| Graduation Year | Class of 1966 |
| Date of Passing | Apr 26, 2011 |
| About | The Solon Football Family Mourns the Passing of Former Comet Jim Mandich 4/29/2011 Jim Mandich, the former Solon captain and High School All-American football player, passed away on Tuesday, April 26, 2011, after a long fight with bile duct cancer. He was 62 years old. Mandich was the team captain for the first undefeated and untied team in Solon Football History in 1965. In that year, he was named to the All-Ohio 1st Team as a Tight End. Following his career at Solon, Mandich played collegiately at the University of Michigan, where he was an All-American Tight End and was a member of numerous Academic All-American teams. 1970 saw Mandich as a second round NFL draft pick by the Miami Dolphins. He was a member of the undefeated 1972 Dolphin team. Mandich’s career is highlighted with three Super Bowl appearances (two with the Dolphins and one with the Pittsburgh Steelers). He was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004 and up until his death, was the color analyst for the Dolphins’ radio broadcasts. “Jim Mandich’s football career was one of great success and dedication to the game,” said Solon Head Coach Jim McQuaide. “The accolades he received as a high school, college, and professional player are some of the highest that can be achieved by any one man at all levels. Jim Mandich set a true example of football character that all of us at Solon High School should strive to follow.” The Miami Dolphins will honor Mandich at a public memorial service to be held at Sun Life Stadium in Miami on Wednesday, May 4. His life and career will be celebrated at Solon throughout the upcoming 2011 season. More information will be posted to our website, as we move closer to the start of the season. |
