Jennifer Allen
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Allen is an American author, commentator, and daughter of football coach George Allen.
) who was known for total commitment to his team and sport.
She has three brothers. George
is a former Republican United States Senator and former governor of Virginia
. Bruce is currently the general manager of the Washington Redskins
, and the former general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
.
Although touched on only obliquely in the book, Jennifer's mother came from French Tunisia and was of a Jewish background, which would become an issue in her brother's 2006 senatorial re-election campaign in Virginia.
She claimed that George
attacked his younger siblings during his childhood.
The memoir contains claims that George held her by her feet over Niagara Falls
, struck her boyfriend in the head with a pool cue, threw his brother Bruce through a glass sliding door, tackled his brother Gregory, breaking his collarbone, and dragged Jennifer upstairs by her hair.
In the book, she wrote, "George hoped someday to become a dentist...George said he saw dentistry as a perfect profession– getting paid to make people suffer." She also wrote about the closeness that her family had with the members of the Los Angeles Rams
and the Washington Redskins
that her father coached.
In May 2006, Jennifer qualified some of the claims made in the book. With regards to the pool cue incident, she claimed it was a joke and that "Allen was simply testing her boyfriend's reflexes."
With regards to the dentist quote, Jennifer claims that the book was a "novelization of the past" and written from the perspective of a young girl "surrounded by older brothers and a larger-than-life father." She claims to have a great relationship with her brother and noted that George stepped in for their father to walk her down the aisle at her wedding.
, The New York Times
, and The New Republic
.
Family
Jennifer Allen grew up the only daughter of a professional football coach (George AllenGeorge Allen (football)
George Herbert Allen was an American football coach in the National Football League and the United States Football League. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.-Early life:...
) who was known for total commitment to his team and sport.
She has three brothers. George
George Allen (U.S. politician)
George Felix Allen is a former United States Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the son of former NFL head coach George Allen. Allen served Virginia in the state legislature, as the 67th Governor, and in both bodies of the U.S. Congress, winning election to the Senate in 2000...
is a former Republican United States Senator and former governor of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Bruce is currently the general manager of the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, and the former general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
.
Although touched on only obliquely in the book, Jennifer's mother came from French Tunisia and was of a Jewish background, which would become an issue in her brother's 2006 senatorial re-election campaign in Virginia.
Book
She wrote a book describing her childhood as a coach's daughter entitled Fifth Quarter: The Scrimmage of a Football Coach's Daughter.She claimed that George
George Allen (U.S. politician)
George Felix Allen is a former United States Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the son of former NFL head coach George Allen. Allen served Virginia in the state legislature, as the 67th Governor, and in both bodies of the U.S. Congress, winning election to the Senate in 2000...
attacked his younger siblings during his childhood.
The memoir contains claims that George held her by her feet over Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
, struck her boyfriend in the head with a pool cue, threw his brother Bruce through a glass sliding door, tackled his brother Gregory, breaking his collarbone, and dragged Jennifer upstairs by her hair.
In the book, she wrote, "George hoped someday to become a dentist...George said he saw dentistry as a perfect profession– getting paid to make people suffer." She also wrote about the closeness that her family had with the members of the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
and the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
that her father coached.
In May 2006, Jennifer qualified some of the claims made in the book. With regards to the pool cue incident, she claimed it was a joke and that "Allen was simply testing her boyfriend's reflexes."
With regards to the dentist quote, Jennifer claims that the book was a "novelization of the past" and written from the perspective of a young girl "surrounded by older brothers and a larger-than-life father." She claims to have a great relationship with her brother and noted that George stepped in for their father to walk her down the aisle at her wedding.
Career
She has appeared as a commentator on the NFL Network and written for the NFL website. In January 2006, Jennifer appeared on the NFL Network to discuss how the firing of a head coach affects the coach's family, basing her commentary on her own experiences when her father was fired. Jennifer has contributed articles to Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, and The New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
.