Mr. Football

QB Russell becomes 10th Tornado so honored

Alcoa senior Walker Russell was named the Tennessee Titans Class 3A Mr. Football at ceremonies in Nashville on Sunday. Photos by Wallace Bowden

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

On Nov. 14, 1943, a young but talented assistant conductor named Leonard Bernstein subbed in for the maestro at the helm of the New York Philharmonic.

The kid had some skills.

A decade later, the philharmonic gave the offense to Bernstein full-time. Much like when Alcoa coach Gary Rankin handed the keys to Walker Russell a season ago, which is the best way to look at this, it was your basic awesome.