He was drafted by the cleveland browns, but never played a down in the nfl because he was diagnosed with leukemia soon after. Ernie davis was an all american on the gridiron, and a man of integrity off the field. The express could make davis identifiable to younger generations. The basis for the universal pictures film the express, robert c. Ernie davis life story is chronicled in a novel called ernie davis. He works for the fairfax county public library in virginia. Billy harness ernie davis was probably the most skilled and talented football player ever to play in the 1960s era. The story of a heisman trophy winner 9780910155755. He is the subject of the 2008 universal pictures movie biography the express, based on the nonfiction book ernie davis. And it is a tale of unusual courage in facing a grave illness. Justin jones, happily collecting soda bottles along the towns railroad tracks. Ernie davis, american collegiate gridiron football player who was the first african american to win the heisman trophy.
Gallaghers definitive biography is a story of outstanding athletic achievement and greatness. The movie may make for good family viewing, but this book explains the true story of just how brave, unselfish and caring this young man was, right up until his death. Carrying on the proud tradition of the neighborhood house, also known as the nabe, the ernie davis community center provides after school cultural and recreational activities, academic tutoring, and educational assistance to area youth from the ages of 21. A few days before the 1962 allstar game it was discovered sadly that ernie had leukemia. An enduring story of a true scholarathlete, the express is a touching, impeccably researched, deeply personal portrait of ernie davis and a vivid look at sport in. The express is a 2008 american sports film produced by john davis and directed by gary fleder. Free academy, davis was a highschool allamerican in football and basketball. Widely recruited to play running back in collegiate football, he chose. There are elements of truth in the cotton bowl segment, which accounted for three pages in the elmira express, robert c. Ernie davis becomes the first africanamerican to win the.
Growing up in uniontown and elmira was hard, considering that the civil rights movement was going on then. The express soundtrack ernie davis story ost youtube. The express, a biopic about davis that opens friday, is at least in theory supposed to be based on his real life. Most people think my life has been all about football. Apr 26, 2016 in 1961, ernie davis became the first african american to win the heisman trophy. He died at age 23 in 1963, but managed to lead his high school basketball team to. Remember ernie davis, the first africanamerican to win the. Thing is, i dont know how much more is in front of me, and as you see from the number of pages if youve read this far, i did have a few things to say and im not sure hopw to end this, or even if i want to. The ernie davis story the express is an awesome book written about the career of ernie davis and all of the hardships he faced on his journey to the nfl. Subscribe to the play index and get access to more data than you can imagine. The ernie davis storystarring rob brown, dennis quaid, darrin dewitt henson,omar benson miller, nelsan ellis, charles s. Gary fleder does more than that in telling the story of ernie davis the elmira express, the running back for syracuse who became the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy, in 1961. Th e ernie d avis story, directed by gary fleder and based on the nonfi ction book the elmira e xpress. This biopic focuses on the relationship of ernie davis 19391963, a gifted africanamerican athlete, and his coach from 1958 to 1962 at syracuse university, ben schwartzwalder 19091993.
Gallagher which was originally published on june 1st, 1999. It helps us to realize that there is much more beyond the sports aspect of this magnificent individual. This quiz will challenge how much you know with some simple questions and other difficult ones that many people may not know. Ernie davis gravesite the express, statue, elmira express.
Rob celebrated his 16th birthday just before the start of production. The ernie davis story, directed by gary fleder and based on the nonfiction book the elmira express. Syracuse university top sports figures of all time duration. Ernie davis was an all american running back for syracuse university. Born on december 19, 1939 in elmira, new york, davis was a standout high school athlete at the elmira free academy.
Universal pictures made a film the express on the same book which began production on april, 2007 and was released on october 10th, 2008. Inspiring scene at the end of the movie the express story of ernie davis. T he story begins with a young ernie davis justin martin and a young will davis jr. A tribute to ernie davis syracuse football duration.
Dennis quaid plays a coach in the story of ernie davis. The ernie davis story is a 2008 american sports film produced by john davis and directed by gary fleder. This puppy is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of the movie to get the dialogue. Ernie the express davis rediscovering black history. Do you know the real legend of ernie davis or just the well known facts about his life. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. The ernie davis story, which was turned into a major motion picture. Gallagher is one of the most heart shifting stories and it will definately change your outlook on sports, and how ernie davis affected sports today. The story of a heisman trophy winner was written by robert c. The express is the story of ernie davis, the 1961 heisman trophy winning running back from syracuse. Gallagher, is the book upon which the movie the express.
The express script transcript from the screenplay andor. Gallaghers biography of davis that is the alleged basis for the film but. Known as the elmira express, he was a threesport football, basketball, baseball star at the elmira free academy in elmira, new york. Ernie davis was born on december, 1939 in new salem, pennsylvania, a small mining town of under 700 people about 50 miles south of pittsburgh.
The first africanamerican athlete to win the heisman trophy. Birth to 5 school readiness economic opportunity program of. Gallaghers book illustrates the great affection for ernie davis as more than 10,000 mourners filed by his coffin as it lay in state in elmira, ny. He helped break the color barrier in college football. Gallagher, helped keep davis memory alive by exposing new generations of. Robert gallagher did an amazing job illustrating ernie davis life story.
The 2008 universal pictures film the express, based on the nonfiction book ernie davis. It follows davis life from his early youth in elmira, new york, in the 1940s and 50s. A natural who never studied acting and who had no professional acting experience, made his acting and motion picture debut in finding forrester 2000. The elmira express on which the movie, the express, is based may not be the most literary piece of work ever written, but it the real story of ernie davis legacy. The syracuse team, coming off an undefeated season, was notable for the presence of ernie davis, a supremely talented running back who would go. An enduring story of a true scholarathlete, the express is a touching, impeccably researched, deeply personal portrait of ernie davis, and a vivid. Hello fellow wikipedians, i have just modified one external link on ernie davis. The ernie davis story is a movie about the star running back, ernie davis, and how discrimination and racism wouldnt stop him from becoming the. Rob brown was born in harlem and raised in brooklyn, new york. Biography ernie davis was an allamerican on the gridiron, and a man of integrity off the field. He left his legacy behind as he was the first african american to win the heisman trophy, the most glorified award in college football. Finally, the the express script is here for all you fans of the dennis quaid football movie. Ernie davis was a wonderful man who was born on december 14, 1939, in new salem, pa.
He was an intelligent and talented athlete from syracuse university. Gallagher, gives great detail about the courageous athlete from elmira, ny. He was bigger than most kids on his youth football squads, so rather than tackling them, he picked them up off the ground until the whistle sounded. To honor ernie davis, the browns retired jersey number 45, the number he would have worn, in his honor. He was posthumously inducted into the college football hall of fame in 1979. The express is involving and inspiring in the way a good movie about sports almost always is. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by charles leavitt from a book titled ernie davis. Feb 16, 2009 the movie begins with ernie davis as a young african american boy growing up in uniontown, pennsylvania in the late 1940s. The formula is basic and durable, and when you hitch it to a good story, you can hardly fail. His articles have appeared in baseball digest, the washington post, the redskins report. Ernest davis december 14, 1939 may 18, 1963 was an american football player, a halfback who won the heisman trophy in 1961 and was its first africanamerican winner.
The ernie davis story from the worlds largest community of readers. The express crosses the goal line as an inspirational sports drama, although fans of the genre will recognize many if not most of its cliches. An enduring story of a true scholarathlete, the express is a touching, impeccably researched, deeply personal portrait of ernie davis, and a vivid look at sport in america at the dawn of the civil rights era. He led his college football team to an undefeated season and a national championship. I ordered the express paperback as a christmas gift. The process of taking this nonfiction biography and creating from it a feature film requires adaptation. I loved the movie based on the true life of ernie davis so i knew i would love the book as well. Dec 07, 2016 ernie davis, a twotime allamerican halfback at syracuse university, lived a short life as a result of leukemia. He is a talented athlete in high school playing both basketball. Oct 08, 2008 ernie davis never played a snap in the nfl, yet there might not be an individual who humanized the sport of football more than the elmira express. The express earnie davis wins heisman trophy duration. A multisport high school star in elmira, new york, davis went on to syracuse university.
Gallagher is an extremely inspiring and motivating book. The elmira express it is here for all of us to savor. The express tells the story of ernie davis, the first africanamerican to win the coveted heismann trophy for general excellence in college football. Davis is remembered as perhaps college footballs greatest player and is the inspiration for the 2008 movie the express. His articles have appeared in baseball digest, the washington post, the redskins report, and other publications.
Join facebook to connect with ernie davis and others you may know. Gallagher, began production in april 2007 and was released on october 10, 2008. The only fulllength biography of davis, ernie davis. The film is based on the life of syracuse university football player ernie davis, the first african american to win the heisman trophy, portrayed by actor rob brown. The express a tribute to ernie davis college football espn. Ernie davis college stats college football at sports.
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