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When most people hear the name Ernie
Davis, it usually congers up a "who’s he" response, especially from
those who believe that anything prior to 1990 in sports is ancient
history. Well maybe so, but you should know that Ernie Davis was the
first Afro-American to win the Heisman trophy award, doing so in 1961
playing for Syracuse University following in the footsteps of another
famous Syracuse running back, that maybe you have heard of, Jim Brown.

Ernie Davis won the Heisman trophy that year in the second closest
voting in the history of the Heisman trophy by only 53 points over a
bruising fullback out of Ohio State named Bob Ferguson. Davis was
his team’s leading ground-gainer for three seasons. He broke Jim
Brown’s Syracuse career records in rushing (2,386 yards); total yards
from scrimmage (3,414), scoring (220 points) and touchdowns (35) at
Syracuse. All of these fantastic numbers coming during a time when the
college football season was only 9 games long and freshman were
ineligible to play varsity football. To date, Syracuse has had one
single national championship and one Heisman trophy winner and Ernie
Davis was responsible for both. At a special ceremony honoring Davis in
his home town of Elmira, New York Davis received a telegraph from then
President John Kennedy that read "Seldom
has an athlete been more deserving of such a tribute. Your high
standards of performance on the field and off the field reflect the
finest qualities of competition, sportsmanship and citizenship. The
nation has bestowed upon you its highest awards for your athletic
achievements. It’s a privilege for me to address you tonight as an
outstanding American, and as a worthy example of our youth. I salute
you."

Davis encountered sever racism during
his time at Syracuse, including taunts and ridicule from fans of
opposing teams, most dramatically during the 1960 Cotton Bowl against
the University of Texas. Syracuse defeated Texas that day by the score
of 23 to 14. Ernie Davis caught an 87-yard touchdown pass to
open the scoring and added a one-yard run to give Syracuse a 15-0
halftime lead. Davis also intercepted a pass to set up another score,
after which he caught a two-point conversion pass. Despite
Davis winning the most valuable player award for his Cotton Bowl
performance, he was told that he could not attend the banquet; that he
would only be allowed to accept the MVP award and then would have to
leave. Davis and his teammates boycotted the banquet in protest.

Despite all of these impressive credentials, Davis never played a
single down in the NFL. Many of you may wonder why. Well, to cap off
this story book college career Davis also became the first
Afro-American to be drafted number 1 by the NFL, being selected by the
Washington Redskins, who then traded Davis to the Cleveland Browns who
had visions of teaming Davis with Jim Brown to form the greatest
running back duo in the NFL, but it was never to be. The reason for
this is because while preparing for the 1962 College All-Star game
Davis was diagnosed with Leukemia during a routine physical. Ernie
died on May 18th 1963, at the age of 23 slightly more than a year after
he was diagnosed. Following his death, the Cleveland Browns retired his
never wore jersey number 45 in his honor. During his career at
Syracuse, Davis continued the tradition set by Jim Brown in wearing the
number 44. Besides Davis and Brown, this number was also worn by great
Syracuse backs such as Jim Nance and Floyd Little. To honor these great
running backs, Syracuse officially retired the number 44 on November
15, 2005. In a Final note, Davis was inducted into the College Football
Hall of Fame in 1979.