Awesome Rossum
Notre Dame fans will never forget the electrifying moments provided by Allen Rossum, one of the most dynamic players in Irish football history. A Texas native with blazing speed and unmatched versatility, Allen’s career was filled with record-breaking performances and unforgettable highlights. From his humble beginnings as a multi-sport star in Dallas to his days dazzling fans at Notre Dame and in the NFL, Allen’s journey embodies what it means to be “Awesome Rossum.” This week’s Throwback Thursday takes us back to his time under the Golden Dome, where his connection with Coach Lou Holtz and his knack for game-changing plays made him a legend.
Allen was big man on campus at Skyline High School in Dallas, Texas, where he lettered in football, and track and field. In high school he played option quarterback, receiver and tailback in addition to playing defensive back. He totaled 580 tackles, 13 interceptions during his career and rushed for 1,634 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior. He was also the captain of his track team all four years and set the 1993 high school record in the 100-meter dash at 10.02 seconds. While the state of Texas begged for his services, Allen left his home state and instead chose to play for The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Allen had a remarkable career with the Irish, setting an NCAA career record with nine touchdown returns (three interceptions, three punts and three kickoffs). He also was a two-time All-American in track in the 55-meter dash and he graduated college early with a dual degree in business and computer applications. His NFL career was also special. He was a third-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1998 draft and his 12-year pro career included a Pro Bowl selection in 2004. Allen played for the Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys during his NFL days and was voted the MVP four different times on those teams.
For a guy whose NFL specialties included kickoffs and punt returns, Allen is the last person that you’d expect to see being schooled by head coach Lou Holtz. But that’s exactly what happened early on in his career at Notre Dame and is one of Allen’s favorite memories. “I would have to begin with my memories of him teaching me to catch punts. Hilarious! Even though I never returned a punt or a kickoff before, Coach Holtz asked me if I could return one kickoff per game for him. The funny part was, him attempting to catch them. He swore he also taught Rocket Ismail and Tim Brown the same thing.” His next favorite Lou Holtz memory came prior to the first game of the 1996 season. “Coach Holtz had us all in the indoor facility, lying down on the field, all the lights were out and he’s talking us through the game that would occur the next day. ‘Sophomore Allen Rossum is going to take the opening kickoff. You guys are going to block for him and he’s going to score.’ Thanks for the pressure coach, I thought. Well, as it so happened, Purdue kicked the opening kickoff to me and I ran 99 yards and scored a touchdown. I was so excited that I was just jumping up and down in the end zone. After that I would return one kickoff per game and scored twice more that year.”
“Another favorite Coach Holtz memory occurred during my sophomore season while we were in Washington playing the Huskies. Toward the end of the game Derrick Mayes scored the go-ahead touchdown and we led by 2, I think. All we needed to do was hold them for the win. They were putting together a big drive to win the game when I intercepted the ball with only the need to take a knee for the win. Well, I had other thoughts as I raced up the sideline. Lou was screaming at me, ‘Get down, get down!’ He was saying other things that are rated R but after I crossed the 50-yard line he changed his tune (and said) ‘Run, Run, RUN!’ I wound up scoring the touchdown that sealed the game. He went from cursing me out to cheering me on to score.”
Coach Holtz and Coach Davie did an excellent job preparing Allen for his future both on and off the field. “Looking back, I think I had a great career. I got to play with some great players, hang around some good people and break a couple of records in the process. With the help of my teammates, I got the credit for setting a NCAA career record for touchdown returns (three interceptions, three punts and three kickoffs). When I tied the record, during the Boston College game in 1997, everyone had pretty much stopped kicking the ball to me. They would punt the ball sky-high or kick it short on kick offs, trying to lessen the chance I would return it. On the recordtying touchdown, Boston College decided to kick it to the 20-yard line to one of our backs that normally blocked, but I went over and got the ball. The very next weekend, and our last game, we played at the University of Hawaii and I intercepted the ball and ran it all the way back for a touchdown. It was the first defensive play that I made that game and it broke the record. I was so excited that I removed my helmet, which got me in a little trouble with the referees. Besides the bowl games, that was my greatest collegiate athletic moment. Being a two-time All-American in track and field was great, but breaking the NCAA record was even better.”
If you had the opportunity to see Allen play football, you probably heard the crowd cheering ‘Awesome Rossum’ at some point. “Crazy enough, I got the nickname in the fifth grade. For some reason no one could pronounce my name correctly being a new transfer to the school. During one of my first days there, they had a field day and I won every single event I participated in. After that day, one of the kids started calling me “Awesome” and the rest is history. While at ND during my sophomore year I went back to return a kick off, and heard the crowd chanting, ‘Awe-some Ros-sum!!!!’ … the nickname had followed me to college. After that, every time I would go back to return the ball or if I made a play I would hear the chant. Hearing them chant gave me energy and I fed off the crowd and their cheering. But it didn’t die there. Even into the pros, friends of mine would come up and recall the chants and in a couple of games I heard the chant.”
Allen Rossum’s legacy is more than just his NCAA records or NFL accolades—it’s the joy he brought to fans, the inspiration he provided to teammates, and the memories that live on in Notre Dame lore. Whether it was hearing the crowd chant “Awesome Rossum,” setting records on the track, or sharing laugh-out-loud moments with Coach Holtz, Allen’s story is one of determination, excellence, and heart. To dive deeper into his incredible journey, grab a copy of Echoes from the End Zone: The Men We Became. Allen Rossum’s story is one you’ll want to relive again and again – https://www.echoesfromnotredamebooks.com/product-page/echoes-from-the-end-zone-the-men-we-became.