Ernie Davis

ERNEST (ERNIE ) DAVIS

Ernest Davis was born on December 14 ,1939 in  New Salem,Pennsylvania to Marie Davis and Died in May 18,1963.At the 14 months Ernie was sent to live with his grandparent in Uniontown Pennsylvania because his father died in a auto shop accident before Ernie was born,and the young mother was need of a job.Already having 12 children the grandparent accepted Ernie.Ernie spent his early years playing sports with older uncle.At the age of eleven years old Ernie mother remarried and took her child back with her to Elmira,New York to live with her.It was a big move for Ernie but his athletic abilities at a young age helped him earn his respect from the other kids at the local community center. Ernie played tackle football at small fry football for the superior buick team. Davis was also noticed for his enthusiasm and leadership.As a freshmen at Elmira free academy joined the junior varsity football but broke his wrist and had to sit out for the whole year but he also played baseball and basketball.Ernie senior year college wanted him like Notre Dame , University of Michigan, and heavily recruited by Syracuse another power house football team where Jim Brown played at Syracuse , the head coach Ben Schwartzwalder and Jim brown influence Ernie Davis to go to Syracuse .Davis freshmen team went undefeated Ernie was a skilled running back he gained 100 plus yards in eleven games in his college career. He also played defensive , he also earned respect from his kind and generous nature Ben Schwartzwalder said to Sports Illustrated "Ernie was a just like a puppy dog friendly and warm and kind". In Ernie sophomore he rushed for 686 yards and led Syracuse to an 11-0 record Davis outscored Syracuse opponent 80-73. Syracuse Played the Texas Longhorn in the orange bowl and won the game 23-14 Ernie Davis was named player of the game. In 1961 Ernie won the Heisman trophy making him the first African American to win that.On July 28 1962 Davis went to the hospital and got tested  for the mumps or Mononucleosis but the result cam back that he had Monocytic Leukemia .On may 17 1963 on friday night Ernie fell into a coma at 2 a.m. he coughed once and died at the age of 23 years old.
 by:Patrick Janes
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