Jim Mandich Selected for College Football Hall of Fame
4/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Jim Mandich, a tight end for the University of Michigan football team from 1967 through 1969, will be inducted into the College Football Foundation Hall of Fame. Jon F. Hanson, Chairman of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, announced today (Tuesday, April 6) the inclusion of 14 individuals to the Hall of Fame Class of 2004.
| | Mandich |
Mandich, a tenacious blocker and talented pass-catcher, is the 25th U-M player to receive this honor through his football accomplishments at Michigan. He rewrote the Wolverine record book with his offensive prowess as a tight end. A unanimous first-team All-America and team captain in 1969, he was named the team's Most Valuable Player after leading the Wolverines to a Big Ten Conference co-championship and Rose Bowl appearance.
A two-time first-team all-conference pick, Mandich twice led Michigan in receptions and yardage. His 119 career receptions and 1,494 career yards continue to rank first all-time among U-M tight ends. Named to Michigan's Hall of Honor in 1994, Mandich played under two head coaches -- Bump Elliott and Bo Schembechler -- during his tenure at Michigan.
Mandich enrolled at Michigan after earning All-America honors during his prep career in Solon, Ohio. He was also an accomplished scholar during his collegiate career, receiving first-team Academic All-America and Academic All-Big Ten honors in 1969. After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1970, Mandich was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft and was a member of three Super Bowl championship teams, including the undefeated 1972 Dolphins.
Following his NFL career, he became a successful construction executive as well as radio talk show host for the Miami Dolphins, where he goes by the nickname "Mad Dog Mandich." Eager to help in the community, Mandich is active with the Don Shula Cure for Breast Cancer Drive and the Millie Schembechler Foundation.
The 2004 College Football Hall of Fame class will be inducted at the 47th annual awards dinner on Dec. 7, 2004, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. They will be officially enshrined at the Hall in South Bend during ceremonies in August of 2005.
"Due to the dedicated efforts of our Honors Court and its chairman, Gene Corrigan, we have another outstanding class of college football legends to induct this December," said Hanson. "We are proud to be accepting these outstanding players and coaches into college football's ultimate shrine, the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana."
Current U-M College Football Hall of Fame Members
| Player | Year Inducted |
| Albert Benbrook | 1971 |
| Anthony Carter | 2001 |
| Bob Chappuis | 1988 |
| Dan Dierdorf | 1996 |
| Chalmers "Bump" Elliott ! | 1989 |
| Pete Elliott | 1994 |
| Benny Friedman | 1951 |
| Tom Harmon | 1954 |
| Willie Heston # | 1954 |
| Elroy Hirsch * | 1974 |
| Ron Johnson | 1992 |
| Harry Kipke | 1958 |
| Ron Kramer | 1978 |
| Johnny Maulbetsch ^ | 1973 |
| Harry Newman | 1975 |
| Bennie Oosterbaan | 1954 |
| Merv Pregulman | 1982 |
| Germany Schultz | 1951 |
| Neil Snow | 1960 |
| Ernie Vick | 1983 |
| Bob Westfall | 1987 |
| Albert Wistert | 1968 |
| Alvin Wistert % | 1981 |
| Francis Wistert | 1967 |
!-also attended Purdue University
#-also attended San Jose State University
*-also attended the University of Wisconsin
^-also attended Adrian College
%-also attended Boston University
College Football Hall of Fame Site
Media Contacts: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
