Jumbo Elliott has always been a mystical and legendary figure in Michigan and Sachem football history. But it’s easy to put memories of a hulking offensive lineman from 30 years ago aside. It happens. That’s life.
Ever since Jim Harbaugh stepped on board as the new head coach at Michigan, however, Elliott’s notoriety has changed and he’s back in the conversation. (Editor’s note: Jumbo is always in the conversation when it comes to Sachem and Sachem Report.)
This week he appeared on a podcast with former Michigan teammates Jamie Morris and Jarrod Bunch.
A few hours later Sporting News wrote an article about Elliott. The headline being that he was an Ohio State fan prior to signing on with Michigan thanks to Bo Schembechler and all his charming glory.
“I was an Ohio State fan when I was a little kid before I knew better,” Elliott said in the Sporting News piece. “Then I learned I was bamboozled — that Ohio State’s the archenemy.”
There was no reference to Sachem in the article, but Elliott did mention hailing from “Podunk, Long Island” and feeling like a fish out of water upon arriving in Ann Arbor.
“It definitely was the big time, you’re in the deep end of the pool,” he said in the interview. “Sink or swim and somehow I found a floatie device and was able to swim.”
On Harbaugh, he’s all in. Like the rest of the state of Michigan and all the new bandwagon fans of the Wolverines, Elliott is thrilled about the revitalization of the football program that is near and dear to his heart. It helps that Harbaugh was the quarterback he protected at Michigan and fought in the trenches with during most of his college career.
“What recruit wouldn’t want to be a part of the winningest school in college history?” Elliott said in the same Sporting News story. “Don’t you want to be a part of that resurgence? Get on board, get on the bus and it’s going to be great.”
Earlier this year Elliott was inducted to Michigan’s Athletic Hall of Honor where he was joined by Harbaugh and legendary Sachem football coach Fred Fusaro. He is also on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame for the third straight year.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro