Damon Who?
Some will say its about time, and others will say it isn't deserved.
Any way you slice it, the arguments sum up Damon Allen's nomination as a finalist for the CFL' Most Outstanding Player award.
DA is a real study in contradiction, but I admit that it wasn't until the last few years that I've really paid attention to it.
For example, here's a guy who has passed for over 60,000 yards, but he's never passed for more than 5,000 in a single season. He's not a big guy by any means, yet he has also managed to rush for over 10,000. He has never (in 21 years) been the MOP, yet in the Grey Cup games he's played, he usually winds up as the Game MVP. I've seen him create forward yardage from nothing and elude tacklers on broken plays, and I've seen him make some brutal fumbles (the dying seconds of the '99 Western Final spring to mind.)
However, the man gets full marks for longevity and sheer perseverance. Very few people can play a professional sport for 21 seasons, and more importantly, be playing some of the best games of your life in that 21st season! Add to that his ability to rise above his critics and continue to play his game....the man is a marvel. Although Head Coach "Pinball" almost reverently describes him as a "freak of nature".
Congrats, Damon. I hope you get the recognition you deserve come awards night. We know that your Hall of Fame trip is all but assured.
5 comments:
Hey - isn't he Marcus Allen's brother? I think I read about him twenty years ago when he came out of college and started his career in the CFL.
Yep, he sure is Marcus' little brother.
As a side note, 3 major CFL stars came from Cal State Fullerton's now-dead football program. Damon Allen, WR Allen Pitts (played with Calgary) and RB Mike Pringle (Edmonton, Baltimore/Montreal)
I can't believe I'm saying this, but Damon deserves the award.
(Now, retire damn it and make the Argos bring back my sweet Scotty Covington)
I'd have to agree that DA is actually avoiding a lot of the maddening inconsistency that seems to have been the hallmark of his career.
He's played well, and made the Boatmen overachievers, but realistic overachievers.
I meant, "up to this point" vis-a-vis the 5,000 passing yards. Yes, he did indeeed do it this season.
Not sure what our schedule is like for the Eastern final.
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