Ben Schwartzwalder
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Ben Schwartzwalder (June 2, 1909 — April 28, 1993) was a Hall of Fame football coach at Syracuse University. He played center at West Virginia, despite weighing only 146 pounds, and was also an all-campus wrestler in 1930 in the 155 pound weight class. He was captain of the football team in 1933. He coached high school football for 6 years in West Virginia and Ohio and won two state championships. He was coach of Canton McKinley High School in Ohio when, even though he was in his thirties, he decided to join the Army and fight in World War II in 1941.
As a Captain in the famed 82nd Airborne (CO of Company G of the 507th), Schwartzwalder earned historical distinction during the invasion of Normandy and battles that followed in the last days of the war. He played key roles in the capture of the La Fiere Causeway and Sainte-Mere-Eglise, crucial points of entry into France during the D-Day invasion. By the time the 507th reached the battle for Hill 95, they had suffered more than 65% casualties. Schwartzwalder continued his campaign all the way into Germany and acted as military governor of the town of Essen for a period of six months. He was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, four battle stars, Presidential Unit Citation and was promoted to the rank of Major for his actions during the invasion. When he was personally decorated by General Matthew Ridgway, the General said "Ben, I never expected to see you here to receive this award."
Even as a paratrooper, Schwartzwalder remained focused on his football career. He organized an athletic league from among the soldiers being assembled in England in preparation for D-Day in order to keep the troops motivated and fit. He coached the 507th PIR football team, leading them through a ten game season in which the 507th was never defeated and never even scored upon.
After returning home, he began his college coaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he went 25-5. He coached at Syracuse from 1949 to 1973, compiling a 152-91-3 record, and winning one national championship in 1959 through an undefeated season. The 1959 team was an unprecedented powerhouse with both the toughest offense (313.6 yards rushing, 451.5 yard total and 39 points per game on average) and the toughest defense (giving only 19.3 yards rushing, 96.2 yards total per game on average) in the country. This remains Syracuse's only football National Championship to date. His teams went to seven bowl games, and won four Lambert Trophies. In 1959, he also won the national coach of the year award. During his 25 years as Head Coach Syracuse teams outrushed their opponents by more than 22,000 yards. In 1967, he was elected president of the American Football Coaches Association. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
The coach is also remembered through the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy which, goes to the winner of each game between West Virginia University (where he played) and Syracuse University. The trophy was established in 1993, the year Schwartzwalder passed away and was sculpted by Syracuse sports hall-of-famer Jim Ridlon.
Schwartzwalder will be portrayed by actor Dennis Quaid in the upcoming film The Express, a biopic about Syracuse University Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis. Schwatzwalder had a knack for developing excellent running backs. In addition to Ernie Davis, he coached Jim Brown, Floyd Little, Jim Nance and Larry Csonka through their college careers.
Ben Schwartzwalder was born in Point Pleasant West Virginia and is survived today by his wife Ruth "Reggie" Schwartzwalder who turned 94 in 2007 and his daughters Susan Walker and Mary Scofield.
[edit] External links
- An account of the battle for the La Fiere Causeway
- [http://www.ww2-airborne.us/units/507/507.html The 507th PIR During World War II
- An account of the Airborne assault on Normandy
- College Football Hall of Fame page
- Syracuse Hall of Fame
- West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
- Remembering the '59 Orange
- The Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy
| Preceded by Reaves H. Baysinger |
Syracuse Head Football Coach 1949–1973 |
Succeeded by Frank Maloney |
| Preceded by Paul Dietzel |
Paul "Bear" Bryant Award 1959 |
Succeeded by Murray Warmath |
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This biographical article relating to a college football coach first appointed in the 1940s is a stub. You can help by expanding it. |
