Joe Allison (American football)

Joe Allison (born January 20, 1970) is an American former football placekicker. He played one game in 1995 the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Memphis Mad Dogs, a short-lived expansion team. He played college football for the Memphis State Tigers, where he won the inaugural Lou Groza Award in 1992.

High school career
Allison attended high school at American High School. Although he starred at his school as a quarterback, punter and placekicker, the only Division I school that offered him a scholarship was the University of Memphis—then known as Memphis State University. Allison chose to accept the scholarship and attend Memphis State.

College career
Allison played college football for the Memphis State Tigers from 1990 to 1993. In 1992, his junior season at the school, Allison won the Lou Groza Award, awarded to the nation's top placekicker. During the season, Allison made 23 out of 25 field goals, and led the NCAA in both field goals made as well as field goal percentage, where he achieved 92 percent. He also connected on all 32 extra points that he attempted. For the 1992 season, Allison scored a total of 101 points. Allison was also named to the first-team All-American team, the first Memphis State University player in the school's history to be honored with that recognition.

He was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

Professional career
Allison signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL), but he did not make the roster.

Allison played a single regular season game for the Memphis Mad Dogs of the Canadian Football League, in which he completed six kick-offs, scored one field goal on three attempts, and made two singles.

Personal life
Joe Allison's first cousin was Davey Allison, who was a NASCAR race car driver for Robert Yates Racing. Davey was killed in a helicopter accident in 1993. Joe was the godfather to Davey's daughter Krista. Joe and Davey were very close, and after his death, Joe said "Before I go in to kick, I put my hat down and say, 'Davey, give me the strength to do the best I can, to be as strong as you were.'"