Sachem alum John “Jumbo” Elliott was officially inducted to the University of Michigan’s Hall of Honor this weekend.
One of Michigan’s all-time great offensive lineman and a force in the NFL with the Giants and Jets, Elliott was one of three Michigan alums honored this weekend in Ann Arbor.
During an interview with Michigan’s Athletic Communications staff, Elliott said he was not expected the call about his induction to the hall when it came.
“I thought it might be an old teammate playing a joke or something,” he said. “I was driving on the Long Island Expressway and was thinking about other things and got a call from the athletic director.”
Elliott left Sachem as a tall and gangly lineman just known as John in 1983, and soon blossomed into an absolute wrecking ball and dominant student-athlete for the Wolverines.
“[Michigan] was a big time, successful, stable program and I knew if I was going to make it anywhere, I wanted to give it a shot right here,” he said. “I had the stability of a constant coaching staff and regime and they turned a raw, young guy into a decent ball player.”
It wouldn’t be a real interview about his Michigan days if he didn’t cite his fond memories of beating rival Ohio State in Columbus during his career.
“The hard work, the struggle, and the victories,” he said he remembers the most. “Being down in Columbus in the visitors locker room after a hard fought win, singing the victors, doesn’t get any better.”
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro