Roughriders’ Allen has persevered despite adversity
Nobody could have blamed one Saskatchewan Roughriders running back for running back home.
But Anthony Allen, who has endured an inordinate amount of adversity during two often-chaotic seasons with the Green and White, is still around. He’s still smiling. And he’s an example of how a professional football player should carry himself.
Finally, albeit belatedly, Allen is being rewarded for his patience and perseverance.
He is to start Saturday against the visiting Edmonton Eskimos in a CFL contest that does not have any playoff implications for the cellar-dwelling home side.
Although outsiders have routinely dismissed the Riders’ three remaining regular-season games as being meaningless, try telling that to Allen.
“Just keeping that positive mindset is what kept me here and kept me in the right spirits,” Allen said after Wednesday’s practice. “Now I’m getting the start and hopefully we can win these last three games and I run for 1,000 yards.”
With any luck, Allen could have reached the 1,000-yard milestone in 2014. However, he fell out of favour with then-head coach Corey Chamblin after some earlyseason fumbles. Even so, Allen rushed for 930 yards — the second-highest total in the league — in 2014.
Given a fresh start in 2015, Allen quickly seized the opportunity. He rushed for 102 yards in the regular-season opener, and had 264 yards after four games. Since then, however, he has rushed for a mere 139 yards.
One of the issues — an American passport — was beyond Allen’s control. He became accustomed to watching from the sideline as a Canadian-born tailback, Jerome Messam, received most of the reps and performed exceptionally.
For a spell, Allen was even bumped from the active roster in favour of the since-departed Steven Miller, who was used situationally in the backfield in addition to returning kicks.
There were times when Allen’s frustration was evident. In August, for example, he had a pre-practice dispute with defensive line coach Mike Sinclair. Allen issued a public apology at the first opportunity.
“I learned pretty early that I’ve got to keep my emotions in check, with the thing that happened with Mike Sinclair,” Allen recalled Wednesday.
“I just realized that football is a game and it’s an opportunity and we’re blessed to play it. We’re privileged to play this game, because there’s a lot of people who are sitting on the couch and are hoping that they’ll get that call to be able to come up here and play. I just have to take it like that and stay positive.”
Sure enough, the affable Allen remains upbeat even though other issues are weighing on his mind. In February, Allen’s father, Amos, was diagnosed with a form of leukemia.
“I can definitely say this has been the hardest year, just with the off-the-field things that are going on as well as never having been part of a team that has had a record like this and going through changes how we’ve gone through changes throughout the year,” said Allen, who hails from Tampa, Fla.
With personal matters to contend with and two years of football-related flux, Allen had every reason to think: “Can I get a break?”
“I’ve thought that plenty of times, but this is football and unfortunately it’s a business as well as a game,” he said. “When the business side gets involved, you can’t let that affect your play on the field.
“You just have to take everything as it comes and hope that something like that happens where you finally get the spin.”
Perhaps his luck is beginning to turn. Now that Messam has been traded to the Calgary Stampeders, the Roughriders have a new starting tailback — someone who has been on the team for two years and has typically delivered when given the chance.
There is every incentive to seize the looming opportunity. Allen is to become a free agent in February and a robust finish would help his marketability.
“Fortunately, I’m only 27, so I’ve still got a few football years ahead of me,” Allen said. “I’m just trying to set up some things for me and my family.
“I have two daughters, so it would be big to be able to go out in these last three games and make a name for myself — or re-make a name for myself.”