Ernie Davis
[edit] BiographyErnie Davis, born on December 13, 1939 in New Salem, Penn, was the first African-American to receive the Heisman Trophy. Davis played for Syracuse University before being drafted No. 1 overall by the Washington Redskins. He would shortly after be traded to the Cleveland Browns, though he never played a game for the team. Nicknamed "The Elmira Express," Davis became the only Syracuse player to ever win the Heisman. He gained All-American first-team honors in each of his last two seasons with the Orangemen. As a sophomore in 1959, Davis led Syracuse to the National 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 taken with the first pick in the 1962 NFL Draft by the Redskins, who then traded his rights to the Browns. Cleveland's dream backfield of Davis and Jim Brown would never be realized, however, as Davis tragically developed Leukemia in 1962. He died the next year. Davis' number 45 is retired by the Browns. Syracuse also retired Davis' number 44, which was also worn by Brown, during a ceremony on November 12, 2005.
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