Organization news and notes

When former Pearland All-Star quarterback Noah Allen was just a freshman, area coaches concluded that he was the real deal after watching him throw the football against his young district opponents. After Allen completed his junior season, Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops was also convinced that Allen was the real deal prior to his senior campaign. Allen verbally committed to the Sooners during the summer of 2001 and then went on to become the most prolific passer in Pearland football history while leading the Oilers to the District 24-5A crown and a first-ever Class 5A Region III title. Pearland advanced to the state semifinal contest falling one game shy of playing for the 5A Division I state championship with a school-record 13-1 mark.

Allen closed out his senior year as the "Most Valuable Player" for District 24-5A after hitting 134-of-267 passes for 2,074 and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 222 yards on 46 carries and seven scores. The field-general had only two interceptions. Allen was named as one of eight finalists for the "Offensive Player of the Year" award presented annually by the Touchdown Club of Houston.

It wasn't surprising that Allen was re-shirted his first year at OU. Allen watched Sooner quarterback Jason White win the Heisman Trophy during his second season, but received quite a jolt when the NCAA awarded White a sixth year of eligibilty based on a medical petition by the Sooners. White suffered two ACL injuries in his first two years at OU. Allen knew that his chances of playing his sophomore season for the Sooners would be doubtful so he made the decision to transfer to Sam Houston State University in Huntsville.

At the same time, Dustin Long, who started at quarterback at Texas A&M as a sophomore, lost his starting job to Reggie McNeal his junior season so he decided to also transfer to Sam Houston State to close for his senior year of eligibility. Neither signal-caller lost a year of eligibility since NCAA Division I-AA schools allow a player to immediately play once they arrive on campus.
While Allen battled Long for the starting job at Sam Houston, it was Long who got the nod and went on to lead the Bearkats to their greatest season in the history of the school. Sam Houston advanced in the playoffs to the national semifinals to finish with a school-best 11-4 record in 2004.
Sam Houston was 2-9 in 2003 so the turnaround was the best by any school in the NCAA Division I and II.

Long hit 333-of-531 passes for 4,588 yards and 39 touchdowns to re-write almost every school passing mark. Long averaged 327.7 yards passing per game while tossing 18 interceptions.

Allen took advantage of the few opportunities he got during his sophomore year completing 18-of-30 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns while throwing only one interception.

Long is gone and Allen got the nod during spring practice as the one who will take the offensive controls for the Bearkats in 2005. Sophomore Wade Pate from Arp, Texas is sitting in the backup chair at quarterback as the two battled for the starting job.

Allen has been the understudy to two outstanding quarterbacks with one winning the highest award in college football while the other also led his team to great success on the field.

Now it is time for Allen to have his day on the field this coming season and the young man with the winsome personality and the sparkling smile will strap on his helmet and enter the battle to finally have his day on the gridiron at the collegiate level.

There were times, when Allen was leading the Oilers to victory, that he was actually a quarterback with a linebacker mentality. The 6-3, 215 pound field general wasn't afraid to meet opposing defenders headon and he usually won the confrontation. Allen has kept that same level of intensity at Sam Houston to prove to his fellow teammates that he is a warrior on the field and isn't going to take any guff from those who are on the defensive side of the ball. His mates know that he is tough and will do everything he has to do to win.
Allen will be playing for his third head coach as Todd Whitten, who directed Tarleton State University to a 45-23 record in six seasons, became head football coach at Sam Houston State University on January 20, 2005.

During his six years with the Texans, Whitten earned Coach of the Year honors four times. He posted the highest winning percentage in Tarleton State NCAA Division II football history and produced an offense that led the Lone Star Conference in total offense and passing yardage in 1996, 2000, and 2003. He coached 80 All-Lone Star Conference players and led the Texans to NCAA Division II post-season play in 2001 and 2003.
Whitten served as Offensive Coordinator at Sam Houston State in 1999 when his offense led the Southland Conference in total offense and passing and was second in scoring. He tutored an NCAA Division I-AA All-American quarterback, Chris Chaloupka.

Whitten replaces Ron Randleman who retired last December after 23 years as head coach. Randleman ranked third among NCAA Division I-AA active football head coaches in total victories when he announced his retirement, compiled a record of 219 victories, 166 losses, and six ties that included 11 conference championships and 10 post-season national playoff appearances.
Allen had an excellent spring training completing 14-of-29 passes for 178 yards and one score in the annual spring football game. Whitten will be looking to Allen to continue that momentum into the 2005 football season when the Bearkats will host Bacone on Thursday, September 1 at 6:00 p.m.
Sam Houston will travel to Houston to face the Cougars on Saturday, September 10 at Reliant Stadium at 6:00 p.m. The game will be featured on ESPN 2. Allen will also face former teammate Anthony Evans who has been the leading rusher for the 'Coogs the past two seasons. Evans closes out his final year for UH this season.

Allen is the son of Tom and Susan Allen of Pearland.