Athletes - Ernie Davis

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	Athletes - Ernie Davis

Ernie Davis (December 13, 1939 - May 18, 1963) was an American Football player who became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. Davis competed collegiately for Syracuse University before being drafted by the Washington Redskins then almost immediately traded to the Cleveland Browns in December 1961. However, the running back would never play a professional game after developing leukemia in 1962.

Born and raised near New Salem, PA Davis moved to Elmira, New York prior to entering high school. At the city's Free Academy, his talents on the football field garnered him the nickname, the "Elmira Express". From there, he went on to gain national fame at Syracuse for three seasons, twice winning first-team All-American honors. He remains the only Syracuse player ever to win the Heisman.

As a sophomore in 1959, Davis led Syracuse to the NCAA Division I-A national football championship, capping an undefeated season with a win in the Cotton Bowl. Ernie was voted Most Valuable Player of the 1960 Cotton Bowl and the 1961 Liberty Bowl.

Davis found racism still prevalent in the Deep South during his Cotton Bowl visit. At the banquet following the game, Davis was told he could only accept his award, then leave the hotel. Davis refused and his teammates boycotted the banquet.

Davis was the first player taken in the 1962 NFL Draft, selected by the Washington Redskins, who then traded his rights to the Browns. However, the organization's dream of pairing Davis with Jim Brown in the backfield took a tragic turn when Davis was diagnosed with leukemia during preparations for the 1962 College All-Star Game

Davis would never played a game as a professional, with his only appearance at Cleveland Stadium coming during a 1962 preseason game in which he ran onto the field as a spotlight followed him. Following his death, the Browns retired Davis' number, 45.

Davis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979. During his time at Syracuse, Davis wore the same number 44 as Syracuse University alumnus Jim Brown, helping to establish a tradition at the school that was acknowledged on November 12, 2005, when the school retired the number in an on-field ceremony.

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Athletes - Ernie Davis

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