Ernie Davis

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Ernie Davis
Date of birth	December 14, 1939(1939-12-14)
Place of birth	New Salem, Pennsylvania
Date of death	May 18, 1963 (aged 23)
Place of death	Cleveland, Ohio
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	210 pounds (95.3 kg)
Position(s)	Running back
College	Syracuse
NFL Draft	1962 / Round 1/ Pick 1
Career Highlights
Awards	1961 Heisman Trophy 1961 Liberty Bowl MVP 1960 Cotton Bowl MVP
Honors	College Football HOF
Retired #s	Cleveland Browns #45
College Football Hall of Fame

Ernie Davis (December 14, 1939 - May 18, 1963) was an American Football player who became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. Wearing number 44, Davis competed collegiately for Syracuse University before being drafted by the Washington Redskins then almost immediately traded to the Cleveland Browns in December 1961. However, the running back would never play a professional game after developing leukemia in 1962.

[edit] Early life

Born and raised near Pittsburgh [1], Ernie was born into the poverty of the coal-belt. His father and mother separated shortly before his dad died in an accident. Raised in the nearby Pittsburgh industrial center of Uniontown by his grandparents, Davis moved to Elmira, New York at age 12 with his mom and new stepfather. He played in Elmira's Small Fry Football League for the Superior Buicks and was named a Small Fry All-Star in both 1952 and 1953. He played basketball in grade school as well, also being chosen as an All-Star player.[2]

Throughout his high school years at Elmira Free Academy (renamed Ernie Davis Middle School in 1964), Davis' talents on the football field became clear. He was named Elmira Player of the Year and high school All-American in both his junior and senior years. He also showed great athletic prowess in varsity basketball and baseball, all while excelling academically. At a time when many universities were not offering scholarships to black athletes, colleges from around the country watched Davis' high school career closely, and over 50 offered him scholarships (including Notre Dame and UCLA). ^[1]

[edit] College career

Davis chose to play football for Syracuse University, and went on to gain national fame for three seasons (1959-1961), twice winning first-team All-American honors. As a sophomore in 1959, Davis led Syracuse to the NCAA Division I-A national football championship, capping an undefeated season with a 23-14 win over Texas in the Cotton Bowl. That same year, Elmira Star-Gazette sports writer Al Mallette coined the nickname for Davis, the "Elmira Express." Davis was voted Most Valuable Player of the 1960 Cotton Bowl and the 1961 Liberty Bowl. In his junior year, he set a record of 7.8 yards per carry and was the third leading rusher in the country with 877 yards, having rushed 100 yards in 6 of 9 games.

Davis found racism still prevalent in the Deep South during his Cotton Bowl visit. At the banquet following the game, Davis was told he could only accept his award, and then would be required to leave the hotel. Davis refused and his teammates boycotted the banquet.

Ernie Davis became the first black athlete to be awarded the Heisman Trophy for the 1961 season during his senior year at Syracuse University. To date, Syracuse has had one national football championship and one Heisman trophy winner, and Ernie Davis was responsible for both. President John F. Kennedy had followed Davis' career and requested to meet him while he was in New York to receive the trophy. Later in 1963 when Elmira chose February 3 to celebrate Davis' achievements, Kennedy sent a telegram, reading:

"Seldom has an athlete been more deserving of such a tribute. Your high standards of performance on the field and off the field, reflect the finest qualities of competition, sportsmanship and citizenship. The nation has bestowed upon you its highest awards for your athletic achievements. It's a privilege for me to address you tonight as an outstanding American, and as a worthy example of our youth. I salute you." ^[2]

[edit] Pro Football career

Davis was the number one pick in the 1962 NFL Draft, thus becoming the first African-American to be taken 1st overall. Selected by the Washington Redskins, who then traded his rights to the Cleveland Browns. However, the organization's dream of pairing Davis with Jim Brown in the backfield took a tragic turn when Davis was diagnosed with leukemia during preparations for the 1962 College All-Star Game. Ernie died on May 18th 1963, at the age of 23.

Davis would never play a game as a professional, with his only appearance at Cleveland Stadium coming during a 1962 pre-season game, in which he ran onto the field as a spotlight followed him. Following his death, the Browns retired his number 45 jersey in honor of Davis.

Davis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979. During his time at Syracuse, Davis wore the same number 44 as Syracuse University alumnus Jim Brown, helping to establish a tradition at the school that was acknowledged on November 12, 2005, when the school retired the number in an on-field ceremony.

[edit] Death

In the summer of 1962, Ernie Davis was diagnosed with acute monocytic leukemia and began receiving medical treatment. The disease was incurable, and he died in Cleveland Lakeside Hospital the following year at age 23. Both the House and the Senate of the United States Congress eulogized him, and he was waked in The Neighborhood House in Elmira, New York, where more than 10,000 mourners paid their respects. Ernie Davis is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira, Chemung County, New York. His commemorative statue stands in front of Ernie Davis Middle School.

[edit] The Express

Production for a biopic on Ernie Davis' life called The Express, began in March 2007. Rob Brown (Finding Forrester) is playing Davis, and Dennis Quaid (The Rookie) is Davis' Syracuse coach, Ben Schwartzwalder. Forest Whitaker was originally signed on to the movie, but backed out after his Oscar win and was replaced by Charles S. Dutton. Gary Fleder will direct. The screenplay was written by Charles Leavitt (Blood Diamond) based on the authoritative biography by Robert C. Gallagher, Ernie Davis, The Elmira Express: the Story of a Heisman Trophy Winner.[3] .

As of April 24, 2007 'The Express' is filming football scenes at Jorndt Field, Amundsen High School, Chicago IL. From April 27-May 5 Football scenes are being filmed at Northwestern's Ryan Field. Some scenes were also filmed in April and May 2007 in historic Pullman and in Hyde Park. On May 31, 2007 and June 1, 2007 scenes were filmed at three Blue Island schools. On June 4, 2007 a racial confrontation scene was filmed in Virgil, IL outside a store and bank designed to look like a Texas gas station.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Biography from ESPN Classic
• Commemorative Section from the Elmira Star-Gazette
• Biography from College Football Hall of Fame
• Ernie Davis Heisman Trophy Page [4]