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Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Beau Allen is back on his home turf this week for Super Bowl LII. The Minnetonka native is lecturing teammates on the cold and hoping for some of his family's famous seven-layer Jell-O.


"I've been like a tour guide almost, spouting off fun facts about Minnesota, talking about Prince and Bob Dylan and, you know, the Twin Cities, stuff like that," he told reporters Tuesday as he held court with a big smile and a local coffee at the Mall of America.


Allen graduated from Minnetonka High School in 2010 before heading to the University of Wisconsin for college. He said it feels good to be back in his home state.

Crazy to think that after all these years this kid from Minnetonka is headed home for the Super Bowl. It's been a hell of a journey #SuperBowl52 #circa2005 #nopadsnecessary


He grew up a Packers fan and said he has "no remorse" over knocking his hometown Vikings out of the playoffs earlier this month.


Allen, 26, never missed a game as a player at Wisconsin and missed just one in his first four NFL seasons. Sunday will be different from all of them, playing for the Super Bowl just a few miles from home, he acknowledged.


"Football's a game of emotions so it's tough. I usually try to stay pretty level when I'm playing, not really get too high, get too low, and try to be as consistent as possible, but I think that'll be a little tougher this time around," he said. "Not only because it's the Super Bowl, you know the biggest game in the world, but because it's in my hometown, too. "


Allen's been fielding a ton of calls from friends and family to meet up. He already had date set "to pet my dog and see my parents" and hopefully his mom would whip up some of that Jell-O goodness that made it onto his official Eagles biography.


He also said he hopes to squeeze in a trip to his old high school stomping grounds, but he's had to tell people that he's kind of busy this weekend.


"It's just people trying to meet up and asking me if I have free time," he said. "I'm like, 'no, I don't have any free time man. It's the Super Bowl.' "

The throw no one wanted to catch

Gallery

Solvejg Wastvedt

Author

The Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle is back on his home turf this week for Super Bowl 52. The Minnetonka native is fielding lots of calls from friends and family to swing by. But his Sunday is booked.

Beau Allen would love to hang out, but he's got a Super Bowl to play

Beau Allen of the Philadelphia Eagles speaks to the media Tuesday.

Hannah Foslien | Getty Images

Nose guard Beau Allen (96) of the Badgers holds up the Heartland Trophy.

Matthew Holst | Getty Images 2013

Beau Allen has a pink bow at the bottom of his pony tail before a game.

Rich Schultz | Getty Images 2017

Brandon Bair (93) and Beau Allen (94) of the Philadelphia Eagles

Rich Schultz  | Getty Images 2015

Beau Allen (96) of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates.

Mike McGinnis | Getty Images 2012

Beau Allen (94) of the Philadelphia Eagles runs on the field.

Rich Schultz | Getty Images 2014

Wisc. nose guard Beau Allen brings down Iowa running back Mark Weisman.

Beau Allen would love to hang out, but he's got a Super Bowl to play

Go Deeper.

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