ASU football legend Eric Allen reflects on Tempe roots during Hall of Fame induction

Allen played for ASU as a cornerback from 1983 to 1987. He helped lead the Sun Devils to a Pacific-10 championship in 1986, defeating the University of Michigan at the Rose Bowl, ending the season with a 10-1-1 record.

The Hall of Famer was also named a Consensus All-American in 1987 for his strong defensive performance, with 15 interceptions in his four years at ASU. Allen was inducted into the ASU Hall of Fame in 2008 and became the sixth Sun Devil to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

During his induction speech, Allen remembered his time at ASU, saying he had “terrific times.”

“That incredible team at Arizona State, those teammates and coaches, [I] really appreciate you guys,” he said. “… I really leaned on you guys. It was an incredible team and we had some terrific times in Tempe.”

After his time at Arizona State, Allen went on to play for three different teams in his distinguished NFL career: the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders.