Joseph “Jazz” Diminick

• Post by: mcalibrary
• December 18, 2023
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INDUCTEE

Most area football fans think Jazz Diminick’s football career began when he started coaching at Mount Carmel High School. The old timers, though, remember Jazz as a great football player. This, even though his total football career as a high school player, spent only one full season and a portion of the second. He began in 1942 as a tackle at Kulpmont High School. In 1943, he alternated at running back, but broke his ribs and missed more than half the season. In 1944 as a junior, he led what many considered to be the Kulpmont’s greatest team ever to an undefeated 11 and 0 season. That great Kulpmont team showed up with a new fangled “T” formation. Which they had borrowed from the Chicago Bears. The “T”, however, needs a great running back to make it go, and they had one in Jazz Diminick. He led the team in rushing, Kick returns, and scoring. He was also an outstanding pass receiver and an exceptional blocker, though only 5’8” and 142 pounds. In eleven games, he returned at least one kick all the way for a touchdown.

He spent his senior year at Seton Hall Prep School where he was coached by the famous Bobby Nork. While at Seton Prep he led the team in rushing, scoring, passing and kicking. He was names All-Metropolitan New York-New Jersey.

In 1946, he moved to Boston College to begin his collegiate career. E was a 4-letter winner and a starter both ways for three full years. The Associated Press’s great sports writer, Milt Richman, placed Jazz on his own personal First Team All-American.

After graduating from Boston College, Jazz was courted by the Giants, Packers, and Redskins. He signed with the New York Giants. He was doing well and probably would have made the team, but received a severe elbow dislocation during a scrimmage, which put him in the hospital for three days. The Giants then farmed him out to the Jersey City Giants where he finished his career.