So if you take a story like Ernies, you can show that, for the first time somebody can show what it is to be an American and the subtleties of carrying that burden. 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. Later that afternoon, a beaming Davis, seeing Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder, went floating toward him through a. Gary Fleder: Did you feel it from the players? Adversity and Ben were old combatants and Ben usually won. By Frank Giardina For the Gazette-Mail; Jun 10, 2017 Jun 10, 2017 Updated Nov 21, 2017; Comments; He later joined teammate Patrick Whelan, 71, of Safety Harbor, at a Tampa screening. Ernie doesnt scream and he doesnt protest, but hes raging inside. Syracuse 8 Collection, University Archives. But what do you do when youve got these circumstances? Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Allen explained his position, but the coach refused to listen. The media focused on only one request, the hiring of a black assistant coach, ignoring their other grievances. He brought the school it's one and only national championship and undefeated season in 1959, but as his career progressed, it seemed to produce more and more cracks in a once so respected man. Soon after being drafted No. I know it well. During his 25 years as head coach Syracuse teams outrushed their opponents by more than 22,000 yards. "He was a real taskmaster. Schwartzwalder, 61 years old, has been head coach since 1949. I remember Ben as gruff, but kind. Syracuse University Football Collection, University Archives. Ben Schwartzwalder AKA Floyd Burdette Schwartzwalder Born: 2-Jun - 1909 Birthplace: Point Pleasant, WV Died: 28-Apr - 1993 Location of death: St. Petersburg, FL Cause of death: Heart Failure Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Football Nationality: United States Floyd Benjamin "Ben" Schwartzwalder (June 2, 1909 April 28, 1993) was a Hall of Fame football coach at Syracuse University, where he trained such future National Football League stars as Jim Brown, as well as the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, Ernie Davis. "Ernie knew everybody's name and went out of his way to say hello. He developed some of the most impressive running backs the game has ever seen - Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Jim Nance, Floyd Little and Larry Csonka. Starting in the fall of 1968, Black football players at Syracuse University expressed concerns about racial discrimination within the football program. A good starting place is his home state of West Virginia. The demand for a black coach was prompted by the black players accusations of discriminatory practices by their coach, Floyd Ben Schwartzwalder, and his assistant coaches. Ben led G Company during the D-Day operation and was decorated with the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry in his first combat action. BIO. Intro: American football player and coach: Was: Sports coach American football player: From: United States of America: Field: Sports: Gender: male: Birth: 2 June 1909: Death: 28 April 1993 (aged 83 years) His report card shows 178 wins, 96 losses and three ties during his 28-year tenure as a head coach (three years at Muhlenberg, 25 at Syracuse). After talking to him, I knew we had a movie. You should know his story, because it's a Syracuse University story - one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future. They then approached the Office of the Chancellor. It is very likely that Lt. Wagner assisted him with this extracurricular athletic program in view of the fact that Ed had been an assistant manager for the Penn State football team in 1939, and as the 3rd Battalion's personnel officer, or S-1, he would have been able to identify unit personnel with football experience and "facilitate" their assignment to "extra duties". You must log in or register to reply here. He produced 22 straight years of non-losing football, took the Orange to seven bowls, and won the national championship in 1959. They identify him as later coaching Syracuse University to the national championship in 1959. Following his death in 1993, Schwartzwalder was survived by his daughters, Susan Walker and Mary Scofield. He was a real comedian too. I remember some story like that and Larry committed to SYR because of Ben doing that. Did you feel the constant pressure or did you acclimate to it? After associate coaches ignored the players request to hire a black assistant for a year, one of the Syracuse 8, Greg Allen, met with head coach Schwartzwalder in spring 1969. Burials may be scheduled by calling the cemetery staff at (315) 484-1564. Following his death in 1993, Schwartzwalder was survived by his daughters, Susan Walker and Mary Scofield, his wife Ruth "Reggie" Schwartzwalder died on August 25, 2012, aged 100. As a first lieutenant and S-1/adjutant of the 3rd Battalion, 507th PIR, he jumped into Normandy in the same air drop as Coach Ben. library.syr.edu, Copyright Syracuse University Libraries, A Courageous Stand: The Story of the Syracuse 8, Trustee, Faculty, and Student Committee Report. [continued on next page] Pages: 1 2 3 4 It was a scene he had repeated several hundred times but on this particular day, November 24, 1973, it was different. Finally he called Brown, who lives here in L.A., and set up a meeting. 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. All Rights Reserved. Both taught and Ben began coaching in his home state. Popularized erroneously in 1970 by the media as the Syracuse 8, the nine students behind the boycott were Gregory Allen, Richard Bulls, Dana Harrell, John Godbolt, John Lobon, Clarence Bucky McGill, A. Alif Muhammad, Duane Walker, and Ron Womack. Here are some excerpts from a 2005 conversation between Fleder and Brown that paved the way for the making of The Express.. 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. map this locationGoogle map location Some white teammates stood in solidarity and threatened to boycott if the black players were not allowed back, but they were overpowered by the alumni who wanted all the black players off the team and their scholarships revoked. Syracuse, New York 13244 He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. He gave me a way in to tell this story. After associate coaches ignored the players request to hire a black assistant for a year, one of the Syracuse 8, Greg Allen, met with head coach Schwartzwalder in spring 1969. All these years later, Easterly still recalls his teammate not only for his football prowess, but also for his warm, comical personality. And they made Ben look like a racist, to me.". 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. About coming to Syracuse, Schwartzwalder famously said: The alumni wanted a big-name coach. Jim Brown. Ben Schwartzwalder, a pre-war high school coach in West Virginia who served as a major with the army paratroopers during the war, returned home and took over the program as its new coach. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. When the Waffen-SS troops finally overran Graignes, they took out severe revenge on the villagers for having "collaborated with the enemy". "A lot of things in the movie didn't happen at that time at Syracuse but did happen in the country. By any definition, during the war Ben distinguished himself in service to the nation, and to his men. He played center at West Virginia University, despite weighing only 146 pounds, and was an all-campus wrestler in 1930 in the 155-pound weight class. When he was personally decorated by General Matthew Ridgway, the General said "Ben, I never expected to see you here to receive this award.". Just watched Seize and Secure a one hour documentary on PBS about the battle to secure the bridge at La Fire on DDay Capt. "We football coaches are most fortunate," Ben said as he left office as the president of the American Football Coaches Association. These SS troopers also executed the twenty plus wounded US paratroopers who had been too injured to evacuate with the others. This month marks 50 years since the Syracuse 8 began their peaceful protest. By 1941, he had earned a name for himself and was offered the head coaching job at Canton McKinley High School in Ohio, one of the top jobs in the Midwest. He would then later imply he was joking or being sarcastic at the time these promises were made. 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. He overcame those . As a paratrooper with the 82nd, he was among the first wave of soldiers that jumped on D-Day in 1944. He would lead the program for more than 20 years, a period that would reach its crescendo with a national championship, in 1959. During the war, Schwartzwalder was a military hero, a paratrooper, part of the D-Day invasion in June 1944 fighting behind enemy lines. Born the second daughter to Floyd ("Ben") and The student-athletes also repeatedly requested that head football coach Ben Schwartzwalder hire a Black assistant coach, with whom they felt they could talk more easily about problems relating to race. 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. I will probably buy this book too. And then people, the fans, used to always call for me. He had the same burning drive in 1973 as he did as a rookie coach back in West Virginia in 1933. This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. 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. They included the battalion surgeon who had stayed behind to care for the wounded. Search and browse yearbooks online! Under Bens leadership, SU produced 22 straight years of non-losing football. He was also a military veteran. The basics. It's a scene included in tonight's world premier of "The Express" at the Landmark Theatre. Ron Womack had been removed from the roster due to an injury, a coaching decision he and his Black teammates viewed with suspicion, but he supported them through the whole boycott and is counted with them. Reggie was born on January 18, 1912, in Pine Grove, West. It doesnt break down in gender. He was a member of the 1964 Sugar Bowl team. He was a paratrooper in World War II, leaving the serv ice as a .