Ernie Davis: 1961 Heisman Winner
While Ernie Davis possessed the many athletic feats often
forever be remembered for other reasons as well. When the
Syracuse Orangemen won the award in 1961, he became the
first African-American to win the award.Following his Heisman season that also included a national
championship for undefeated Syracuse, Ernie Davis was
selected with the first pick of the 1962 NFL Draft. Davis signed a
record contract with the Cleveland Browns and was set to join
former Orangemen Jim Brown in the Cleveland backfield.
Tragically, Ernie Davis didn’t have the opportunity to celebrate his
crowning achievement for very long. Before he ever took an NFL
snap, Davis was diagnosed with Leukemia and never played
football again. Although he is reported to have fought a
courageous battle against the disease, Davis died in 1963. In
honor of Davis, the Cleveland Browns retired the #45 jersey, the
number that Davis ws to have worn for the
Browns.
Ernie Davis wore the famed #44 jersey for Syracuse, a number
also made famous by other Orangemen such as Jim Brown and
Larry Czonka. Davis broke many of Jim Brown’s school rushing
records and burst onto the Heisman scene with his stellar 1961
performance. That season saw Davis rush for 823 yards, score
15 touchdowns and lead Syracuse in receiving. Davis edged out
Ohio State’s Bob Ferguson for the award.
Ernie Davis’ life story is chronicled in a novel called Ernie Davis:
The Elmira Express. The book written by Robert C. Gallagher,
gives great detail about the courageous athlete from Elmira, NY.
Gallagher’s book illustrates the great affection for Ernie Davis as
more than 10,000 mourners filed by his coffin as it lay in state in
Elmira, NY.
The author also writes about a heartfelt telegram that President
Kennedy sent to Ernie Davis’ mother. The letter of sympathy
spoke of how impressed the President was with Davis when he
had met him shortly after his Heisman season. President
Kennedy noted what a tremendous inspiration Ernie Davis was
to people throughout the country.
To further celebrate the life of Ernie Davis, a movie is being
scheduled for production. The movie will be called The Express
and will feature Dennis Quaid as Davis’ collegiate coach. An
announcement on who will play Ernie Davis in the movie has not
been made at this time.
forever be remembered for other reasons as well. When the
Syracuse Orangemen won the award in 1961, he became the
first African-American to win the award.Following his Heisman season that also included a national
championship for undefeated Syracuse, Ernie Davis was
selected with the first pick of the 1962 NFL Draft. Davis signed a
record contract with the Cleveland Browns and was set to join
former Orangemen Jim Brown in the Cleveland backfield.
Tragically, Ernie Davis didn’t have the opportunity to celebrate hiscrowning achievement for very long. Before he ever took an NFL
snap, Davis was diagnosed with Leukemia and never played
football again. Although he is reported to have fought a
courageous battle against the disease, Davis died in 1963. In
honor of Davis, the Cleveland Browns retired the #45 jersey, the
number that Davis ws to have worn for the
Browns.
Ernie Davis wore the famed #44 jersey for Syracuse, a number
also made famous by other Orangemen such as Jim Brown and
Larry Czonka. Davis broke many of Jim Brown’s school rushing
records and burst onto the Heisman scene with his stellar 1961
performance. That season saw Davis rush for 823 yards, score
15 touchdowns and lead Syracuse in receiving. Davis edged out
Ohio State’s Bob Ferguson for the award.
Ernie Davis’ life story is chronicled in a novel called Ernie Davis:
The Elmira Express. The book written by Robert C. Gallagher,
gives great detail about the courageous athlete from Elmira, NY.
Gallagher’s book illustrates the great affection for Ernie Davis as
more than 10,000 mourners filed by his coffin as it lay in state in
Elmira, NY.
The author also writes about a heartfelt telegram that President
Kennedy sent to Ernie Davis’ mother. The letter of sympathy
spoke of how impressed the President was with Davis when he
had met him shortly after his Heisman season. President
Kennedy noted what a tremendous inspiration Ernie Davis was
to people throughout the country.
To further celebrate the life of Ernie Davis, a movie is being
scheduled for production. The movie will be called The Express
and will feature Dennis Quaid as Davis’ collegiate coach. An
announcement on who will play Ernie Davis in the movie has not
been made at this time.