Ernest R. Davis

(blog.syracuse.com)

Back in the days of segregation, many black athletes never got the opportunity to shine in the spotlight because of the tough obstacles in the way. My hero, Ernest “Ernie” Davis went through those hardships and showed a great player inspiration on the football field which he is remembered for today.

Ernest “Ernie Davis” was born in New Salem, Pennsylvania on December 14, 1939. While still a young kid, Ernest’s father died in an accident. Because of this, Ernest was raised by his grandparents until he was age 12. Ernest then moved to Elmira, New York with his mother and stepfather, the place he spent his high school years in Elmira Free Academy where he excelled in sports and his academics. He was named Elmira Player Of The Year and a high school All-American in football during his junior and senior years. His extraordinary play on the football field earned him the nickname the “Elmira Express”. He was also a terrific basketball and baseball player for Elmira Free Academy. During Ernie’s time not many universities offered scholarships to black athletes. Even with that reality, Ernie Davis received 50 offers of scholarships from different colleges. Ernie Davis spent his college years at the prestigious school of the University of Syracuse.

During his time at Syracuse, Ernie Davis started gaining national attention with his great play on the football field. As a sophomore in 1959, Ernie Davis led the Syracuse Orange to an undefeated season which they concluded with a 23-14 win over Texas in the 1960 Cotton Bowl Classic, the NCAA 1-A National Football Championship during that time. Ernie Davis faced discrimination during his Cotton Bowl Classic visit to the American south. After the Cotton Bowl Classic, the whole Syracuse football team had a banquet to celebrate their win. At the banquet, Ernie Davis was told he would have to leave the segregated place if he were to accept the Most Valuable Player award for the Cotton Bowl Classic, Ernie Davis refused to do what he was told and his teammates backed him up by boycotting the banquet. During his junior year, Ernie Davis set a school record of 7.8 yards per carry and earned All American honors. Ernie Davis also played basketball for the Syracuse Orange during the 1960-1961 season. In his senior season with Syracuse, Ernie Davis led the Syracuse Orange to the 1961 Liberty Bowl which they won over Miami. That season, Ernie Davis achieved history by winning the 1961 Heisman Trophy. The Heisman Trophy is awarded annually to the “most outstanding player in college football”. He became the first African American to ever win the award. In the 1962 NFL Draft, Ernie Davis was picked first overall by the Washington redskins then the team traded him immediately to the Cleveland Browns. With this event, Ernie Davis achieved history again by becoming the first African American drafted first overall in NFL history. Ernie Davis then signed a three-year, $200,000 contract with the Cleveland Browns which was a very expensive investment by an NFL team for a rookie at that time. After all of Ernie Davis’s historic accomplishments and inspiration to young people, his story took a sad turn of events.

In the summer of 1962, Ernie Davis was diagnosed with acute monocytic leukemia. There was no cure for the disease and it was only a matter of time before he died. Ernie Davis never played a single game in the NFL because of this sickness. His only appearance on an NFL football field came during a preseason game in which he ran onto the field with all the media and spotlight following him. On May 18, 1963, Ernie Davis died in Cleveland Lakeside Hospital at the early age of 23. The House and The Senate eulogized him and his wake took place at the Neighborhood House in Elmira, New York, the place where greatness began for Ernie. There were 10,000 grieving attendants in his wake, all with the same thing in mind, paying their respects to Ernie Davis. During Ernie’s funeral, President Kennedy sent a message that was read to all the people attending the service. Ernie Davis is currently buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, Chemung County, New York. The cemetery is a historic place as other great people have been buried there such as the great author Mark Twain. His jersey number was retired by the Syracuse Orange(#44) and the Cleveland Browns(#45). Ernie Davis was inducted into the College Football Hall Of Fame in 1979. His commemorative statue stands in front of Ernie Davis Middle School and on the campus of Syracuse University.

I compare myself to Ernie Davis because we work hard on reaching our goals no matter what obstacle has to be overcome or taken out of the way. We are both motivated in our lives to really push ourselves to the best of our abilities when we do work, whether it is sports or academics.

Ernie Davis is a true example and inspiration to many young kids today who want to reach for the stars and live their dreams. Anytime I am in a tough situation, I look into his story as an inspiration and motivation for me to do my best and work hard to find success. This is why Ernie Davis is one of my great heroes.