West Valley City » Two years ago, bull rider Tag Elliott of Thatcher, nearly died at the Days of '47 Rodeo.

Two weeks ago, Elliott underwent the latest in a long, painful series of surgeries related to the events of that fateful night in 2007.

Elliott did not compete Wednesday night in the Days of '47 at the E Center, but his brother did. He reports Tag returned to rodeoing last spring and will resume his career again after recuperating from his most recent operation.

"He's doing good; he looks a lot better," said Zach Elliott, who is also a bull rider. "I knew it would be this way, though. It's just what I expected from him."

Tag Elliott was ranked 24th in the world when he was injured while attempting to ride a bull named Werewolf.

As the bull threw his head backward, Elliott lurched forward. His face smashed violently into the back of the bull's head and he was knocked unconscious.

A former national high school champion, Tag Elliott was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent his first surgery and began a long stay in intensive care.

Said Zach Elliott: "I was at my buddy's house in Payson. Tag was riding here in the afternoon and in Ogden that night. So I was planning on stopping in Ogden on my way home to watch him ride."

Instead, Elliott's father called and reported his bother had been seriously injured.

"So we just went to the hospital," Zach Elliott said, "and started hoping that he'd be all right."

Since his brother's accident, Elliott has watched it on the internet. His reaction?

"To be honest, I'm kind of glad I wasn't here," he said.

It took 20 months, but Tag Elliott resumed bull riding in February. He attends the College of Southern Idaho and finished second in the Rocky Mountain Region Rodeo and fourth and the National College Finals.

"I wasn't nervous to get back on," Elliott told the Box Elder News Journal . "But I was nervous to see how everything held up."

He held up. Elliott's mother, Mitzi, told the newspaper, "He's a miracle. What happened to him should have killed him."

While his brother has been making a comeback from his near-fatal injuries, Zach Elliott has been trying to establish himself as a top rider.

Currently, Elliott ranks 48th in the world. He's been on a hot streak lately but failed to complete his ride and post a score Wednesday night.

A month ago, Elliott won the first round and finished second in average at the Greeley (Colo.) Independence Stampede. That effort was worth $8,871.

Earlier this week, Elliott posted scores of 78 and 83 at Frontier Days in Cheyenne and positioned himself for a big payday.

"It's going really good -- about the best stretch I've had so far," Elliott said. "I'm just trying to plug along and win as much as I can."

Since his brother's accident, both Elliotts have started wearing protective headgear while competing.

."I've been hit in the face a few times with the helmet," Zach Elliot said," and it saved me. I mean, it really saved me. "

Last year at Eugene, Ore., Zach suffered a broken nose and gash on the forehead when he smacked heads with his bull -- much like his brother did at the Days of '47.

"That one could have been a bad deal," Elliott said.

luhm@sltrib.com