Damon Allen To Retire

[Dieter]

Reading that Damon Allen may have some bitterness to the Lions organization has me wondering what team he will go into the HOF with. Listening to the Fan 590 out of Toronto the other day, it sounds like there is no love loss there either.

According to the radio guys there, when Allen was hurt last year, he was asked to tutor and mentor Michael Bishop and refused. They say he spent the rest of the year pouting. They also said that Adam Rita has been heard to say there is no job waiting with the Argos for him

[Rammer]

Reading that Damon Allen may have some bitterness to the Lions organization has me wondering what team he will go into the HOF with. Listening to the Fan 590 out of Toronto the other day, it sounds like there is no love loss there either.

According to the radio guys there, when Allen was hurt last year, he was asked to tutor and mentor Michael Bishop and refused. They say he spent the rest of the year pouting. They also said that Adam Rita has been heard to say there is no job waiting with the Argos for him

You would think that taking such exception to Caravatta's comments about not helping mentor him as a backup QB for the Lions, he would have bent over backwards showcasing his knowledge of the position to the rest of the Argo QB's. If that is all true of course.

Eskimo jersey seems to be a fit for Allen at any rate.

[Bosco]

D.A. will be working as an executive assistant to Pinball Clemons. The idea (on the short term anyway), is for Allen to learn the business / desk side of the game. So, he can't be THAT bitter against the Argos.

[Dieter]

D.A. will be working as an executive assistant to Pinball Clemons. The idea (on the short term anyway), is for Allen to learn the business / desk side of the game. So, he can't be THAT bitter against the Argos.

Well, the Fan 590 said that was conjecture and wouldn't be happening, so we have to wait and see I guess just what the mood in TO is regarding Allen

[Belize City Lion]

For me I only have good feelings where DA's time as a Lion is concerned. When you consider the state of the Lions organization during the years that Damon was here, it's amazing that he was as professional and motivated as he was. The team was a mess off the field for pretty much the entire time he played here. And on the field, the fact that Damon was able to play at the level he did, in front of crowds that barely topped 15K, many of them booing him routinely, yet Damon never quit on the Lions.

I'm not saying the LIons didn't do the right thing by upgrading to DD, but Damon certainly got little love from the fans or the front office and yet still he was a pro about things.

I've told this story before on another thread, but for me I will always have maximum respect for DA because of the time he came to U.TV to shoot a "save our Lions" commercial I was directing (I think it was 1996). He showed up EARLY for the shoot and, without entourage (not even a Lions PR person), and sat there patiently in the studio making small talk with me while my cameraman finished lighting the set. He had zero ego and attitude and it was probably at that moment that completely won me over to the CFL, not just as a game but as a league.

Hopefully one day Damon will go into the pro football hall of fame in Canton as the all time leading passer (next to Lui as the all time leading scorer). I doubt he will be wearing a Lions jersey and I don't blame him for that one bit. But I will always be proud that he was at one time the QB of my beloved BC Lions.

Thanks Damon. Happy retirement!!

[Toppy Vann]

Thoughts on Damon Allen from several others:

http://www.argonauts.ca/Argos/News/2008 ... _08-1.html

FAMILY

DESIREE ALLEN
Damon Allen’s Wife

"We were fresh-faced Americans when we arrived in Canada so many years ago, not knowing what to expect from this new opportunity in a country we knew little about. But it didn't take long for us to feel accepted and welcomed by people. We've had some awesome times and made some fantastic life-long friends from the West to the East. Raising our family as Canadians is our choice due to the love we've been shown. Football has been our family’s life. Watching Damon and supporting him through ups and downs has been exhilarating. Thanks for the awesome ride and for allowing him to achieve such amazing heights in his career. We are looking forward to what God has in store for our family with great anticipation while continuing to make this beautiful country our home.”

MARCUS ALLEN
Damon Allen’s Brother
Pro Football Hall of Fame Running Back

“First and more importantly as a brother, I am extremely proud of Damon and his accomplishments. He went in his own direction, doing things his way. When you have a younger brother who writes his own history, who has defined himself and who has forged his name in the record books, it’s an honour, a privilege, gratifying and inspirational to be his brother. As an athlete talking about another athlete, I’ve marveled at what he has been able to accomplish. Damon and I have talked about how if you want people to remember your name 100 years from now, you have to be extraordinary and Damon has been beyond extraordinary. He has been a credit to the game by how he has conducted himself, a true professional with great sportsmanship, and as far as his athletic prowess and the numbers he has been able to accumulate, these will stand for a long, long time. I am so proud of him on these two levels. I couldn’t be more proud of what he’s done and the person he is. Knowing Damon, whatever he embarks upon next will be pursued with the same passion, respect and love that is necessary for greatness.”

CFL EXECUTIVES

HUGH CAMPBELL
Long-time CFL Executive (Edmonton Eskimos)

“When Damon was a senior at Fullerton he had to decide between pro baseball and pro football. The CFL would be something different, something less, had he not come our way. Damon has all the attributes that coaches look for in a quarterback: athletic ability, intelligence and leadership. If I was forced to just name one characteristic that stands out about Damon it would be that he is a class act in every situation, whether it be a backup quarterback, starting quarterback, winning or losing. He is just a great person.

Anybody who has ever spent even a half an hour of time with his mother and his father would never be surprised at Damon’s personality and character.”

MICHAEL CLEMONS
Toronto Argonauts CEO

“Empirical evidence overwhelmingly confirms that Damon is the most prolific player in pro football history. To run for almost 12,000 yards makes him one the best rushers ever; to pass for a world record 72,381 yards makes him arguably the best passer. To do both and win four championships makes him iconic. While he captured the hearts of fans across the land, donning six different jerseys, I believe the Double Blue best defines his legend. At forty years old, he punctuated the return to prominence of the world's most storied football team with a Grey Cup victory and MVP. And as an Argonaut the following year, he was the league's Most Outstanding Player at an amazing 41 years old. Brett Favre may very well be the second best quarterback to retire this year!!!”

MARK COHON
CFL Commissioner

“For more than two decades, Damon Allen has been a leader, a champion and an ambassador for our league. Even more impressive than the many records he holds are the memories and inspirations he has left with our fans from across the country. The CFL's rich history is decorated with his story, a story that will live far beyond his career. On behalf of the CFL, congratulations and we hope you will continue to be involved with our game for many years to come.”

ADAM RITA
Toronto Argonauts GM/Vice President, Football Operations

“Damon is one of the better athletes to have played the quarterback position in the history of CFL football. I had the pleasure of coaching him, and winning several Grey Cups with him. It’s a real pleasure to say that I have coached Damon Allen. He’s a wonderful player and, perhaps more importantly, a wonderful family man.”

PLAYERS

HENRY BURRIS
Quarterback, Calgary Stampeders

“Damon has always been one of the guys I’ve looked up to. He’s a pioneer of the game and one of the more blessed quarterbacks to ever play the game – at any level or any league. He’ll always be a legend in my mind. He helped break the colour barrier and created a new image for the black quarterback.

An amazing thing about Damon is that he proved he could win both early in his career and late in his career. When he was young, he was successful running, and then as he got older he became a very good passing quarterback.”

TRACY HAM
Former CFL Quarterback (Edmonton, Toronto, Baltimore, Montreal)
First CFL QB to rush for 1,000 yards and pass for 4,000 yards in a single-season

“I was Damon’s rookie in 1987 in Edmonton. He took me under his wing and showed me a lot. He set the tempo for the early part of my career and it’s something I’ll never forget. I like to say that Damon had one more gene than the rest of us. He was always so calm in the clutch – he did everything big in the playoffs. I remember, the night before his Grey Cup appearance with B.C. in 2000, I went for dinner with Damon and Marcus and D.A. was so relaxed. He will go down as the greatest quarterback in CFL history, no question in my mind - the numbers don’t lie. Learning from him, playing with him and playing against him, you get to see the man from all angles – he has and does it all.”

ALFRED JACKSON
Former CFL Receiver (Winnipeg, B.C., Toronto)
On the receiving end of the longest pass in Allen’s career, 109 yards

“The one thing I’ll always remember about Damon is that he was more than a just a teammate and friend. He was a great father, a great husband and he truly loves his family. His presence on the football field was amazing. He was a soldier. He played through injuries and he was a leader in every sense of the word. I’m so grateful and thankful that I had an opportunity to play with an athlete of his calibre. Damon is known all over North America, and to understand that you can spend time with him away from the field is something I will cherish and never forget. Damon, it was my pleasure. You had a great career and you are a true hall of famer, congratulations.”

ALONDRA JOHNSON
Former CFL Linebacker (B.C., Calgary, Saskatchewan)
CFL’s second-leading tackler all-time

“Damon was a great warrior on the field. I always respected him as a competitor. He brought out the best in me and a lot of other players. The thing that you see in Damon’s eyes, and you don’t always see in others, is determination to be a winner. Congratulations on a tremendous career, for you will always be a true warrior.”

DANNY MCMANUS
Former CFL Quarterback (Winnipeg, B.C., Edmonton, Hamilton, Calgary)
Member of the 50,000 Yard Club

“When one mentions the name Damon Allen, those around immediately identify with the CFL. He has been an ambassador for the game, not only for what he’s done on the football field but also what he has done in the community. He personifies the quarterback position and every quarterback who has come since has measured their career against his. Be it numerous achievements, the good times and the bad times, victories and defeats – he’s always handled himself with class. I’ve always tried to model myself and my career after his conduct both on and off the field.”

COLLEGE DAYS

STEVE MARIUCCI
Damon’s coach at Cal State Fullerton
Former NFL Head Coach, now NFL Analyst

“I remember when we recruited Damon from Lincoln High School to play at Cal State Fullerton. He weighed all of 149 pounds. Damon soon made a name for himself; he was no longer ‘Marcus’ brother’. Not only did Damon excel in the CFL, he chose to stay there despite having the ability to play in the National Football League. He loves living in Canada, making his home there and raising his family there - now that’s loyalty! There’s no doubt in my mind that someday Damon Allen should be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Damon, I’m really proud of you. Not only because of your statistics and accomplishments, but because you’re a great husband, father and man of integrity.”

GENE MURPHY
Damon’s coach at Cal State Fullerton

“There is no doubt in my mind, old timers or otherwise, that Damon is/was the best quarterback in the history of North American professional football. America’s loss is Canada’s gain.

I was a guest coach in the CFL for the Saskatchewan Roughriders when I was an assistant coach for the University of North Dakota in the 1970's. Ron Lancaster was at his peak in Regina. I never thought in my wildest imagination that I would ever see anyone come close to reaching Ron’s level of proficiency, and then I met Damon. I was the Head Coach at Cal State Fullerton and we recruited this 6 foot, ‘a-buck forty’ passer from Lincoln High and my thinking about the quarterback position, and Ronnie, changed forever. Damon had a god-given innate ability. He possessed: hand-eye coordination, quick twitch muscles, explosive strength, a big-time pain threshold, acceleration, durability, and a sixth sense to stay out of harms way. I watched him emerge from the "slight" 6-foot, 17-year old to the greatest passer in the history of football.

As good as he was as an athlete and quarterback, he is that and MORE as a husband, father and friend. Sometimes we walk among giants and heroes and have no idea. Not this time.”

Wow... some really nice statements here from some classy guys themselves.

I agree with BelizeCityLion - the team was in not great shape off the field during most of Damon's time here. Yes, he does not electrify the fans but he is a terrific QB and I think that the pros who knew him, played with him and coached him must be sincere as there are some terrific compliments from them about DA.

Not all players are good at mixing with fans. It doesn't mean they are not decent people. I liked Alfred Jackson's comments - as he was a Lion with Damon. Not all guys who are the same time like each other that much either. Maybe Guillio didn't hit it off with DA.

Maybe DA is old and grumpy now that he is a grandpa. I dunno but the preponderance of evidence in public statements is that DA is not only one of the greatest QBs, he is just as fine a person and family guy.

[Robbie]

For me I only have good feelings where DA's time as a Lion is concerned. When you consider the state of the Lions organization during the years that Damon was here, it's amazing that he was as professional and motivated as he was. The team was a mess off the field for pretty much the entire time he played here. And on the field, the fact that Damon was able to play at the level he did, in front of crowds that barely topped 15K, many of them booing him routinely, yet Damon never quit on the Lions.

I'm not saying the LIons didn't do the right thing by upgrading to DD, but Damon certainly got little love from the fans or the front office and yet still he was a pro about things.

I've told this story before on another thread, but for me I will always have maximum respect for DA because of the time he came to U.TV to shoot a "save our Lions" commercial I was directing (I think it was 1996). He showed up EARLY for the shoot and, without entourage (not even a Lions PR person), and sat there patiently in the studio making small talk with me while my cameraman finished lighting the set. He had zero ego and attitude and it was probably at that moment that completely won me over to the CFL, not just as a game but as a league.

Hopefully one day Damon will go into the pro football hall of fame in Canton as the all time leading passer (next to Lui as the all time leading scorer). I doubt he will be wearing a Lions jersey and I don't blame him for that one bit. But I will always be proud that he was at one time the QB of my beloved BC Lions.

Thanks Damon. Happy retirement!!

Very well said, BCL.

Good comments as well, Toppy Vann.

LK, are you still going to respond my questions?

[Robbie]

What exactly are your thoughts about the fact that Damon Allen and the 2000 Grey Cup? Are you taking that granted, and would you have sacrificed and expended the 2000 Grey Cup with another quarterback who may not have got the silver trophy? Would you want the Lions to have just four instead of five banners indicating they’ve won five championships? Allen fumbled the 1999 WDF, but mistakes happen and the best thing is to redeem themselves with a good performance in the future, and I’d say he definitely made a great performance in the 2000 WDF.

Back in January 2001, you must have been pretty ecstatic with Damon Allen after he brought the Grey Cup to the Lions less than two months earlier.

[Michelle]

To hear a great audio interview of Damon Allen speaking about his retirement check this out... http://www.drewmarshall.ca/listen2008.html#080614

[Robbie]

In retrospect, do you know who should be really grateful to Damon Allen? I'd say it was this man who was responsible for making him into a great superstar that he was. If it wasn't for this man, Allen may never have achieved the same amount of fame that he did. And unfortunately, Allen's fame came at the expense of Matt Dunigan. Allen should invite him if he holds a farewell party.

This man later turned into a professional wrestler: Glen Kulka

You may remember that in the 1987 Grey Cup game, early in the second quarter, Matt Dunigan was severely injured. That paved the way for Damon Allen with his MVP performance. For many die-hard Eskimo fans, the memory of Dunigan's body and head colliding off the unforgiving turf of BC Place, the subsequent fumble and return by Doug "Tank" Landry is the picture that won't go away. Dunigan suffered an injury on the play and didn't return.

From Dunigan's own words: "It was a concussion. Kulka put a forearm across my chest and slammed me to the ground. When Glen hit me there was no way that I could go out there and do the things I was required to do as a leader and a quarterback. Unlike getting your bell rung, you can't play through a concussion."

Watching the fourth quarter, I noticed that Danny Barrett almost became the offensive MVP when just like Allen replacing injured Dunigan, Barrett came in relief of the injured Gilbert Renfroe. Barrett scored the final TD for the Argonauts. Unfortunately after Jerry Kauric's historic field goal to give the Eskimos a 38-36 lead, Barrett could not put the Argonauts in field goal range in the remaining time and gave the ball away on downs. And it looks like despite the fact that Matt Dunigan was forced to watch Allen lead to victory, he was extremely excited as indicated at 7:16-7:19.

[vanhalendlrband]

Longest Pass Completion
1) 109 yards (tied with 2 others) - Damon Allen to Alfred Jackson on August 21, 2002 as BC Lions

When I want to reflect positively on DA, this will be a play/game that will come to mind first. The Lions were down and and out one play prior to this, not only did we snuff out the game winning drive that the Als had in their hip pocket, then DA to AJ and the entire 17K (although it was more like 15K in attendance) celebrated, CFL at its best.

As for Damon Allen the athlete, there isn't one QB in the entire time that I have watched the CFL that has been more gifted all around. Still Doug Flutie had that extra intangible/desire that took him a step and a throw above DA, Lions were lucky to have both in uniform.

Sorry to bring back the dead here but I am looking everywhere for the video of Allen to Jacksons play it used to be on the BC lions website anyone able to find this or have this saved somewhere from years ago by chance? I have been wanting to show friends this play for years and the link on the website is broken for the video: http://www.bclions.com/2007/07/10/great ... _number_8/

Please help! It is my all time favourite Lions play

[Sir Purrcival]

I too have looked for that clip it was against Montreal in the 2002 season I believe

[Rammer]

I too have looked for that clip it was against Montreal in the 2002 season I believe

You are correct, under 17K for the game, but they made enough noise in BC Place to make it as loud as 35K. That was a sweet game to be at, right up there with the 94 GC win.

[Robbie]

I too have looked for that clip it was against Montreal in the 2002 season I believe

You are correct, under 17K for the game, but they made enough noise in BC Place to make it as loud as 35K. That was a sweet game to be at, right up there with the 94 GC win.

Wednesday, August 21, 2002.
Montreal 37 at BC 48
Attendance: 17,221
https://stats.cfldb.ca/league/cfl/sched ... mtl-at-bc/

[sj-roc]

I've gone back and re-read this whole thread again since its current resurrection and somehow it got me to thinking about our incredible 1994 playoff run.

En route to our championship that year, we knocked off teams QBed by (in order) Allen, Doug Flutie and Tracy Ham, all of whom were starters for their respective teams and all of whom ended up in the HOF.

So my question is: other than the 1994 BC Lions, has any other team won the Grey Cup by eliminating three teams whose starting QBs during that same postseason all ended up in the HOF?

I haven't really thought through the answer to that one so it's possible there could be other teams. It might also be that there is a recent GC champion that doesn't yet have (but might eventually gain) this distinction because one or more of the defeated QBs in question isn't yet inducted or even eligible for induction.