There is no love lost, but for the ex-Iowa players, who still keep text their former Barnstormers teammates on a weekly basis, this one is personal.

“This is definitely a big game. Even at the start of the season, this was a game marked on the calendar,” said Allen. “For me, it’s definitely personal because I played with some of those guys and helped them win a championship last year so it’s definitely a little personal.”

Allen has been the anchor for Tucson’s defense all season. In a league where there can only be one linebacker on the field, Allen leads the team in tackles with 7.5 per game. He took a chance on Tucson because of the established relationship with Coleman, and the former Wake Forest linebacker is indebted to his coach.

When Allen signed with the Barnstormers as a rookie in 2017, Coleman installed him as a defensive end before he switched back to linebacker the following season. Allen and Coleman developed a special bond that can be rare for some coaches and players.

“He was always the same guy. He’s always looking for ways to motivate and encourage guys on the team,” Allen said. “Last year when I became a linebacker again, he helped me become a leader and build my character and he monitored me.