A lot has been written – and said — about Ara Parseghian since he passed away early Wednesday morning at his home in Granger, Ind.

He was 94 and had lived just a great, great life – a dream existence, really.

Much of what you’ve seen and heard is about his time as the legendary head coach of the Notre Dame football team, during which time he guided the Fighting Irish to two national championships, in 1966 and ’73.

You can say the names Ara Parseghian and Frank Leahy in the same sentence. Yeah, he was that good.

Parseghian is also well-known for his longtime work as a color analyst on college football telecasts for ABC.

But what you’re not hearing much about is Parseghian’s roots, and they are based fully in Northeast Ohio, or connected to the regional in one form or another.

He was born and raised on the south side of Akron, just a block from where Manchester Road and East Avenue intersects, about a half-mile north of Summit Lake. He graduated from South High School, which has since been merged with Kenmore High School, which is now being merged itself with Garfield High School. So any evidence of Parseghian’s time at South is long gone.

Parseghian did not play football at South, as a two-way back, until his junior season, because that’s when his mother gave him permission to join the team.

Upon graduation from South, Parseghian enrolled at the University of Akron but didn’t stay there long, quitting school to join the Navy as America got involved in World War II.

During the war, Parseghian was all set to play as the starting fullback on the Great Lakes Naval Station service team in 1944 for a head coach by the name of Paul Brown, but an ankle injury nixed that.

The two men would be reunited four years later, however, when Brown, by then the third-year head coach of the two-time defending All-America Football Conference champion Browns, selected Parseghian in the 25th round of the 1948 AAFC Draft, five spots from the bottom.

Parseghian played two seasons with the Browns, starting one game as a halfback in 1948 as the team again won the league title, this time with a perfect 15-0 record.

His playing career ended with a hip injury suffered in the second game of the 1949 season. The Browns went on to win their fourth consecutive AAFC crown that year and then moved on to the NFL.

By the following year, Parseghian was coaching the freshman team at Miami of Ohio, where he starred as a player in 1946 and ’47. He was referred for the job to head coach Woody Hayes by Athletic Director John Brickels, who had been as assistant coach with the Browns from 1946-48. When Hayes left after the season to go to Ohio State, Parseghian followed him as head coach, launching his coaching career.

In October 2008, the Browns held a 60-year reunion for the 1948 AAFC champs. Actually, it was a reunion for all remaining members of those Browns teams from 1946-49.

I was honored, privileged and fortunate enough to serve as the master of ceremonies for a Saturday night dinner and reception at what was then known as Cleveland Browns Stadium. Parseghian showed up and had a grand time with his former teammates, laughing hard and often.

He was just thrilled to be back. He didn’t use his coaching success to “big-time” anyone there. He was simply one of the guys – and a very kind, considerate and respectful one, at that.

Also, it was clear that Parseghian was proud to be from Akron. He had nothing but fond me memories of his native area.

The Browns and Akron will sorely miss you, Ara Parseghian.