) approach the line of scrimmage during Super Bowl XXX against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Tempe, AZ, Jan. 28, 1996. The Cowboys defeated the Steelers 27-17. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Paul Spinelli/NFL Photos/Paul Spinelli/NFL Photos
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Offensive lineman Larry Allen (73) blocks for quarterback Troy Aikman (8) against the Pittsburgh Steelers pass rush at Tempe in Super Bowl XXX on January 28, 1996. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Al Messerschmidt Archive
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Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen (73) is seen in action during Super Bowl XXX Jan. 28, 1996, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. The Cowboys defeated the Steelers 27–17. (Tony Tomsic via AP)
Tony Tomsic
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The Dallas Cowboys tight end Jay Novacek (84) gets congratulations from teammate Larry Allen (73), Emmitt Smith (22) and Michael Irvin (88) after Novacek scored his teams first touchdown in the first quarter at Super Bowl XXX in Tempe, Arizona, Jan. 28, 1996. (AP Photo/David Phillip)
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Larry Allen of the Dallas Cowboys blocks against the New York Giants at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas on December 21, 2003. Dallas won 19-3. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
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Larry Allen of the Dallas Cowboys looks to block against the New York Giants at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas on December 21, 2003. Dallas won 19-3. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
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Dallas Cowboys offensive guard Larry Allen during 43-39 during victory over the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field in Monday Night Football game in Seattle, Wash. on Dec. 6, 2004. (Kirby Lee via AP)
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Dallas Cowboys offensive guard Larry Allen during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field in Seattle on Monday, August 22, 2005. (Kirby Lee via AP)
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Larry Allen #73 of the Dallas Cowboys blocks against the Cincinnati Bengals during an NFL football game on Nov. 7, 2004 in Cincinnati. The Bengals defeated the Cowboys 26-3. (Joe Robbins via AP)
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NFC guard Larry Allen (73) of the Dallas Cowboys in action during the AFC's 29-24 victory over the NFC in the 1998 NFL Pro Bowl played on February 1, 1998 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Paul Spinelli / NFL Photos/Paul Spinelli / NFL Photos
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Offensive guard Larry Allen #73 of the Dallas Cowboys blocks against the Philadelphia Eagles at Texas Stadium on November 15, 2004 in Irving, Texas. The Eagles defeated the Cowboys 49-21. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
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Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Larry Allen sits on the bench during an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Tony Gutierrez
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Larry Allen smiles at a news confernce anouncing a new contract with the Dallas Cowboys in Irving, Texas, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998. In signing the six-year contract, Allen became the NFL's highest-paid offensive lineman. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM OTERO
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Dallas Cowboys head coach Dave Campo, foreground, back to camera, is dwarfed by members of the team's offensive line during a team meeting following a morning practice at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Tuesday, July 30, 2002. Some of the players include Raghib Ismail (81), Larry Allen (73), Flozell Adams (76), Aaron Gibson (63) and Char-ron Dorsey (79). (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
ERIC GAY
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Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen workouts with a medicine ball as members of his team, background, participate in morning practice at training camp, Saturday, July 30, 2005, in Oxnard, Calif. Nine-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman, Allen didn't participate in the opening day of the Dallas Cowboys training camp Saturday and was placed on the physically unable to perform list.(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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FILE - In this Aug. 1, 2005, file photo, Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen (73) shares a laugh with wide reciever Zuriel Smith (87) prior to the start of afternoon practice at NFL football training camp in Oxnard, Calif. Allen will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
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Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen at practice for the NFL Pro Bowl on January 31, 1996, in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Paul Spinelli / NFL Photos/Paul Spinelli / NFL Photos
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NFC Dallas Cowboys players including guard Larry Allen (73), cornerback Deion Sanders (21) and running back Emmitt Smith (22) clown around as they pose for a media day photo during the week of the 1999 NFL Pro Bowl football game between the AFC and the NFC on February 7, 1999 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC won the game 23-10. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
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Dallas Cowboys players Leon Lett (78), Kavika Pittman (97), Larry Allen (73), Tony Tolbert (97), Erik Williams (97), Darren Benson (91), and Russell Maryland goof around at Media Day on January 23, 1996, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Paul Spinelli / NFL Photos/Paul Spinelli / NFL Photos
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Dallas Cowboys and NFC all-stars Nate Newton (79) and Larry Allen (73) pose for a photo during NFL Pro Bowl Photo Day in Honolulu, HI, Jan. 31, 1998. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Paul Spinelli/NFL Photos/Paul Spinelli/NFL Photos
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Dallas Cowboys La'Roi Glover, Larry Allen, Dexter Coakley, Flozell Adams, and Roy Williams at the 2004 NFL Pro Bowl. The NFC rallied from 25 points behind to win the game by a record (total score) of 55 to 52 over the AFC in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 7, 2004. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
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NFC Dallas Cowboys 2005 NFL Pro Bowl All-Stars (players left to right: Jason Witten #82, La'Roi Glover #97, Larry Allen #73, and Roy Williams #31) pose with Hawaiian Hula girls for their 2005 NFL Pro Bowl team photo on February 11, 2005 in Ko Olina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
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Dallas Cowboys football players (from left) Jason Witten, Larry Allen, La'Roi Glover, and Roy Williams, pose with hula dancers Anreana Tseu, left, and Liana Green, right, during a photo session prior to NFC practice for the Pro Bowl Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
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Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen (73) a 26-23 AFC overtime victory on February 2, 1997, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
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Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen (73) sets to block during the NFL Pro Bowl, a 29 - 24 AFC victory on Feb. 1, 1998, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Al Messerschmidt Archive
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Larry Allen #73 of the Dallas Cowboys National Football Conference NFC All-Stars pass blocks at the 2006 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 12, 2006 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The NFC defeated the AFC 23-17. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
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NFC guard Larry Allen #73 of the Dallas Cowboys pass blocks against AFC defensive tackle Marcus Stroud #99 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2005 NFL Pro Bowl All-Stars game on February 13, 2005 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 38-27. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
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NFC offensive guard Larry Allen of the Dallas Cowboys during 38-27 loss to the AFC in the NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, HI on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005. (Kirby Lee via AP)
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Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen laughs during a news conference in Irving, Texas, Thursday, March 7, 2002. The Cowboys announced a contract extension for All-Pro guard Allen. The agreement will make Allen one of the highest-paid NFL offensive linemen and likely keep him in Dallas for the rest of his career. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
DONNA MCWILLIAM
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Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer Larry Allen, left, helps his son, Larry Allen III, in the weight room at De La Salle high school Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in Concord, Calif. After 12 dominant seasons and a Super Bowl title with the Cowboys and two final years closer to home with San Francisco, his Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement speech Saturday night will be on national television in front of thousands of people in Canton, Ohio. Plenty of family and friends will be there but not his mother, Vera Allen. The woman responsible for steering him away from gangs as a kid in the Los Angeles area died a year ago. Allen helps coach his son at the high school. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Eric Risberg
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Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer Larry Allen smiles while watching his son and the varsity football team lift weights at De La Salle high school Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in Concord, Calif. After 12 dominant seasons and a Super Bowl title with the Cowboys and two final years closer to home with San Francisco, his Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement speech Saturday night will be on national television in front of thousands of people in Canton, Ohio. Plenty of family and friends will be there but not his mother, Vera Allen. The woman responsible for steering him away from gangs as a kid in the Los Angeles area died a year ago. Allen helps coach his son, Larry Allen III, at the high school. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Eric Risberg
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Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer Larry Allen, right, looks on as his son, Larry Allen III, bottom, lifts weights at De La Salle high school Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in Concord, Calif. After 12 dominant seasons and a Super Bowl title with the Cowboys and two final years closer to home with San Francisco, his Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement speech Saturday night will be on national television in front of thousands of people in Canton, Ohio. Plenty of family and friends will be there but not his mother, Vera Allen. The woman responsible for steering him away from gangs as a kid in the Los Angeles area died a year ago. Allen helps coach his son on the football team at the high school. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Eric Risberg
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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and former Cowboys player Larry Allen before an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Brandon Wade
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Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) talks with NFL Hall of Fame offensive lineman Larry Allen (right) during an NFL training camp practice on Saturday, July 26, 2014 at City of Oxnard Fields in Oxnard, California. (AP Photo/James D Smith)
James D. Smith
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Retired Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Larry Allen before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Monday, October 27, 2014 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Redskins defeated the Cowboys in overtime, 20-17. (AP Photo/James D Smith)
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Former Dallas Cowboys lineman Larry Allen watches pregame warmups before the NFL preseason week 1 football game against the Oakland Raiders on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013 in Oakland, Calif. The Raiders won the game 19-17. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Paul Spinelli
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FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2011 file photo, former Dallas Cowboys player Larry Allen is shown before an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Arlington, Texas. Allen will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
Tony Gutierrez
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Former Dallas Cowboys Larry Allen (left), Charles Haley (center) and Drew Pearson (right) watch as their names on the stadium wall were revealed as they were all inducted into the club's Ring of Honor during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, November 6, 2011 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys won the game, 23-13. (AP Photo/James D Smith)
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Former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Larry Allen's name on the stadium wall is revealed as Allen was inducted into the club's Ring of Honor during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, November 6, 2011 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys won the game, 23-13. (AP Photo/James D Smith)
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Former Dallas Cowboys Charles Haley (center) and Larry Allen (to his right) watch as their names on the stadium wall were revealed as they were all inducted into the club's Ring of Honor during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, November 6, 2011 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys won the game, 23-13. (AP Photo/James D Smith)
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From left, Former Dallas Cowboys player Larry Allen reacts during an induction ceremony into the Cowboys Ring of Honor as former players Emmitt Smith, Chuck Howley and Tony Dorsett look on at Halftime of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday Nov. 6, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. Allen played on the team from 1994-2005. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)
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Inductee Larry Allen talks with the Dallas Cowboys at the Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibition NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013, in Canton, Ohio. The Cowboys defeated the Dolphins, 24-20. (AP Photo/David Richard)
David Richard
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Hall of Fame offensive lineman Larry Allen looks on before an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins on Sunday, August 4, 2013, at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The Cowboys defeated the Dolphins, 24-20, in the preseason Hall of Fame game. (AP Photo/Joe Robbins)
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Former NFL football player Larry Allen, left, and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones unveil the bust of Allen during the induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
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Dallas Cowboys offensive guard Larry Allen smiles with his bust during the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremonies on Saturday, August 3, 2013, at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/James D Smith)
James D. Smith
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Dallas Cowboys offensive guard Larry Allen smiles with his bust during the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremonies on Saturday, August 3, 2013, at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/James D Smith)
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The Hall of Fame bust of former Dallas Cowboys player Larry Allen sits by the 50-yard-marker on the field during half time of an NFL football game between the Washington Redskins and Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. Allen was honored during a half time ceremony by the Cowboys. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman)
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Dallas Cowboys offensive guard Larry Allen (left) talks to the crowd as owner Jerry Jones (right) watches at halftime of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, October 13, 2013, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Allen received his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring during the ceremony. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins, 31-16. (AP Photo/James D. Smith)
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Dallas Cowboys
during an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, October 13, 2013, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins, 31-16. (AP Photo/James D. Smith)
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Dallas Cowboys offensive guard Larry Allen shows off his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring at halftime of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, October 13, 2013, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins, 31-16. (AP Photo/James D. Smith)
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Dallas Cowboys offensive guard Larry Allen (left) rubs the top of his Pro Football Hall of Fame bust as owner Jerry Jones watches during an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, October 13, 2013, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins, 31-16. (AP Photo/James D. Smith)
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Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame inductee Larry Allen acknowledges the crowd after accepting his Hall of Fame Ring from owner Jerry Jones at the halftime of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM Otero
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Former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Larry Allen's name on the stadium wall is revealed as Allen was inducted into the club's Ring of Honor during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, November 6, 2011 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys won the game, 23-13. (AP Photo/James D Smith)
James D. Smith/©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
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Dallas Cowboys offensive guard Larry Allen tries on his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring at halftime of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, October 13, 2013, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins, 31-16. (AP Photo/James D. Smith)
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Former Dallas Cowboys offensive guard and tackle Larry Allen talks during an interview after the announcement that he was selected to be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2013 Class of Enshrinees at the media center in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center during the week of NFL Super Bowl XLVII on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
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Former Dallas Cowboys offensive guard and tackle Larry Allen laughs during an interview after the announcement that he was selected to be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2013 Class of Enshrinees at the media center in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center during the week of NFL Super Bowl XLVII on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
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Now LA was friendly enough. Would laugh a lot. Nod his head a lot. Smile a lot. Rub that big ol' noggin when he grew nervous a lot. It's just that Larry didn't talk a lot. Hardly at all when coming to interviews. Not an outwardly mean person now, uh, at least off the field. Thank goodness for that considering his size.
And you know what, just not a very verbal person. In fact, we often wondered how he ever asked his wife Janelle out on an initial date while in college, let alone to marry him. Might have been all her idea, like the two-chicken (not pieces), "40-ouncer" first dinner she cooked for him.
And the biggest shame would have been never really getting to know the real Larry Allen, not just as the Pro Football Hall of Famer, Cowboys Ring of Honor member, two-time NFL first team All-Decade guard, 11-time Pro Bowler, seven-time All Pro before this mountain of a man suddenly passed away this past Sunday on a family vacation trip in Mexico.
Heartbreaking.
Because when we found out like five minutes before our Mick Shot's podcast began out here on DallasCowboys.com Monday morning, found myself starting to choke up, wondering how in the world was I going to be able to talk about Larry. To tell stories, and oh there are so many stories. Too raw too soon.
But was able to, and only because in 2013, the year LA was being inducted in the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, had the opportunity take a deep dive into just who Larry Allen was, able to trace his life story while doing interviews for our Deep Blue documentary titled From Compton To Canton.
Why our three-member team including myself, videographer Chris Behm and writer/producer Steve Sullivan traveled to California, first to Palm Springs to interview his Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck, then to Butte College in Oroville to interview his then junior college head coach Craig Rigsbee, then on to Rohnert Park to interview the then Sonoma State University assistant coach Frank Scalercio, next on to San Luis Obispo where his Sonoma State head coach Tim Walsh was now the head coach at Cal-Poly State, then Napa where Larry's high school teammate Steve Hatton is now teaching school and finally to the Allen residence in Danville to spend at least two hours talking with Larry.
That's right, talking, and talking, more talking in two hours with the soon-to-be Hall of Fame inductee than ever spent with Larry over 12 years with the Cowboys. An incredible story of a road I'm guessing never traveled on this remarkable journey from the hard-scrabbled streets of Compton, overcoming the prohibitive odds from ever emerging into the fame of America's Team.
Start with his mother, Vera Allen, a tough love mama, who didn't want to hear her baby getting beat up by an older neighbor out on the streets. She sent him back out to fight for himself. The third time Larry finally won.
But he really won when Mama Vera sent her son to the Napa Valley, where Grandma Bertha Lee Dotson lived in Yountville, Calif., to get him off the streets and away from the gangs pillaging Compton. He would commute to Vintage High in Napa, where he was befriended by high school teammate Steve Hatton and the Hatton Family, led by Ron and Lois. You heard of Blindside, the story of Michael Oher. Well, this was the forerunner, since to cut down on Larry's commute, the Hattons took Larry in a white family giving a Black student a home, where Steve says his mom had to buy a gallon of milk a day once Larry moved in.
By Homecoming this senior year, having been immersed in a mostly white student body in the late '80s and playing football at a high level, Larry was voted Homecoming King. Wouldn't dare make this up. Had a picture of a crown on the head of Compton-raised Larry to prove it. Come graduation time, Larry was one class short. No D-I offers.
Never no mind, in Cal, you didn't need to graduate high school to enroll in a Juco. So, from there, it was on to Butte College with several of his teammates and rival high school team players on a recruiting trip. Enter Rigsbee. Said when these players arrived at his door, he took one look at Larry and told his wife, "I got this guy, you take care of the rest."
With no more than T-shirts, shorts and team issue, LA had a place, a team to play for and another father figure in his life. Rigsbee tells the story of working late one night in the office, that being part of a parttime job for Allen, when he threw Larry the keys to the car go get some pizza. Larry balked, saying he couldn't do that. Come to find out at like 18 years old, Larry Allen didn't know how to drive. No license.
Now it's off down the road to driver's ed school.
Also got him a checking account. One problem. Larry never had a checking account of course. Was writing checks to buy pizzas until the friendly local owner calls Rigsbee about these bouncing checks. Rigsbee had to inform Larry that he needed to put money in the account to write checks. As for football, first-team All-America Juco as a freshman. More the same his second season, but he ended up seven hours short of his associate degree, scaring away D-I schools again.
Enter Scalercio. Found out about this Allen kid from Rigsbee, because at the end of his season Larry went back home to Compton, the idea was to finish those hours and get his associate degree. Moved in with his dad who had not been in his life. Then moved back in with Vera. Never bothered to get his degree.
Scalercio hunts Allen down. Has a guy on the team living in that area give him his card. Larry puts it in his pocket. Never bothers to call. One day, Mama Vera finds the cards in Larry's pants doing the wash. Calls the number out of curiosity. Coach Frank said they talked for hours. Mama talks to Larry, and calls Coach Frank back. He says, Vera goes, "You want my baby?" Coach goes, "Yes ma'am."
"Well come and get him."
Hooks Larry up with a Sonoma State player who lived in the L.A. area, and on his way to Sonoma State in the spring he goes
One problem. Couldn't get him into school. No high school diploma. Remember that one missing class. No matter. Here comes another angel in the life of Larry Allen. They enroll Larry at Lewis Adult School, where high school dropouts go to earn their GED. Larry, very lightly called it "the pregnant school," because so many in the program were young girls who dropped out of high school to have babies.
Undaunted, Larry graduated. Got his degree. Scalercio went to the graduation, drove Larry straight to the Sonoma State admissions office and got the approval to enroll.
"Told him, go get dressed," since practice was about to start.
This is all for real.
Ended up mauling these D-II opponents. Scalercio tells the story of some big defensive linemen talkers before playing Humbolt State. No, no, don't poke the bear. Please don't.
"Larry hit the guy from Humbolt State so hard in the chest, it buckled his knees on the way down," Scalercio says. "Tore his ACL."
No lie.
Larry is voted the league's Offensive MVP. Shined at the East-West Shrine game. But despite what he did in college, falls out of the first round, only because Sonoma State was a Division-II school. Teams worried about the level of competition he had mauled.
Houck tells the story of that 1994 NFL Draft. Second round. Cowboys at Pick 46, a compensatory one at that. Says in the war room there was talk about liking this guy and liking that guy.
Houck says, "We got the guy we REALLY like," himself and then West Coast scout Tom Ciscowski ready to stand on the table for one Larry Allen. Like the response becomes, who, where?
Houck points out Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says let's put on the tape. That's all Jerry, the former collegiate offensive lineman at
Arkansas, needed to see.
"That's our guy, let's go, draft him," Houck says of Jones.
And the rest is history.
Not only did LA become a celebrated player, he became a beloved member of the organization. Look, Troy Aikman would not do this for just anybody. But since it was Larry Allen, Troy voiced the documentary's narration. That's big, but the least he could do to honor the guy who helped protect his blindside for seven years.
And Larry did not forget the people who helped him along the way. Would fly the Hattons into Dallas, all expenses paid, for one home game a year. Same with the Rigsbees.
In fact, Rigsbee told this story about Larry from back during his Butte College days, and by the way, one Aaron Rodgers, from nearby Chico, Calif., went to Butte College before transferring to Cal, Rigsbee actually watching all Rodgers' Cal games since his son was on the Golden Bears team. The team was preparing for the end of season awards banquet and Larry was being honored. A dress-up affair.
Larry still had basically a team-issue wardrobe. Rigsbee told his wife to take Larry shopping. Get him some clothes, suit, shirt, tie, shoes, do the best you can with a guy his size off the rack. Well, Larry, as the story goes, took a fancy to some of those Wingtip shoes that were popular back in the day, and at the time considered mighty expensive.
Rigsbee's wife told him he could buy three pairs of these shoes for the cost of that one pair. Larry agreed. The trip was a clothing success.
Well, fast-forward to Larry's rookie season. He brought the Rigsbees in for a game. Had him over to the house. Had the Rigsbees come into his room, then the closet. There, proudly displayed were his very own pair of shiny Wingtips.
Funny guy this Larry Allen. Grateful, too, so many of his teammates these past two days talking about how the big guy would go out of his way to help young teammates, friends, and those who shepherd him along on his way from "Compton to Canton."
Oh, and one more before we go. Larry's oldest daughter Jayla wanted her daddy to put his best foot forward when giving his Hall of Fame acceptance speech, Aug. 3, 2013, in Canton, Ohio. She took her time to interview Larry, find out all about his past and just who helped him along the way. And as she told me and Brad Sham afterward, they had practiced, and practiced and practiced. Said she might have been more nervous than Larry might have been during the speech, and I'm told was sitting on the edge of her chair silently encouraging Larry on.
But you know what, and to the surprise of most of us, Larry did just fine. In fact, great. So Larry Allen. Knocked it out of the park like he knocked defensive linemen off the line of scrimmage. Couldn't have been prouder of him. Those who knew him said the same. So happy for him.
And maybe to sum up his life far too short, so sad an ending to an improbable inspiring story, here is how he concluded his 16-minute speech, maybe the longest Larry ever talked straight through at one time. And if you knew Larry like I was grateful to come to know Larry after our trip, it's OK if you too shed a tear or three when you hear the emotion in his words:
"And my goal was simple, to earn the respect of my teammates, opponents and the NFL. Today my mission is complete. I also played hard, whistle to whistle, to make my opponents submit, and today I'm submitting to you.
"I've been blessed to play the game I love. And remember this. It has never been about me, Larry Allen, but the many, many ways that (people) helped me out. Thank you, and God bless.
And bless you, too, Larry Allen.
