Jim Mandich
Encyclopedia
James Michael "Mad Dog" Mandich (July 30, 1948 – April 26, 2011) was a professional American football
tight end
with the Miami Dolphins
. Mandich was an All-American at the University of Michigan
. In 2004 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
. As color commentator
for the Miami Dolphins (1992–2004 and 2007–2010), he was teamed with Jimmy Cefalo
and Joe Rose. He was known for his trademark soundbite - "All right, Miami!"
Mandich was the radio sports talk show host on 560 WQAM. He also did color commentary on Dolphins radio broadcasts. When Mandich gave out the call-in number for cell phone users, he playfully told his radio listeners to call "if you're riding around with the windows down." Diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma
, a cancer of the bile duct, in early 2010, Mandich became absent from his afternoon show. In the fall of 2010, the terminially ill Mandich returned to the broadcast booth for his final season of game-day color-commentary.
in Solon, Ohio
. While at Solon High, Mandich set the records for the shot put and discus throw.
Mandich had a touchdown reception against the Minnesota Vikings
and two (in two games) against the New England Patriots
. In the playoffs he had two catches, a five-yarder against the Pittsburgh Steelers
and a 19-yarder in Super Bowl VII
. His most productive year was 1974, as he had 33 receptions for 374 yards and six touchdowns. He did not play in Miami's losing playoff game with the Oakland Raiders
. Mandich's final touchdowns came in 1976 against the Patriots, the Jets twice, and the Colts
. In 1978 he went to the Steelers but had no receptions in ten games.
from cancer, aged 62. A public memorial was held for Mandich on Wednesday, May 4, 2011. Speakers included his personal friend Don Richey; Former Michigan athletic director Bill Martin; Wolverine teammate Tom Curtis
; and former Dolphins Nat Moore
, Dick Anderson
, Kim Bokamper
, Joe Rose, Nick Buoniconti
, Bob Griese
, Jimmy Cefalo
, and Coach Don Shula
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
with the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Mandich was an All-American at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. In 2004 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
. As color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for the Miami Dolphins (1992–2004 and 2007–2010), he was teamed with Jimmy Cefalo
Jimmy Cefalo
James Carmen Cefalo, , is an American sportscaster, game show host and former professional American football wide receiver.-High school:Cefalo attended Pittston Area High School in Pittston, Pennsylvania...
and Joe Rose. He was known for his trademark soundbite - "All right, Miami!"
Mandich was the radio sports talk show host on 560 WQAM. He also did color commentary on Dolphins radio broadcasts. When Mandich gave out the call-in number for cell phone users, he playfully told his radio listeners to call "if you're riding around with the windows down." Diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma
Cholangiocarcinoma
Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer of the bile ducts which drain bile from the liver into the small intestine. Other biliary tract cancers include pancreatic cancer, gallbladder cancer, and cancer of the ampulla of Vater...
, a cancer of the bile duct, in early 2010, Mandich became absent from his afternoon show. In the fall of 2010, the terminially ill Mandich returned to the broadcast booth for his final season of game-day color-commentary.
Early life
Mandich graduated from Solon High SchoolSolon High School
Solon High School, founded in 1898, is a public high school located in Solon, Ohio, a southeastern suburb of Cleveland in the Northeast Ohio Region, the 14th largest Combined Statistical Area in the United States....
in Solon, Ohio
Solon, Ohio
Solon is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and is an affluent suburb of Cleveland in the Northeast Ohio Region, the 14th largest Combined Statistical Area in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 23,348...
. While at Solon High, Mandich set the records for the shot put and discus throw.
NFL career
Mandich was drafted by the Dolphins in 1970 as the 29th overall pick. He played in fourteen games in 1970 and had catches in three of them; he caught a three-yard touchdown against the Houston Oilers on September 27. During the Dolphins unbeaten 1972 season1972 Miami Dolphins season
The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only National Football League team to win the Super Bowl with a perfect season. The undefeated campaign was led by coach Don Shula and notable players Bob Griese, Earl Morrall, and Larry Csonka...
Mandich had a touchdown reception against the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
and two (in two games) against the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. In the playoffs he had two catches, a five-yarder against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and a 19-yarder in Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII was an American football game played on January 14, 1973, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1972 regular season...
. His most productive year was 1974, as he had 33 receptions for 374 yards and six touchdowns. He did not play in Miami's losing playoff game with the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Mandich's final touchdowns came in 1976 against the Patriots, the Jets twice, and the Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. In 1978 he went to the Steelers but had no receptions in ten games.
Death
He died in Miami Lakes, FloridaMiami Lakes, Florida
Miami Lakes is a Miami suburban incorporated town and former census-designated place in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 22,676 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
from cancer, aged 62. A public memorial was held for Mandich on Wednesday, May 4, 2011. Speakers included his personal friend Don Richey; Former Michigan athletic director Bill Martin; Wolverine teammate Tom Curtis
Tom Curtis (American football)
Thomas Newton Curtis is a former American football safety. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1967 to 1969. He was selected as a consensus All-American in 1969. He also broke Michigan's records for interceptions in a game, season, and career -- none of which have been...
; and former Dolphins Nat Moore
Nat Moore
Nathaniel "Nat" Moore is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for thirteen seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. Moore played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for...
, Dick Anderson
Dick Anderson
Richard Paul Anderson is a former American football safety for the AFL's and NFL's Miami Dolphins, where he played for his entire ten year career from 1968 to 1977 missing one of those seasons with a knee injury....
, Kim Bokamper
Kim Bokamper
Kim Bokamper is a former American Football linebacker who played his entire nine year career with the National Football League Miami Dolphins from 1977 to 1985....
, Joe Rose, Nick Buoniconti
Nick Buoniconti
Nicholas Anthony Buoniconti is a former American Football League and NFL Hall of Fame middle linebacker, who played for the Boston Patriots and Miami Dolphins....
, Bob Griese
Bob Griese
Robert Allen "Bob" Griese is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who earned All-American honors with the Purdue Boilermakers before being drafted in 1967 by the American Football League's Miami Dolphins...
, Jimmy Cefalo
Jimmy Cefalo
James Carmen Cefalo, , is an American sportscaster, game show host and former professional American football wide receiver.-High school:Cefalo attended Pittston Area High School in Pittston, Pennsylvania...
, and Coach Don Shula
Don Shula
Donald Francis "Don" Shula is a former American football cornerback and coach.He is best known as coach of the Miami Dolphins, the team he led to two Super Bowl victories, and to the National Football League's only perfect season. Shula was named 1993 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated....
.
See also
- List of Michigan Wolverines football All-Americans
- Lists of Michigan Wolverines football receiving leaders
- University of Michigan Athletic Hall of HonorUniversity of Michigan Athletic Hall of HonorThe University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...
External links
- Alvarado, Francisco. "RIP, Jim Mandich, a Miami Dolphin Till The End." Miami New TimesMiami New TimesThe Miami New Times is a free weekly newspaper published in Miami and distributed every Thursday. It primarily serves the Miami area and is headquartered near Miami's Design District.-Overview:...
. Tuesday April 26, 2011.