Russian Bear

Even the best high school football players face long odds of getting a Division I scholarship. For Hoover (AL) defensive lineman Max Elliott, they appeared to be stacked as high as the Ural Mountains. Elliott was born Max Onichtchenko in Kurgan, Russia – a Siberian city nestled in the foothills of the Urals. It was a place where young Max seemingly was destined to play the French horn. His transformation from Russian school boy musician to American high school football recruit is as interesting and amazing as any high school senior in the country. It reached a high point last weekend when he announced he would be playing football next fall at the United States Air Force Academy. “I always knew I would go to college,” he said. “I never thought it would be to play sports. It is incredible.” Incredible indeed. It’s a scenario no one would have imagined