March 30, 2009
Junior running back Anthony Allen is more anxious to play football in 2009 than just about any Yellow Jacket player. After rushing more more than 1,000 yards in two seasons at Louisville, Allen transferred last year and sat out the 2008 season under NCAA transfer rules. Allen, who has a strength and speed combination similar to Jonathan Dwyer, will team with Dwyer to give Tech an outstanding 1-2 punch at the B-back position. We caught up with Allen for 10 questions last week.
Q: What were your concerns when you transferred from Louisville?
A: I was concerned that I would have to go through the recruiting process all over again. I had to find the best fit and the best coaches. I know teams are going through their recruitment, trying to get kids from high school. So, I thought that I had to find a team before Signing Day, before they ran out of scholarships.
Q: What made you decide to transfer?
A: Louisville was going a different direction with their offense. They were getting away from utilizing big backs.
Q: How different is Georgia Tech from Louisville? And living in Atlanta?
A: Georgia Tech is a lot different from Louisville. Louisville is a nice city with nice people, but I consider it a college town. With Georgia Tech, you got everything going on. Academically, to me, it seems a lot more challenging at Tech.
Q: Who has helped you the most in your transition from schools? What have they done?
A: I think the team in general, my friends on the team, the whole team has helped me. The coaches have helped me. The academic advisors helped me adjust to the new school, helped me with my schedule and helped me get into classes and getting my groove into the school.
Q: Is there a particular player you look up to on Georgia Tech’s team? Or, has someone in particular helped you the most throughout the whole process?
A: [laughter] I really can’t say one person. The whole team…everybody, for real.
Q: I heard there are a lot of players from your high school (Tampa Jesuit) on the team. Are you close to any of these players and have they helped or influenced you?
A: Yes. I played with five of them that were here. A couple of them graduated. Mike (Michael Peterson) and I are close. I knew Mike since he was in middle school.
Q: What is your daily routine look like? Practice/non practice days. Do you have any weird habits?
A: At night time I like to go home and watch YouTube and practice piano. I like to watch people play piano and then try to play it over YouTube. Then if I can’t, I like to play Rock Band — I like to be the drummer.
Q: Did you know since you were young that you wanted to pursue football in college?
A: Yes, I knew once I was old enough to understand that I could go to college for free and possibly make a profession out of it. That is when I started making it my goal.
Q: What are your expectations for the upcoming football season?
A: The sky’s the limit. We have been doing it practice by practice. I am really looking forward to the season. I think it will be a real good one.
Q: You will be joining returning starters Jonathan Dwyer, Lucas Cox and Roddy Jones. How do you think you will fit in?
A: I am just hoping to get in there and just get the ball. And even if I don’t get the ball, I just want to make some things happen.
Q: Do you think you look like any famous celebrities? In particular, T-Pain?
A: This is the one time that I am going to say this. The only reason why I look like T-Pain is because the end of my tips are blonde.
Q: I heard you like to walk around with a Superman backpack. Is there any significance to that?
A: Yes, I used to have my Superman backpack. He is in surgery right now because he broke a strap. My Georgia Tech books were too heavy. When I was at Louisville they gave me the nickname, Superman. That was because I was willing to go in there and do anything. I am trying to hold on to the nickname.
Q: So, should we call you Superman?
A: My new nickname is Hurricane.
Q: How did you get that?
A: (laughing) I am not allowed to say.
