/ STAFF WRITER
LOS ANGELES – Max Tuerk is a standout on the football field, but how is he with strings and brass?
“I attended a performance of the St. Petersburg orchestra in Russia,” longtime high school coach Harry Welch said. “I sat in front of the first-chair violinist. Amazing music, but can you imagine if they asked her to switch chairs and play the trombone? Hey, they all play instruments, right? What’s the difference?”
Welch chuckled, his analogy complete. Tuerk is USC’s one-man symphony. Initially an offensive tackle, then a guard, Tuerk found middle ground and now is considered one of college football’s top centers.