Larry Allen, now in his sixth season with the Dallas Cowboys, has come a long way. Just consider:

• He was the 10^th offensive lineman selected in the 1994 NFL Draft, grabbed in the second round (46^th overall) out of tiny Sonoma State, a Division II non-scholarship school about 45 minutes north of San Francisco. Allen was the first player ever drafted from Sonoma State and the first time since 1981 that Dallas had taken and offensive lineman that high.
• He attended different high schools each of his four years of school, finishing at Vintage High in Napa, Calif.
• His father left and his mother raised him on welfare.

Today, though, the 6-foot-3, 326-pound Allen is one of the game’s best offensive linemen. He is a four-time All-Pro, three times at guard (1995-97) and once at tackle (1998). With his selection at tackle, he became the third player in league history to be selected to the Pro Bowl at more than one offensive line position during his career.

Allen’s career in Dallas has included stops at right tackle (1994), right guard ( 1995-97) and left tackle (1997-98). During that span, he has been an integral part of a unit that has allowed just 115 sacks in 80 games (1.4 per game), fewest in the NFL during that time. Plus, Allen’s current crew has posted the four lowest sacks allowed totals in club history (18 in 1995, 19 in 996 and 1998, and 20 in 1994).

Heading into the ‘99 season, Allen has never missed a game, playing in 88 consecutive, including the playoffs.

"On the field, I look at my opponents as obstacles trying to stop me from getting to my goal, so I just take out all my frustrations out on them, and try to make them quit," said Allen, whose boyhood idol was the great Jackie Slater. "My gol this year is simple: get back to the Super Bowl. I’m gonna work hard and stay out of trouble, and hopefully we’ll get there.

"I just try to do my job to the best of my ability. I know that, if I do my job well, it will pay well. It’s all about getting to the Super Bowl, getting enough money to take care of myself and my family.

"As a kid, I often used to just sit in my room, wondering what I was going to do with my life, what I was going to become. My grandmother always told me, ‘Find something that you’re good at, and stick with it.’"

Enter football, Allen’s lifelong dream.

Allen had a standout career at Sonoma State. In two years with the Cossacks, Allen gave up just one sack. During his senior year, Sonoma State set a mark with 334 yards rushing against Cal State-Hayward. He was a two-time All-American who played in the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl

Allen’s success on the gridiron continued in Dallas. As a rookie in ‘94, he was forced into the lineup against arch-rival Washington on Oct. 2^nd, at left tackle when Mark Tuinei suffered back spasms. Allen did so well that day that he earned a game-ball. A week later, he was a starter. Allen moved to right tackle a few weeks later. Allen finished the season as an All-Rookie.

As a sophomore pro, Allen started the season at guard, helping the Cowboys’offense rack up 459 yards, including 230 yards rushing at the New York Giants. In the ‘95 regular-season finale at Arizona, Allen helped Dallas roll up 474 yards of total offense, the most yardage by a Dallas team since the 1985 season. Allen also claimed All-NFL honors in ‘95.

He earned a return trip to the Pro Bowl in 1996 as Dallas’ offensive line led the NFL by allowing just 19 sacks on the season, one shy of the club record set in 1995.

"The Rams were my team growing up, and the 49ers always beat up on the Rams. So I always enjoy beating up on the Rams," Allen said. "I’m upset they left (Los Angeles) and are now in St. Louis.

"Away from football, I enjoy working on old cards, such as my ‘64 Impala. I also like going to the race track. If wasn’t a football player, I’d probably be a boxer. My favorite of all-time was Larry Holmes."

Allen was multi-useful in ‘97, especially after the mid-October injury to Mark Tuinei. Alen shifted between guard and tackle during the season, earning his third straight Pro Bowl selection (at guard) and first-team All-Pro honors.

Allen’s 1998 campaign was nothing less than sensational at left tackle, the NFL’s toughest offensive line position. How good? Well, he earned All-Pro honors from the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly, The Sporting News and USA TODAY. He also received All-NFC accolades from Pro Football Weekly and Football News. Allen, in ‘98, was a key component in Dallas’ offensive surge that allowed just 19 sakcs for 110 yards in 493 pass plays. His blocking helped Emmitt Smith to seven 100-yard rushing days and 1,332 yards. Plus, Allen’s efforts helped Smith run for two touchdowns in the regular-season finale against Washington to break the NFL’s all-time rushing touchdown record.

"My football highlight has to be winning the Super Bowl. That will always stick out," Allen said. "I have so many great memories of the Super Bowl. That’s what we work so hard for in training camp, during the season, (and during) the off-season. We lift weights so much and so often to get to the Super Bowl; that’s our goal, always.

"Not only did I go to a Super Bowl ... I was a Super Bowl winner."

After an incredible regular-season in 1995, the Cowboys ran over Philadelphia 30-11 in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game, then slipped past Green Bay 38-27 in the NFC Championship Game. Then, before 76,347 fans at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, the Cowboys toppled the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 in Super Bowl XXX.

"I was fortunate to be drafted by the Cowboys; they know how to win," Allen said. "For me, to get (to the Super Bowl) at such a young age was exciting. Take someone like Bruce Smith of Buffalo, for instance. He’s been to the Super Bowl, but never won it. He’s one of the many who have been to the Super Bowl, but never won it. They don’t have the ring. I was so fortunate to get to the Super Bowl at such a young age."

Allen attends about 10 card shows annually, most in Texas.

"I think they’re great. They give the fans a chance to meet the players," he said. "I was a big Jackie Slater fan; I wish I had the chance to get his autograph, preferrably on a Rams helmet. I met him once and was just excited to meet him."

Allen receives more than his share of autograph requests — by mail and in person. He always replies. To the autograph requests, at least. Once, a female fan wanted Allen to fly to Pennsylvania to attend her son’s birthday party. Allen didn’t attend. Still, he sent an autographed picture. "That was perhaps the most usual request I have ever received," he said.

Allen has appeared on numerous trading cards this decade, and he’s a fan/collector of most. "Sometimes, (the photographer) gets me at/in an awkward position, and it ends up on the card, but that’s OK," he said. "However, there also have been some great shots of me."

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