Pokey Allen (Jan. 23, 1943 – Dec. 30, 1996) was widely known for his “aw-shucks” persona and those zany commercials promoting Portland State football. But he was also a program-builder taking both Portland State and Boise State football teams to national prominence and championship game appearances.
The former University of Utah quarterback had bounced round the college ranks as an assistant coach before arriving in Portland as an assistant with the USFL’s Breakers. When the Breakers folded, Portland State needed a head coach, and a legend would be born.
PSU had a limited budget and facilities, but Allen assembled a coaching staff that knew how to identify and coach diverse talent from both the JC and transfer ranks and Oregon high schools.
It took just one season to turn the Viks into a winning team, then PSU made five Division II post-season appearances over the next six seasons. Allen mentored Chris Crawford into a championship-level quarterback who led the Viks to back-to-back appearances in the Division II championship game.
Allen’s PSU record was 63-26-2 over seven seasons, the winningest in Viking history at the time. H was named Western Football Conference Coach of the Year five times. His entire staff of assistant coaches went on to coach successfully at other programs.
As a free spirit who was open to anything to promote his program, Pokey took part in a series of offbeat promotions and ticket selling campaigns for the Vikings. Fans were allowed to call a play during a game, he bet his salary on an attendance goal of course, threated that a meteor would land in your yard if you didn’t buy Vik tix!
When PSU thrashed Boise State on the Broncos home turf in 1992, he impressed that school so much they hired him and his entire staff away from the Viks. Once again, Pokey engineered a quick turnaround and in 1994, the Broncos ended a long losing streak against arch rival Idaho, won the Big Sky championship and advanced to the NCAA 1-AA championship game.
Pokey Allen tried for another turnaround, this time in his battle with cancer. He passed away in 1996 after his fourth season in Boise. He is a member of the Portland State, University of Utah and Boise State halls of fame.