"My mom is my world," Allen, a senior linebacker at Penn, said yesterday. ''The people at HUP, they pretty much saved my mom's life, and I'm grateful for that. She went through a lot. That had a profound effect on me coming through high school, going out for sports, trying to deal with school and having to worry about whether my mom is going to live or not. That definitely had an effect on me."
That impression lingered with Allen after he completed high school. He had accepted a congressional appointment to attend the U.S. Military Academy, but he left West Point after two weeks because "I found out that I didn't want to be in the Army for six years, or however long it was, after graduation."
He returned home to Pottstown and considered a number of options. His
memories of Penn, along with some gentle persuasion by his mother, directed him to West Philadelphia.
"She didn't really push me," he said. "But toward the end, when I was really pressed to make my decision, she said, 'Why don't you go to Penn? It's in the area, I'd be around, it's an Ivy League institution, it's a great opportunity. You should make the most of it.'
"Mother's always right, you know," he added, laughing.
That Allen had been admitted as an incoming freshman to the Class of '96 helped. So did some prodding in the admissions department by Quakers coaches, wrestling coach Roger Reina in particular.
Jacqueline Allen is in good health now, and is the leader of the Joey Allen cheering section both at home and on the road. Her son, a first-year starter at strongside inside linebacker, had his best game of the young season Saturday against Bucknell.
Allen, a senior with a thick neck and a 6-foot, 231-pound linebacker's build, posted team-high totals of eight unassisted and 11 overall tackles, including two for losses, in the 20-19 win, the Quakers' 24th in a row.
