Carl Allison

Carl Allison
Biographical details
Born(1933-06-02)June 2, 1933
Krebs, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedDecember 3, 2013(2013-12-03) (aged 80)
West Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1951–1954Oklahoma
1955Chicago Bears*
Baseball
1952–1955Oklahoma
Position(s)End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1955–1958Clinton HS (OK)
1959–1963Harding
1964–1965Oklahoma (scout)
Baseball
1960–1963Harding
1967–1969Harding
Head coaching record
Overall13–26–3 (college football)
24–16 (high school football)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

Carl Allison (June 2, 1933 – December 3, 2013) was an American football player and coach of football and baseball. He was a four-year starter for coach Bud Wilkinson at the University of Oklahoma from 1951 to 1954, finishing his career as the team captain of the undefeated 1954 Oklahoma Sooners football team.[1] He also played four years for the baseball program from 1952 to 1955.[2]

Of Allison, Wilkinson wrote, "I never hope to coach a finer football player (than Allison). Carl started every game we have played the last four years. He was never late to practice, never hurt, never sick. He was a fine captain. He is a straight B student. In reliability and character he stands at the very top of our squad. We could always depend on him to do his job well.

"I don't mean to take anything away from our other more-publicized boys but I've never seen a better all-around football player, nor a more reliable one, than Carl Allison."[3]

Allison was also chosen for Notre Dame coach Frank Leahy's all-opponents team in both 1952 and 1953. He was later named to the Oklahoma Sooners 1950s All-Decade Team.[4]

Allison was selected in the 22nd round of the 1955 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, coached by George Halas.[5]

Straight from Allison's brief time with the Chicago Bears, he became the head football coach at Clinton High School in Clinton, Oklahoma, compiling a record of 24–16.[6] He then became the head football coach at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas from 1959 to 1963, reinstating a program that had not competed since 1931.[7] After re-establishing that program and turning it over to his top assistant and fellow Oklahoma native John Prock, Allison returned to work in 1964 and 1965 for Wilkinson's Oklahoma Sooners as a scout.[8] He then later returned to Harding as baseball coach.

Allison later became a preacher at White's Ferry Road Church of Christ in West Monroe, Louisiana.[9]

  1. ^ Tramel, Berry (December 4, 2013). "Oklahoma football: 1950s four-year starter Carl Allison dies at age 80". newsOK.com. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  2. ^ "2022 Oklahoma Sooners baseball media guide" (PDF). University of Oklahoma athletics. February 17, 2022. p. 103. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  3. ^ "Oklahoma football: 1950s four-year starter Carl Allison dies at age 80". December 4, 2013.
  4. ^ "Sooners' 1950s all-decade team".
  5. ^ "1955 Chicago Bears". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ "Oklahoma High School Football State Championships Champions".
  7. ^ "Former Harding Football Coach Carl Allison Passes Away". hardingsports.com. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  8. ^ Walsh, Christopher (August 22, 2021). "Oklahoma's Coaching Legacy is More Than Bud Wilkinson and Barry Switzer". Sports Illustrated Alabama Crimson Tide News, Analysis and More. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  9. ^ Bobby, Ross Jr (December 4, 2013). "Carl Allison, longtime director of White's Ferry Road School of Preaching, dies at 80". christianchronicle.com. Retrieved January 3, 2018.