Syracuse's Ernie Davis scores the first of his three touchdowns against Boston University in 1959. Plus, Brown — like Davis, a product of Syracuse — was a fan of The Elmira Express, saying this in ""The Heisman: Great American Stories of the Men Who Won," a book by Bill Pennigton: "The greatest thing about Ernie Davis is that white people liked him and black people liked him," said Brown. Davis and his black teammates were allowed to finish their meals at the banquet. That was the time that the controversy between Paul Brown and Art Modell took place. His only appearance at Cleveland Stadium came at a pre-season game on August 18,[2] in which he ran onto the field as a spotlight followed him. 1 overall in the 1962 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, Davis was traded to Cleveland with the hopes he would follow in Jim Brown’s footsteps from standout rusher at Syracuse to All-Pro for the Browns. Davis found discrimination prevalent in the American South during his Cotton Bowl visit to host city Dallas, Texas. The nation has bestowed upon you its highest awards for your athletic achievements. JIM BROWN COMPARES ERNIE DAVIS TO BARACK OBAMA. The greatest part of Ernie Davis was that he could cross over lines. [3] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979 and was the subject of the 2008 film The Express: The Ernie Davis Story. In May 1963, Davis admitted himself to the hospital but not before paying Modell one last visit. A spectacular athlete at Syracuse University, Davis followed in the footsteps of his idol, Cleveland Browns star Jim Brown, wearing the number Brown made legendary, 44. No defense could zero in on Jim Brown with Ernie Davis in the backfield. The greatest part of Ernie Davis was that he could cross over lines. It's a privilege for me to address you tonight as an outstanding American, and as a worthy example of our youth. Just when he was two years old, his father left the family, and soon, his mother also departed and took up a job in New York. That was his greatness.". This had been standard operating procedure with the Browns from their inception in 1946; Brown served as his own general manager, and had enjoyed a free hand in football matters. In our series, "Facing the Rising Sun: Profiles in Black History," Iris St. Meran explains how his legacy lives on at SU and beyond. Cleveland’s plans to pair Brown in the backfield with another remarkable running back from Syracuse, Ernie Davis, winner of the 1961 Heisman Trophy, came to naught when Davis contracted leukemia and never played a game for the Browns. Directed by Gary Fleder. Two days later, he was gone. Anonymous. He was the first round draft pick in 1956 for Cleveland Browns. [19][20] The Redskins traded the rights to Davis to the Cleveland Browns for Bobby Mitchell and first-round draft pick Leroy Jackson. [18] A deal with Cleveland was engineered by Browns coach Paul Brown without the knowledge of the owner Art Modell. Not long after Jim Brown was drafted by the Browns out of Syracuse in 1957, Ernie Davis joined the Syracuse squad in 1959. With Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, Clancy Brown, Darrin Dewitt Henson. The film tells the story of Ernie Davis, a football player who joins Syracuse. I said, ‘Bring him in.’ Ernie came in and wanted to say good-bye. No defense could zero in on Jim Brown with Ernie Davis in the backfield. He was named to Syracuse University's All-Century team in November 1999. In Ernie's senior year, the 1961 Orangemen finished with a record of 8–3, closing the season with a 15–14 victory over the Miami Hurricanes in the Liberty Bowl, played at Philadelphia's Franklin Field. Tweet Share JIM BROWN & ERNIE DAVIS 1962 TOPPS 2 CARD ****REPRINT**** LOT. In a blink of an eye, he was gone. [15], He was also drafted two days earlier by the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League.[16]. When the Chronicle asked Brown whether the film The Express is a truthful portrayal of his friend, Brown said " ... in short, no."[8]. In that game, Brown was held to 50 yards on 12 carries and had 44 yards on three receptions. The disease was incurable and Davis died at age 23 at Cleveland Lakeside Hospital on May 18, 1963.[3]. 0 0. mikev14x. Ernest Davis (December 14, 1939 – May 18, 1963) was an American football player, a halfback who won the Heisman Trophy in 1961 and was its first African-American recipient. By MattR on Oct 9, 2008, 11:54am MDT 28. NFL Career Brown was taken in the first round of the 1957 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns, the sixth overall selection. With Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, Clancy Brown, Darrin Dewitt Henson. His only appearance on … Follow. Ernie went to Johns Hopkins when he was dying, three months after being diagnosed and through chemical treatments experienced a 4-5 month remission. His wake lasted two days in his hometown of Elmira, N.Y., as thousands waited to pay their respects. Unfortunately, Davis’ potential as a player and person never fully played out in Northeast Ohio. -- Art Modell The tragic, inspiring life of Ernie Davis is retold in "The Express," a movie that opens in theaters Oct. 10. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in the fall of 1979, coinciding with the premiere of The Express and the beginning of construction of Ernie Davis Hall, a Syracuse dormitory. One Syracuse player, Gerhard Schwedes, recommended that the whole Syracuse team leave the banquet to show solidarity with their black teammates, but the suggestion was overruled by Syracuse officials. Directed by Gary Fleder. You know, white folks could like him, black folks could like him, without really selling out. During his time at Syracuse, Davis wore the same number, 44, as had legendary Orangeman 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. Cleveland’s plans to pair Brown in the backfield with another remarkable running back from Syracuse, Ernie Davis, winner of the 1961 Heisman Trophy, came to naught when Davis contracted leukemia and never played a game for the Browns. With that running tandem, we could have broken every record in the book.". Green Bay’s backfield tandem of Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor dominated the ‘60s, leading Vince Lombardi’s team to NFL titles in 1961 and 1962, then three straight from 1965 to 1967. The 1960 Syracuse Orangemen finished with a record of 7–2 and did not play in a post-season bowl game. College football used limited substitution rules at the time and players played both offense and defense. Your high standards of performance on the field and off the field, reflect the finest qualities of competition, sportsmanship and citizenship. Maybe Brown decides to keep playing in 1966. The Browns weren’t that far off in either season without Brown or Davis. Brown was his hero and Davis’ athleticism while at Syracuse reminded many of Brown’s own college achievements. Selected by the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) in December 1961, he was then almost immediately traded to the Cleveland Browns and issued number 45. Brown went on to dominate at the pro level for the Cleveland Browns. Author Jocelyn Selim writes that at the banquet following the 1960 game, Davis was told he could only accept his award and then would be required to leave the segregated facility. Ernie Davis was drafted by the Washignton Redskins and on the same day was traded to the Clevland Browns, Brown had only played 3 season before the arrival of Davis, yes he had allready won MVP of teh league and went to 2 pro bowls but what about the … He ran for 686 yards in the regular season, averaging seven yards a carry, and scored 10 touchdowns (eight rushing). Imagine how Davis might have changed the Browns. Even while stricken with the disease, Davis was a mainstay in the community, and was involved with charity work. Another statue of Davis stands on the campus of Syracuse University, near the steps of Hendricks Chapel and the Quad where pre-game pep rallies are held. Brown was his hero and Davis’ athleticism while at Syracuse reminded many of Brown’s own college achievements. Modell was the first to hear of the news. With a Brown-Davis backfield, Cleveland might have become title town. That's something you never get over.". When dessert was brought, a gentleman quietly approached them and told them they would have to leave when the doors were opened to the public for a dance. Even if you go to Syracuse now, there is a constant battle that goes on. A motion picture biography, The Express: The Ernie Davis Story, directed by Gary Fleder and based on the non-fiction book The Elmira Express: the Story of Ernie Davis by Robert C. Gallagher, began production in April 2007[25] and was released on October 10, 2008. Rockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.564, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, 1959 Syracuse Orangemen football—consensus national champions, Washington Football Team first-round draft picks, "Browns' Davis succumbs in battle with leukemia", "Blood disorder expected to keep Davis on sidelines", 'syracuse.com' Mother of Ernie Davis, Marie Fleming, has passed away in Elmira; her funeral is Saturday, May 8, 2008. Davis went to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore when he was dying, three months after being diagnosed and through chemical treatments experienced a four to five month remission. [13] Selected by the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) in December 1961,[14] he was then almost immediately traded to the Cleveland Browns and issued number 45. Davis-Brown backfield might have made history, An Ernie Davis-Jim Brown backfield for the Browns might have made history | Opinion, Latest on bill to limit DeWine's health orders, By Mark Podolski [1][2][3] Davis played college football for Syracuse University and was the first pick in the 1962 NFL Draft, where he was selected by the Cleveland Browns. After everyone ate and the trophies were handed out, the three black Syracuse players, including Brown and Davis were asked to leave and were taken to another party in Dallas by local NAACP representatives. 44 from Jim Brown and passed it on to Floyd Little, was a posthumous induction into the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame. Ernest Davis was born Dec. 14, 1939, in New Salem, Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh. 44 legend Ernie Davis, who broke the … You know, white folks could like him, black folks could like him, without really selling out. In preparations for his first season in Cleveland, Davis complained of constant fatigue and bleeding gums. Davis is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira. That same season, Elmira Star-Gazette sports writer Al Mallette coined the nickname for Davis, the "Elmira Express". Jimmy Brown got Ernie started before the winter was over, helping him land a job with Pepsi-Cola. The history of the Browns has plenty of what ifs? The dream of the great Jim Brown and Davis in the same backfield was crushed when Davis was diagnosed with leukemia during the preseason. Davis became the first black athlete to be awarded the Heisman Trophy (the highest individual honor in collegiate football) and he also won the Walter Camp Memorial Trophy[9] following his 1961 senior-year season at Syracuse University. Davis, a running back, takes for over Jim Brown, who goes on to be one of the best players in NFL history. Check out 32 facts you might not know about Jim Brown as the legendary running back turns 85. The Express (2008) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The Browns were no match for the Cowboys in the divisional playoff round as they lost, 52-14. Davis, who never played a game with the Browns but his No. Brown, that is not a knock on Davis, Brown is a top 3 of all time, debate it anyway you want but nobody has him lower than 3rd. In front of a cast of luminaries that included Jim Brown, Plaza 44 took shape with 12-foot statues of the famous trio of 44s, Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little. Mitchell was traded to the Redskins after the team selected Heisman Trophy-winning running back Ernie Davis out of ... featuring Davis and Jim Brown ... yardage leader behind only Brown. Tragically, it never materialized. Ernie Davis, a two-time All-American halfback at Syracuse University, lived a short life as a result of leukemia. "I wanted to do everything in my power to try and save him. "And I liked him, too, because I never thought of him as an Uncle Tom. After winning the Heisman Trophy, Ernie Davis talked Floyd Little into doing an about face and playing football for Syracuse instead of Notre Dame. He attended Elmira Free Academy, where he earned two All-American honors. Maybe — just maybe — the decade would have belonged to Cleveland, and not the Packers. 1 0. Jim is also an actor and real estate investor. In the summer of 1962, Davis was diagnosed with acute monocytic leukemia and began receiving medical treatment. "My plan wasn't for (Davis) to replace Jim Brown. Davis was a member of The Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C. National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor. In his junior year, 1960, he set a record of 7.8 yards per carry and was the third leading rusher in the country with 877 yards, having rushed for 100 yards in six of nine games. According to an article in the Houston Chronicle, all the players from the game attended the banquet. Ernie Davis as a junior at Syracuse in 1959. Born to parents Swinton Brown and Theresa on February 17, 1936, on St. Simons Island, an island off the southern coast of Georgia. Even if you go to Syracuse now, there is a constant battle that goes on. The Express looks at Davis' struggles while at Syracuse because of his skin color. That was his essence. Maybe by the time the Super Bowl originates that same year, the Brown-Davis duo is so dominant, the Browns win the first Super Bowl, and not the Packers. The careers of Taylor (10,353 total yards, 93 touchdowns) and Hornung (5,191 total yards, 62 TDs) nearly mirrored each other. The signing only came when Interior Secretary Stewart Udall issued an ultimatum to Marshall: sign a black player by the start of the 1962 season, or he would revoke the Redskins' 30-year lease on D.C. Stadium (now Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium). Davis also played basketball at Syracuse for one season 1960-1961. Both Brown and Davis were runningbacks at Syracuse... Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images In his spare time, Ernie played basketball to stay in shape. Instead, it was a tragic set of circumstances for Davis. Ernest "Ernie" Davis (December 14, 1939 – May 18, 1963) was an American football running back and the first African-American athlete 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, when he was … What could have been for the Browns of the 1960s. Brown went on to dominate at the pro level for the Cleveland Browns. [21][22] Originally reported at $80,000, the contract, according to Davis's attorney, Tony DeFilippo, consisted of $80,000 for playing football, including a $15,000 signing bonus; $60,000 for ancillary rights, such as image marketing; and $60,000 for off-season employment. "Ernie used to call me every weekend. Jim was then raised by his grandmother until he was eight years old when his mother asked for him to come to New York. 1 0. Modell was salivating at the prospect of adding Davis to a backfield that already had Jim Brown. During the funeral, a message was received from President Kennedy, and was read aloud to all of the people attending the service. The story goes it was legendary Syracuse running back Jim Brown who persuaded Davis to commit for the Orangemen. Nevertheless, Brown helped the team reach four league championship games, one of which they won (1964). He was never able to win the Heisman Trophy during his years at Syracuse, which told many that a black athlete may never be … From 1964-66, he ran for 2,704 yards and 46 touchdowns. Brown was far from over the hill when retired. In 1966, they were 9-5 and within striking distance of the NFL East champ Dallas (10-3-1). Jim Brown: If you deal with the times, you have a pretty gritty story. The three most famous #44s — Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little — certainly rank among the finest running backs to ever play the game. ANY QUESTIONS, EMAIL BEFORE YOU BID. I am not a professional grader but I would say this card is NMT-MINT! It was worn by Jim Brown, Floyd Little and Ernie Davis. Ernie Davis was drafted by the Washignton Redskins and on the same day was traded to the Clevland Browns, Brown had only played 3 season before the arrival of Davis, yes he had allready won MVP of teh league and went to 2 pro bowls but what about the other 2 mvp's and the other 7 pro bowl selections. [13] The stadium was a city-owned facility, and the Washington city government has long been legally reckoned as a branch of the federal government (given that the Constitution gives Congress ultimate authority over the capital). 44. 1 decade ago. In the stage play One Night in Miami , first performed in 2013, Brown was portrayed by David Ajala . YOU ARE BIDDING ON THE CARDS PICTURED FOR THIS LOT! The three got up to leave and when the teammates found out, they wanted to leave too, but were told that it would only cause a bigger problem, so they stayed. "I tried very hard to get him to as many doctors and hospitals as I could," Modell recalled. In the fall of 1979, Ernest R. Davis, who had taken the greatness of SU's No. Barron, David, "Film The Express stretches the truth", "Centennial Spotlight", Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation website, "Stories of Service: Ernie Davis '62 and Jared Lyon G'13", "NFL.com Draft 2018 - NFL Draft History: Full Draft Year", "Ernie Davis wants no part of football racial dispute", "A 'Showdown' That Changed Football's Racial History", "WashingtonPost.com: The Redskins Book: Page 17", Davis/ernie14.html Neuman, Roger, "Pro contract was rookie record", Elmira, King, Steve, "A tragic off season", Official Website of the Cleveland Browns, December 19, 2006, "The Express’ to Film Scenes on Campus Next Week; Extras Needed", SUAthletics.com, National Football League Draft first overall picks, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ernie_Davis&oldid=1004302406, National Football League first overall draft picks, Players of American football from New York (state), African-American players of American football, Burials at Woodlawn Cemetery (Elmira, New York), NFL player missing current team parameter, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 1 February 2021, at 23:40. Well, one day he showed up unannounced, and my secretary said Ernie Davis is waiting to see you. “The Express,” which opened nationwide October 10, profiles Ernie Davis, who in 1961 became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. @mpodo on Twitter, Modell said in a 2007 interview with The News-Herald, Swensons Drive-In restaurant to open this summer in Willoughby, Willowick's Shoregate to 'boom' with economic development, Painesville home donated to One Step At A Time Lake County, Eastlake bar cited again for health order violation, Mentor Planning Commission votes down paintings on Great Lakes Mall, Lifelong Wickliffe resident brings nutrition to Lake County, Painesville Township given the green light for St. Patrick's Day parade, Mentor housing development gets green light for first 71 homes on open Route 84 land, Madison Village leaders await traffic studies for new Sheetz, Love's locations. Jim Brown Net Worth, Salary, Cars & Houses Jim Brown is an American former professional football player who has a net worth of $50 million. The Browns' dream of pairing Davis with Jim Brown took a tragic turn when Davis was diagnosed with leukemia. This is a great card! Good color & centering. As a sophomore, Davis led the 1959 Syracuse team to a national championship, capping an 11–0 season with a 23–14 win over the Texas Longhorns in the 1960 Cotton Bowl Classic, where Davis was named Most Valuable Player. A drama based on the life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. Little was a three-time All-American at Syracuse, where he wore No. Last week Ernie Davis paid a call on Art Modell at the Browns' office and said that he had to go … YOU ARE BIDDING ON THE CARDS PICTURED FOR THIS … The disease was incurable and he died in Cleveland Lakeside Hospital May 18, 1963, at the age of 23. While attending Syracuse, Davis was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, a nationally recognized Jewish fraternity. Good color & centering. In 2011, rival schools Southside High School (Elmira, New York) and Elmira Free Academy combined their athletic teams, which together were renamed the Elmira Express, named after Ernie Davis. 44. Floyd Little, who followed Jim Brown and Ernie Davis in an extraordinary line of all-American running backs at Syracuse University, each wearing No. Unfortunately, I couldn't do enough.". Jim Brown scores a touchdown against the Chicago Cardinals in 1959. Ernie Davis became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy before his life was tragically cut short by leukemia at the age of 23. Ernie Davis, a two-time All-American halfback at Syracuse University, lived a short life as a result of leukemia. The Trilogy - Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little. Cancer cut his life and dreams of playing in the NFL short. In joining the Browns, the fleet, 6-foot-2, 210-pound Davis was to be paired with the legendary Jim Brown. Not long after Jim Brown was drafted by the Browns out of Syracuse in 1957, Ernie Davis joined the Syracuse squad in 1959. Both the House and the Senate of the Unite… The three most famous #44s — Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little — certainly rank among the finest running backs to ever play the game. Rob Brown plays Davis, with Dennis Quaid portraying Davis' Syracuse University coach, Ben Schwartzwalder. [11] He was also a candidate in the University’s Army ROTC program and was commissioned as a second lieutenant following graduation.[12]. Redskins founder and owner George Preston Marshall was an avowed racist who kept the Redskins entirely white long after the other teams had integrated. Brown said despite the factual errors, he considers "The Express" to be "a great, great movie." He was the first round draft pick in 1956 for Cleveland Browns. Davis was the number-one pick in the 1962 NFL Draft on December 4, 1961. After the 1959 season, the Orangemen won the National Championship, defeating the Texas Longhorns 23-14. The Express looks at Davis' struggles while at Syracuse because of his skin color. The number 44 has a lot of meaning in football at Syracuse University. The Orangmen finished 10th in the polls and Davis won the Heisman as the nation’s top player. Dubbed the "next Jim Brown," the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Davis wore Brown's No. Ernie Davis was special, no doubt about it, but he was no Jim Brown and never would have been. Jim Brown Net Worth, Salary, Cars & Houses Jim Brown is an American former professional football player who has a net worth of $50 million. He was named to Syracuse University's All-Century team in … Along the way, Davis broke Jim Brown’s career records in rushing (2,386 yards), all purpose yardage (3,414), scoring (220 points), and touchdowns (35). But it’s worth imagining what could have been. The acts of kindness while dealing with his sickness endeared Davis to Browns fans. No player could do that," Modell said in a 2007 interview with The News-Herald. Syracuse University, as a way to honor all of the athletes that have worn the number 44, was granted permission by the United States Postal Service to change its ZIP code to 13244. Davis was born in New Salem, Pennsylvania. Jim is also an actor and real estate investor. In the stage play One Night in Miami , first performed in 2013, Brown was portrayed by David Ajala . From 1964-66, he ran for 2,704 yards and 46 touchdowns. Davis was the first African-American to become part of the organization not only at the Syracuse chapter, but for the national fraternity as a whole. Ernie Davis was the first Black football player to be awarded the Heisman Trophy. Cleveland and Green Bay played once for the NFL championship in 1965, with the Packers, winning, 23-12, on a 26-degree day (16 with the wind chill) at Lambeau Field. Davis was the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. Davis ultimately died of leukemia before playing in a regular season game for Cleveland. His father was killed in an accident shortly after his birth, and his mother, Avis Marie Davis Fleming, could not raise him alone. So Ernie Davis transcended racism. Along with Brown and Floyd Little, Ernie Davis made No. It was worn by Jim Brown, Floyd Little and Ernie Davis. President John F. Kennedy had followed Davis' career and requested to meet him while he was in New York to receive the trophy.

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