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Ernie Davis

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. However, he would never play a professional game after developing leukemia in 1962.

He is the subject of a Universal Pictures movie biography, The Express, based on the non-fiction book Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express, by Robert C. Gallagher.

Early life

Davis was born in New Salem, Pennsylvania, and spent his early life in the Pennsylvania coal-belt, moving to industrial Uniontown, Pennsylvania, both in the metro Pittsburgh area. His parents separated shortly before his father died in an accident, and he was raised by his grandparents until age 12, when he moved with his mother and new stepfather to Elmira, New York. 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.

Throughout his high school years at Elmira Free Academy, Davis' talent 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.

College career

Davis played 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 The University of 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 prevalent in the American South during his Cotton Bowl visits. At the banquet following the game, Davis was told he could only accept his award, and then would be required to leave the segregated facility. Davis refused and his teammates, nearly all of them white, boycotted the banquet.

Davis became the first black athlete to be awarded the Heisman Trophy, following his 1961 senior-year season at Syracuse University. 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.

During his time at Syracuse, Davis wore the same number, 44, as 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.

While attending Syracuse, Davis was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity, a nationally recognized Jewish fraternity. 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.

Davis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

Ernie Davis is a member of The Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C. National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll.

Pro football career

Davis was the number-one pick in the 1962 NFL Draft, becoming the first black football player to be taken first overall. Selected by the Washington Redskins, his rights were then traded to the Cleveland Browns. He was also drafted by the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League.

Davis signed a three-year, $200,000 contract with the Browns in late December 1961 while he was in San Francisco, California practicing for the East-West Shrine Game. Originally reported at $80,000, the contract, according to Davis' attorney, A. William (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. It was the most lucrative contract for an NFL rookie up to that time. However, the Browns' 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.

Davis never played 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.

Death

In the summer of 1962, 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. Davis is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira, Chemung County, New York, in the same cemetery in which Mark Twain is buried. His commemorative statue stands in front of Ernie Davis Middle School.

The Express

A motion picture biography, The Express, 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.

Rob Brown plays Davis, with Dennis Quaid as Davis' Syracuse University coach, Ben Schwartzwalder. Forest Whitaker was originally signed on to play the supporting role of Davis' grandfather, but declined after his Academy Award win for The Last King of Scotland and was replaced by Charles S. Dutton.

In April 2007, The Express production crew filmed football scenes at Jorndt Field, Amundsen High School, and Lane Tech, Chicago, Illinois. From April 27 to May 5, 2007, football scenes were also filmed at Northwestern University's Ryan Field. Some scenes were also filmed in April and May 2007 in Pullman, Chicago and in Hyde Park. On May 31 and June 1, 2007, scenes were filmed at three Blue Island, Illinois, schools. On June 4, 2007, a racial-confrontation scene was filmed in Virgil, Illinois, outside a store and bank designed to look like a Texas gas station.

The film was released on October 10, 2008.