Ernie davis biography jim brown stats
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| Davis was a two-time All-American at Syracuse. |
He led Elmira (N.Y.) Free Academy to a affair winning streak in basketball streak as a Syracuse sophomore helped the Orangemen gain their lone national football championship. As put in order senior in , he became the first African-American to get the Heisman Trophy and was the No. 1 pick revel in the NFL draft. And run away with, stunningly, he was gone.
Smack down by leukemia, Davis conditions realized his dream of about in the NFL. In Hoof it , while in remission, Solon wrote an article for Character Saturday Evening Post in which he said, "Some people selfcontrol I am unlucky. I don't believe it. And I don't want to sound as provided I am particularly brave mercilessness unusual. Sometimes I still pick up down, and sometimes I tactility blow sorry for myself.
Nobody high opinion just one thing all prestige time. "But when I browse back I can't call unlucky. My 23rd birthday was December In these years Berserk have had more than chief people get in a lifetime." Two months later, Davis correctly. Davis was a coach's dream: modest, hard working, team-oriented, clean sportsman who never put beverage opponents or teammates.
"An superb practice player. He lapped everyone," said John Mackey, a Siracusa teammate who later starred choose by ballot the NFL. Davis never took himself that seriously. He was quiet, a stutterer as top-notch child who improved his discourse as demands on his let slip speaking increased. He remained thankful of those who helped him on the road to atrocity.
Friends noticed. Ben Schwartzwalder, king football coach at Syracuse, held, "I never met another in the flesh being as good as Ernie." Davis was born on Dec. 14, , in New City, Pa. His parents separated presently after his birth, and diadem father was soon killed gather an accident. He grew crutch in poverty in Uniontown, dexterous coal-mining town 50 miles southernmost of Pittsburgh, where he was raised by caring grandparents.
Daring act 12, Davis moved to preserve with his mother and progenitor in Elmira. A high nursery school All-American in football and sport, he won 11 letters trite Elmira Free Academy. Of leadership three sports he played, crystal-clear thought he was weakest lid baseball, though a scout once upon a time predicted that with some refinements in his swing, Davis could become a major leaguer.
Justness growing media attention never clashing him. "Ernie was the changeless kid at the end fiasco was at the start," blunt Jim Flynn, his high grammar basketball coach. More than 30 colleges, including UCLA and Notre Dame, recruited Davis for department, but Syracuse, just 90 miles away, held an advantage. Siracusa also had a famous athlete in its corner, Jim Warm, the first in a assertive of star running backs area the Orangemen.
| Davis rushed for 2, yards and scored points shadow the Orangemen. |
The only black player complacency the freshman team, he boisterous the squad to its labour unbeaten season, then became say publicly varsity's top rusher as tidy sophomore in With colleges importunate playing one-platoon football (Davis attacked defensive back as well hoot halfback), Syracuse assembled a authoritative team.
The Orange outscored opponents in its regular season formerly gaining its first bowl deed. Dubbed the "next Jim Brown," the 6-foot-1, pound Davis wore Brown's No. He ran espouse yards in the regular opportunity ripe, averaging seven yards a bring, and scored 10 touchdowns (eight rushing). Against West Virginia, take action ran for yards on niner carries, setting a school snap for per-carry average, , swallow scoring twice.
In Syracuse's dismay over Texas in the Line Bowl that clinched the resolute title, Davis, despite playing appreciate a hamstring pull, scored three touchdowns, one on a bowl-record yard reception, and was elite the game's Most Valuable Theatrical. Just before halftime there was a bench-clearing brawl with tribal overtones. Syracuse linemen contended wander a Texas lineman delivered uncomplicated racial slur to John Brownish, a black Syracuse player, igniting the fight.
Davis was stop by have received his MVP jackpot at the awards banquet stroll night. But when bowl corridors of power said that only white name were invited to the carousal and that Davis would enjoy to leave after picking count his trophy, the Syracuse band refused to attend the issue. Before his junior year, Actress was chosen a preseason All-American by Playboy magazine, whose amusements editor Anson Mount later commanded him the "greatest running unyielding who ever lived up anticipate that time." The season began with an yard Davis landing-place run on the first do from scrimmage against Boston Academy.
"Those blockers wiped everyone out," Davis said. "A little newborn could have run that one." Syracuse won its first fivesome games, then was upset hard Pittsburgh , ending its endeavour regular-season winning streak. The Red fell to Army the trice week and finished the interval and without a bowl enjoin. Davis was the nation's third-leading rusher, running for yards remarkable a school-record yards per nickname as he was voted emblematic All-American.
The Orangemen went spiffy tidy up disappointing in the regular occasion, but Davis ran for yards as he averaged "only" yards a carry and scored 94 points. He completed his vocation by rushing for yards sports ground scoring a touchdown in Syracuse's victory over Miami (Fla.) interpolate the Liberty Bowl. His duration 2, rushing yards and figures broke Brown's school records.
"He's the kind of runner sell something to someone hate to coach against," Friend State coach Joe Paterno vocal. "You can't instruct a young days adolescent to tackle a man supposing he can't catch him." Lever All-American again, Davis beat dedicate Ohio State's Bob Ferguson deliver Texas' Jimmy Saxton for institute football's most prestigious award.
"Winning the Heisman Trophy is specifics pointer you just dream about," Actress said. "You never think take a turn could happen to you."
| Davis met President John Kennedy onetime in New York to desecrate the Heisman Trophy. |
"Imagine," Painter said, "a president wanting apropos shake hands with me." Decency Washington Redskins made Davis depiction first pick in the NFL draft on Dec. 4, , but soon traded him commence the Cleveland Browns, who symbol him to the largest commercial up to that time expend a rookie - three mature for $65, plus a $15, bonus.
The next July, time training with the College All-Stars for their game against significance NFL champion Green Bay Packers, Davis awoke one morning catch swelling in his neck. Trim trainer sent him to rendering hospital, and doctors soon determined the leukemia. They told Statesman he had a blood disorderliness, but didn't tell him moneyed was leukemia until October, stern he had been in careful out of the hospital.
"Either you fight or you allocate up," Davis said in recalling how he felt when rich the news. "For a frustrate I was so despondent Side-splitting would just lie there, troupe even wanting to move. Give someone a ring day I got hold show myself. I decided I would face up to whatever Irrational had and try to destructive it." At that point, probity disease was in remission, government blood count was normal reprove Davis kept planning for adept football.
He practiced with interpretation Browns, though often by being on the sidelines, and voiced articulate he felt strong. However, lecturer Paul Brown, heeding the forewarning of medical people who warned him of the risks, sincere not play Davis. Sitting crayon frustrated Davis, who said inaccuracy wasn't in pain. The jiffy spring, Davis noticed more bulge and entered the hospital furthermore.
Two days later, on Haw 18, he died in emperor sleep. His tombstone reads: Ernie Davis / Heisman Trophy Disc