Joe Allison (American football)
Encyclopedia
Joe Allison is a former American football
placekicker
. Allison is perhaps most famous for being the winner of the inaugural Lou Groza Award
in 1992, the award presented to honor the top placekicker in college football
.
in Miami, Florida
. Although he starred at his school as a quarterback
, punter, and placekicker
, Memphis State University was the only Division 1-A school to offer him a scholarship
. Allison chose to accept the scholarship, and attended Memphis State.
, which at the time was called Memphis State University. In 1992, his junior season at the school, Allison won the Lou Groza Award
, awarded to the nation's top placekicker
. During the season, Allison made 23 out of 25 field goals, and led the NCAA in both field goals made as well as and field goal percentage, where he achieved 92 percent. He also connected on all 32 extra points that he attempted. For the 1992 season, Allison scored a total of 101 points. Allison was also named by the Associated Press
to the first-team All-American
team, the first Memphis State University player in the school's history to be honored with that recognition.
was Davey Allison
, who was a NASCAR
race car driver for Robert Yates Racing. Davey was killed in a helicopter
accident in 1993. Joe was the godfather
to Davey's daughter Krista. Joe and Davey were very close, and after his death, Joe said "Before I go in to kick, I put my hat down and say, 'Davey, give me the strength to do the best I can, to be as strong as you were.'"
Joe is currently a special education teacher at North Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
. Allison is perhaps most famous for being the winner of the inaugural Lou Groza Award
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns player Lou Groza.-Winners:...
in 1992, the award presented to honor the top placekicker in college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
.
High school
Allison attended high school at American High SchoolAmerican High School (Miami-Dade County, Florida)
American High School is a secondary school located in Country Club, unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida. The principal is Luis E. Diaz. The school has been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.- Overview :...
in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. Although he starred at his school as a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, punter, and placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
, Memphis State University was the only Division 1-A school to offer him a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
. Allison chose to accept the scholarship, and attended Memphis State.
College
Allison played collegiate football at the University of MemphisUniversity of Memphis
The University of Memphis is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and is the flagship public research university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system....
, which at the time was called Memphis State University. In 1992, his junior season at the school, Allison won the Lou Groza Award
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns player Lou Groza.-Winners:...
, awarded to the nation's top placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
. During the season, Allison made 23 out of 25 field goals, and led the NCAA in both field goals made as well as and field goal percentage, where he achieved 92 percent. He also connected on all 32 extra points that he attempted. For the 1992 season, Allison scored a total of 101 points. Allison was also named by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
to the first-team All-American
1992 College Football All-America Team
The 1992 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, Scripps-Howard, The...
team, the first Memphis State University player in the school's history to be honored with that recognition.
Personal life
Joe Allison's first cousinCousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
was Davey Allison
Davey Allison
David Carl "Davey" Allison was a NASCAR driver. He was best known for driving the #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford for Robert Yates Racing in the Winston Cup Series. Born in Hollywood, Florida, he was the eldest of four children born to Bobby Allison and wife Judy...
, who was a NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
race car driver for Robert Yates Racing. Davey was killed in a helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
accident in 1993. Joe was the godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
to Davey's daughter Krista. Joe and Davey were very close, and after his death, Joe said "Before I go in to kick, I put my hat down and say, 'Davey, give me the strength to do the best I can, to be as strong as you were.'"
Joe is currently a special education teacher at North Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia.