Tripodi Witnessed 'Josh Allen Experience' From NIU Sideline

LARAMIE -- Like the rest of the college football world, Joe Tripodi could only look on in amazement.

And he only witnessed the opening act.

Standing on the visiting sideline inside a rain-soaked War Memorial Stadium, the then-offensive line coach at Northern Illinois watched his front five pave the way for 462 yards of total offense and 34 points. Quarterback Drew Hare connected on 24-of-39 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scores went to star receiver Kenny Golladay, who capped his night with 10 catches for 144 yards.

The future third-round draft pick also carried the ball six times for a team-leading 82 yards. He opened up the second quarter with a 34-yard jaunt to the end zone off a jet sweep.

How did the Huskies lose this game?

A critical mistake at the goal line and a guy named Josh Allen, Tripodi said with a slight head shake.

The miscue he is referring to is a fumbled center-quarterback exchange at the Cowboys' 2-yard line in the first of three eventual overtimes. Instead of opening the scoring in that extra frame, future All-American linebacker Logan Wilson was underneath the dogpile with the football in his grasp.

"That sticks out," Tripodi said, adding that was just the second time the Huskies went under center during the entirety of that 2016 season opener. "That kills me."

Then, there was the guy wearing No. 17.

During a near 110-minute weather delay, Tripodi said he couldn't help but notice the "tight-end-sized QB" firing darts in warmups.

"This big dude was just throwing it differently," he said with a smile. "Then, obviously, he made a heck of a lot of plays that night."

Allen, making his first collegiate start, completed 19-of-29 throws for 245 yards and a pair of touchdowns. One of those was a 17-yard strike to wideout Tanner Gentry midway through the third quarter.

Those two would do that 13 more times that fall as the Cowboys claimed the Mountain Division crown.

Allen also had a two-yard hookup with tight end Jacob Hollister later in the frame.

The future first round draft selection and eventual NFL Most Valuable Player showed a preview of what was to come that season, evading oncoming blitzers and weaving through the Huskies' secondary. He rushed for 70 yards on 10 attempts.

His final run of the night is what everyone remembers.

"He's Josh Allen," Tripodi added. "He did it to everybody."

The Firebaugh, Calif., product admitted postgame he probably should've thrown the ball away. Instead, a legend was born.

Allen lined up under center on a 3rd-and-4 from NIU's 7-yard line in that final overtime period. After accepting the snap, he stretched out his powerful right arm and appeared to be putting the ball in the belly of running back Shaun Wick.

He didn't.

Allen instead rolled to the right on the play-action. Just as he began to survey his options, Huskie pass rusher Ladell Fleming was in his face before he could even set his feet. A calm slide-step to his left took care of that threat. The sophomore then reversed field and stepped out of another would-be tackle from linebacker Jawuan Johnson, before planting his left foot and heading up field.

Sean Folliard didn't have a chance.

Allen again maneuvered past the defender and took flight from around the 3-yard line, leaping into the end zone like Superman.

"He's in," former Wyoming play-by-play announcer Dave Walsh said, adding his typical animated inflection. "Touchdown, Cowboys!"

Walsh's color commentator, Kevin McKinney, painted a picture of the entirety of the Josh Allen experience in Laramie, audibly chuckling in amazement as he made the visiting defense miss en route to that game-winning dive at 2:35 a.m.

Tripodi wasn't quite as amused after the 40-34 setback.

"He's phenomenal," Wyoming's current offensive line coach said. "There were so many good players on that field that night."

The Huskies would fall one win short of postseason eligibility that season. Wyoming, on the other hand, played in its first conference championship game since 1996. San Diego State would claim a 27-24 victory on a frigid night on the high plains and Allen and Co. would settle for a berth in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Tripodi, who is now in his fifth year at Wyoming, spent a total of nine seasons in DeKalb, serving in a number of different roles. NIU, he added, will always hold a special place in his heart. His children, Emma and Roman, were both born there. The Huskies won four MAC Championships -- and three more division titles -- during his tenure, along with clinching a berth in the 2012 Orange Bowl.

He will face his former team this Saturday for the first time since leaving for Temple back in 2019.

Will it be special for Tripodi? Sure. His focus, though, is on his current room and finding a way to move to 3-1 in Mountain West play. Winless NIU is simply in the way.

And there is one more vivid memory from his first trip to Laramie.

"I remember calling my wife and being like, 'Man, if we ever get a chance to coach out here, we have to talk about it as a family," Tripodi admitted. "I love our fans and the atmosphere is awesome. The people out here, the land -- It's been cool to be out here."

The Cowboys (3-3, 2-1) and Huskies (0-5, 0-1) are slated to kickoff at 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time. The game will be televised on The CW.

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