When Don Coryell was hired to bring San Diego State football out of what was called the \u201csmall college\u201d ranks and into the big time, Jim Allison says Coryell talked him into passing up offers from the likes of Texas, UCLA and the big schools.<\/p>\n \u201cCoach knew where he wanted the program to go, and told me I could help get them there. He could talk you into anything if he put his mind to it, and he did with me.\u201d<\/p>\n Coryell got Allison out of El Camino College, where he\u2019d gone after a storied high school career at Redondo Union High School.<\/p>\n At the time, the Aztecs were competing in the California Collegiate Athletic Association against schools like San Jose State, San Francisco State, Los Angeles State \u2014 small schools, and most of which no longer compete in football.<\/p>\n In an era where \u201csmall college\u201d usually meant \u201csmall players,\u201d Allison was an exception.<\/p>\n At 6-foot-2-inches and 220 pounds, Allison as a tailback was as big as some of the other schools\u2019 linemen. He also had running back speed. He could hurt you if he hit you.<\/p>\n How good was he? In the early 1960s, about the only major recordkeeping among small colleges was done by the sports wire services, Associated Press and United Press International.<\/p>\n \u201cThey kept the books, and they awarded me the 1964 small colleges national rushing championship. It was an honor I didn\u2019t expect.\u201d<\/p>\n Two years later, one year after Allison finished at SDSU, Coryell\u2019s Aztecs won the small colleges national championship with a perfect 11-0 record. But by that time, Allison had moved on to the pros.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 1965, I got drafted twice \u2014 by the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL, and the San Diego Chargers of the AFL. I thought about playing in Minnesota in December, and I didn\u2019t have any trouble at all making that choice,\u201d Allison said.<\/p>\n Allison would spend four years with the Chargers. He was often used as a fullback, but could play tailback without much trouble, as he did for a number of games when starter Paul Lowe was injured.<\/p>\n A couple of years on other rosters told Allison his pro career was pretty much over, and it was time to decide what to do with the rest of his life.<\/p>\n \u201cI kinda got into sales work, like a lot of guys do after they\u2019re no longer active players. Eventually, I wound up selling landscaping services, and somehow, I got really interested in the actual creation of landscaping. I studied about soils and grasses and trees and plants, and it was fascinating- still is.<\/p>\n \u201cIt occurred to me that I could probably do this on my own, without working for someone else. So that\u2019s what I did \u2014 bought a truck, hired some people, and went to work.\u201d<\/p>\n Over the years, Allison Landscaping has grown into a successful family business, with Jim\u2019s sons involved.<\/p>\n They do landscape design and construction, primarily for big clients \u2014 corporate types \u2014 but they will design and build your yard for you.<\/p>\n On Fridays, you can usually find Jim on a golf course, where he swears he\u2019s shooting in the 70s.<\/p>\n You often see him out at lunch with his old mates from the Aztecs and the Chargers \u2014 Rod Dowhower, Gary Garrison, Mario Mendez \u2026 many more from the day.<\/p>\n Often at those gatherings, the topic of conversation is: \u201cWe\u2019re all in the Aztec Hall of Fame, why isn\u2019t Jim?\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s an interesting question that no one seems able to answer.<\/p>\n Mostly, though, you can see him at his Allied Gardens home, with his big collection of memorabilia from the world of sports. Jim\u2019s a serious collector.<\/p>\n At 74. He\u2019s pretty much at peace with life.<\/p>\n![\"Football](\"https:\/\/missiontimescourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/web-MAIN-Allison1.jpg\")
![\"Football](\"https:\/\/missiontimescourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/web-Allison2.jpg\")