Former Crimson Tide Captain Steve Allen Passes Away
12/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 20, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama football program lost one of its captains Friday when former Crimson Tide lineman Steve Allen, 69, passed away. Allen was a three-year letterman for the Tide (1961-63) and was a team captain in `63.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Steve's wife Monie and their family during this time," said University of Alabama director of athletics Mal Moore. "Steve was a great teammate, a great competitor, a great friend, and a great person. He was really popular with everyone and was proud to be a part of our football tradition at the University of Alabama. Coach Saban called him a couple weeks ago and you could tell that really meant a lot to him. He will be greatly missed."
Allen was a member of the 1961 National Championship team, which was the first national title for head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. That team went 11-0 with a Sugar Bowl win over Arkansas. The `62 team finished 10-1 with a victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl to close out the season. Allen and Benny Nelson served as captains of the '63 squad that went 9-2 and also finished the year with a victory, defeating Mississippi in the Sugar Bowl.
A private graveside ceremony will be held Monday morning. The memorial service is scheduled for Monday at 11:00 a.m. in Birmingham at the Cathedral Church of the Advent.
