Ernie Davis

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Ernie Davis

Date of birth	December 14, 1939
Place of birth	New Salem, Pennsylvania
Date of death	May 18, 1963 (age 23)
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 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. 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.

1 Early life
2 College career
3 Pro Football career
4 Death
5 External links

[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 for high school with his mom and new stepfather. At the city's Free Academy, his talents on the football field garnered him the nickname, the "Elmira Express." From there, he went on to gain national fame at Syracuse for three seasons (1959-1961), twice winning first-team All-American honors. He remains the only Syracuse player ever to win the Heisman.

[edit] College career

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. Ernie was voted Most Valuable Player of the 1960 Cotton Bowl and the 1961 Liberty Bowl.

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, then leave the hotel. Davis refused and his teammates boycotted the banquet.

Ernie Davis was awarded the Heisman Trophy for the 1961 season, which was his senior year at Syracuse University. It is interesting to note that Syracuse has had one national championship in football and one Heisman trophy winner, and Ernie Davis was responsible for both titles.

[edit] Pro Football career

Davis was the first player taken 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 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.

Davis would never play a game as a professional, with his only appearance at Cleveland Stadium coming during a 1962 preseason game in which he ran onto the field as a spotlight followed him. Following his death, the Browns retired Davis' number, 44.

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.

Preceded by Joe Bellino	Heisman Trophy Winner 1961	Succeeded by Terry Baker

[edit] Death

In the summer of 1962, Ernie Davis was diagnosed with leukemia and began receiving medical treatment. The disease was incurable, and he died in Cleveland Lakeside Hospital the following year at age 23. 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.