He also watched Spike Lees documentary, Jim Brown All-American, which offered more insight into the era. In 1946, Ben came east and guided Muhlenberg to a 25-5 slate in three years. Bemiller was quite literally at the center of Buffalo's American Football League back-to-back championship teams. The most pivotal character was Company Capt. And they made Ben look like a racist, to me.". Davis, 23, died the next month in a Cleveland hospital. Years after Davis' death, Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder called him "the best kid I ever had anything to do with." "Ernie was just like a puppy dog, friendly and warm and kind," he told. Floyd Benjamin Ben Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. Even as a paratrooper, Schwartzwalder remained focused on his football career. And enthusiasm!! The Orange had won but nine games in four years and everyone was unhappy. JavaScript is disabled. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. "Ed Wagner, Class of '41, is the namesake of the ROTC Building at Penn State. I'm guessing it's after beating WVU to claim the Schwartzwalder Trophy. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) The year was 1959. 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. Please disable your ad blocker to view the video content. Quaid, who plays legendary Syracuse University coach Ben Schwartzwalder, described his character as "a hard-nosed, tough guy who stormed the beaches at Normandy. After returning home, Schwartzwalder began his college coaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he went 25-5. ", Easterly scoffs at that dramatic license. It's a scene included in tonight's world premier of "The Express" at the Landmark Theatre. Davis still had no idea where he was going to attend, but what sealed the deal with Syracuse was when Jim Brown the former Syracuse . What is a filmmaker looking for when hes researching a film based on real-life events? Finally he called Brown, who lives here in L.A., and set up a meeting. However, his plane was seriously off course and dropped its "stick" of twelve paratroopers some ten miles away from its designated landing zone. Coach Schwartzwalder led the SU team to an impressive record of 153 wins, 91 losses, and 3 ties, including seven bowl games, and the only National Championship in SUs history (1959 undefeated team). Schwartzwalder is portrayed by actor Dennis Quaid in the 2008 Universal Pictures film The Express: The Ernie Davis Story, a biographical film about Syracuse University Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis. The Story of the Syracuse 8, The Players Tribune, October 25, 2015, https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/syracuse-football-1960s-race-civil-rights; WBUR. Ben Schwartzwalder, Head Coach 1949-73. It may not display this or other websites correctly. As a captain in the 82nd Airborne (CO of Company G of the 507th), Schwartzwalder earned distinction during the invasion of Normandy and battles that followed in the last days of the war. At first, Ben Schwartzwalder was a legend at Syracuse. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Ben passed away in 1993 and is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery. At West Virginia, he became a first-string center at only 148 pounds. And then people, the fans, used to always call for me. This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. Former Syracuse head coach Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder (center with his arm around SU's Ger Schwedes, 16) was no stranger to a good fight including this one involving the Orange and Texas. Despite promising to do so, Schwartzwalder failed to follow through. Reggie was the widow of legendary Syracuse University head football coach Floyd Ben Schwartzwalder, who died in 1993. After the intervention of Syracuse football alumnus Jim Brown, who acted as an intermediary between the coach and the players, a black assistant coach was hired. He was basically a shy, quiet individual who never got very close to the press or general public. I loved the genre and I thought Ernie was an intriguing character, but it didnt have any real conflict. Fleder started doing his own research, reading a lengthy Sports Illustrated article by William Nack that dealt with Davis, Brown and racism in college sports in the 60s. The Schwartzwalder Trophy was named after former Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder, who led the Orange to the 1959 national title. He became a company commander and earned the rank of major. "What the director tried to accomplish is showing the conditions of those times," Easterly said. The Schwartzwalder family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. Several units were simultaneously converging on the same objective in a piecemeal, uncoordinated manner. 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. Coach Ben Schwartzwalder had no interest in acknowledging race and how racism affects the experience of black athletes. This remains Syracuse's only national football title in football to date. With the aid of the local French people this small group, isolated behind the German lines, attempted to hold the village of Graignes until the US units moving inland from the invasion beaches could reach their position. Over that time he led Syracuse to its only football national title, in 1959. Syracuse 8 Collection, University Archives. But you needed both of us to make real changes. , Fleder shakes his head. But because that promise already had been made and broken repeatedly, the student-athletes decided to not return to practice and instead hold their own practice for the time being. And thus, Ruth Simpson became Mrs. Floyd Schwartzwalder. Schwartzwalder with quarterback Dick Easterly at the Los Angeles Coliseum, 1959. In fact, he didnt even look at the original script. Reading your post, I flashed on "Band of Brothers", which detailed a company of the 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne. He finally gets his chance in The Express, playing legendary Syracuse coach Ben. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. As head coach from 1949-73, he mounted an impressive 153-91-3 record there. Schwartzwalder, 61 years old, has been head coach since 1949. An endearing photo is one from 90s I believe when Cuse players have Ben raised on their shoulders after a win. The story grew each time it was told. Floyd Little was raised in poverty in New Haven, Connecticut. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). They got a long-name coach. And while maybe the alumni didnt get the big name coach, Floyd Burdette Ben Schwartzwalder gave SU its finest hours in football, becoming the most successful football coach in the Universitys history. The trophy was established in 1993 and was sculpted by Syracuse sports hall-of-famer Jim Ridlon. Just watched Seize and Secure a one hour documentary on PBS about the battle to secure the bridge at La Fire on DDay Capt. An ad blocker has likely prevented this video content from loading. In addition to Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, he coached Jim Brown, Floyd Little, Jim Nance, and Larry Csonka through their college careers. 44 on it, back to Ben Schwartzwalder, saying Im not Jim Brown. And Ben says to him, God I hope not and God I hope so. And Jim started laughing out loud, watching that, and I finally relaxed. Courtesy Syracuse Library Special Collections (Syracuse 8 Collection, John Lobon Box 1), African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, Racial Conflict - Segregation/Integration, https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/syracuse-football-1960s-race-civil-rights, https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2017/11/17/syracuse-8-football-boycott-kaepernick, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. He thought the first script was a little thin. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Even as a paratrooper, Schwartzwalder remained focused on his football career. They then approached the Office of the Chancellor. And less than a handful of men who have entered the coaching profession since Princeton and Rutgers started the madness back in 1869 have recorded as many victories as did this crew-cut, bespectacled quiet little giant out of the hills of West Virginia. Scoop: Fans want The Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy to be awarded to the winner of the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl, which features old Big East rivals Syracuse and West Virginia. Gary Fleder: You came before Ernie. Damn right. He coached high schools in West Virginia and Ohio 1933-41. However, that coach often sat in the back of the room and was not listed on the coaching roster. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. West Virginia University - Monticola Yearbook (Morgantown, WV), Class of 1932, Page 231 of 392 | E-Yearbook.com has the largest online yearbook collection of college, university, high school, middle school, junior high school, military, naval cruise books and yearbooks. You know, white folks could like him, black folks could like him, without really selling out. On April 17, 1970, Black members of the football team sent Chancellor John Corbally a letter asking that he address their grievances within two days. ben schwartzwalder autograph hotel. With the score Reading 13-6, North Carolina state drove All the Way to the Lions goal but Pound it Over. [1] He coached high school football for six years in West Virginia a year at Sistersville High School, followed by the Parkersburg High School Big Reds football from 1936 to 1940[1] and Ohio a year at Canton McKinley High School[1] and won two state championships. Biography Edit Early life and career Edit. He is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Syracuse, NY. I remember some story like that and Larry committed to SYR because of Ben doing that. Ben died in 1993 at the age of 84.. Finally, we got the scene where Ernie wants to give his jersey, with No. Sc Ben Schwartzwalder was in a relationship with Ruth Schwartzwalder. 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. When he was personally decorated by General Matthew Ridgway, the General said "Ben, I never expected to see you here to receive this award.". Despite promising to do so, Schwartzwalder failed to follow through. Schwartzwalder was a West Virginia graduate. Floyd Burdette Schwartzwalder (June 2, 1909 April 28, 1993) was a Hall of Fame football coach at Syracuse University, where he trained future National Football League stars such as Jim Brown, Larry Csonka, Floyd Little and Ernie Davis, the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. But it was changing. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. An hour before the game, Al Davis stands at the 50-yard line of the silent Coliseum, surveying the field through his sunglasses darkly, as . He coached the first African-American to win a Heisman Trophy and maintained team unity and cohesiveness in a racially charged environment to defeat the all-white Texas Longhorns in the 1960 Cotton Bowl Classic and win a national championship. A nice memory. The private Ben was a very devoted family man who loved to putter around in his garden or who always had time to stop and give a stray dog a reassuring pat on the head or say hello to a youngster. Syracuse University Photo & Imaging Collection, University Archives. Less than a dozen men rank in this category. That makes it exciting. Davis was the team's juggernaut running back, later the first African-American ever to win the Heisman Trophy. Its a great history lesson, offering kids a look at the real-life exploits of Ernie Davis, the trail-blazing Syracuse University running back who in 1961 became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. According to an email sent to SU's office of athletics communication and passed along to me, Schwartzwalder served in the same World War II unit and fought together during the D-Day invasion of Normandy with Penn State's Harry Edward Wagner, a Phi Betta Kappa graduate. Both sites mention that in addition to the Silver Star, Major Ben was also awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, the latter indicating a combat wound.". Schwartzwalder was born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. You find it where you find it. It doesnt break down in gender. Syracuse football was coached at the time by Ben Schwartzwalder, a beloved figure on campus, who led the Orange to. In "The Express," Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid) is initially depicted as reluctant to recruit Davis (Rob Brown) because he's "too old to butt heads with another Jim Brown," one of the first black athletes to openly defy American racism.