On the right side of the photograph are several Black team members who boycotted the football program the following spring. But for the guards to be enough men to make a difference in a pitched battle, there must have been a lot of German prisoners for Badass Ben to mow down - if that actually happened. Please disable your ad blocker to view the video content. 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. He recruited black players not . The coaches? The story grew each time it was told. You can't be Black and be a . From 1946-48 he coached Muhlenberg (Pa.) College to a 25-5 record before heading to Syracuse to coach the Orangemen. 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. In 1967, Schwartzwalder was elected president of the American Football Coaches Association. Neither believes "The Express" captures his personality, or accurately portrays his relationships with head coach Ben Schwartzwalder and teammates. The Syracuse 8 continued their boycott through the 1969 football season. He is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Syracuse, NY. He coached at Syracuse from 1949 to 1973, compiling a 178963 record, and winning one national championship in 1959 while going undefeated with an 110 record. During the summer, the black players filed a complaint against Syracuse University and the coaching staff with the Syracuse and Onondaga Human Rights Commission. Floyd Benjamin 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. The sacrifice that it takes, the [bad stuff] that goes on all around and where it comes from. Allen explained his position, but the coach refused to listen. He finally gets his chance in The Express, playing legendary Syracuse coach Ben. 1/11/2013. Gary Fleder: I just want to make a film that has the essence of Ernie Davis. About coming to Syracuse, Schwartzwalder famously said: The alumni wanted a big-name coach. The two men shook hands outside the Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf-Astoria. This month marks 50 years since the Syracuse 8 began their peaceful protest. And then we played Illinois, and I had to play. 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. He was personally decorated by the commander of the 82nd, the legendary General Matthew Ridgeway, who recalled saying to Ben I never expected to see you here to receive this award.. "Miraculously, Ed and the majority of his "lost" group were able to reach the US lines and by 14 June he was reunited with the regiment outside of St. He was performing these new duties at the battalion headquarters on 28 June when the command post was struck by a direct artillery hit. "What the director tried to accomplish is showing the conditions of those times," Easterly said. 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 . About coming to Syracuse, Schwartzwalder famously said: The alumni wanted a big-name coach. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? The coach is also remembered through the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy which, goes to the winner of each game between West Virginia University (where he had played as a college student) and Syracuse University. Quick Facts. And there was always the female situation -- dont date white girls and you have to play better than anybody else. You should know his story. 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 . For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. The Black student-athletes first sent their grievances to Coach Schwartzwalder, though that document does not exist in the University Archives. On the Monday following a game, the coaches used to show the game films in Sadler Hall for anyone wishing to see them. January 25, 2010 Floyd Benjamin "Ben" Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. "I see a lot of things that never were done to Ernie but maybe happened to [Syracuse great] Jim Brown (in the 1950s). The greatest part of Ernie Davis was that he could cross over lines. In 1941, he was coach of Canton McKinley High School in Ohio when, even though he was in his 30s, he commissioned in the US Army and fought in World War II. 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). The rest is now history. Schwartzwalder's teams went to seven bowl games and won four Lambert Trophies. During the West Virginia fracas, Davis snaps at his coach: "Maybe, just maybe, the rules down here are your rules too. In fact, he didnt even look at the original script. Ben and Ed trained together and most likely socialized with each other at unit functions and the officers' club. [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. Heres a clip from a recent Bob Costas interview talking with Brown about Ernie Davis: Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, 15 arrested across L.A. County in crackdown on fraudulent benefit cards, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles. He gave me a way in to tell this story. During World War II, Schwartzwalder enlisted and served as a paratrooper in the United States Army. About Ben Schwartzwalder is a member of the following lists: 1993 deaths , American military personnel of World War II and United States Army officers . He was a real comedian too. 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. After the United States entered World War II, Schwartzwalder joined the U.S. Army and served with the 507th Parachute Infantry of the famed Eighty-second Airborne Division. Schwartzwalder was a West Virginia graduate. He would then later imply he was joking or being sarcastic at the time these promises were made. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. However, his plane was seriously off course and dropped its "stick" of twelve paratroopers some ten miles away from its designated landing zone. Jim was very quiet in the early part of the film, Fleder recalls. Ernie Davis was only weeks from dying the last time Dick Easterly saw his Heisman Trophy-winning teammate. Finally he called Brown, who lives here in L.A., and set up a meeting. It was superficial and cloying and didnt give enough dimension to the 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. You should know his story. During his 25 years as head coach Syracuse teams outrushed their opponents by more than 22,000 yards. 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. Floyd Benjamin Ben Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. Carolina a amp to 0 a Murray state 21 Livingston 0 j. C. Smith 15 William amp Mary 7 a West Liberty 20 Virginia military 9 appalachian 0 Austin play 6 Gonso. Ben gave Syracuse its finest hours in football. 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. Even as a paratrooper, Schwartzwalder remained focused on his football career. Floyd Burdette "Ben" Schwartzwalder Birth 2 Jun 1909. I didnt know why people gave them money -- I didnt know any of that. And if you deal with my life, while Im dealing with all these bad people at Syracuse, I got all these good people out there helping [me]. Adversity and Ben were old combatants and Ben usually won. Its also a genuine comeback for Fleder, who hasnt made a feature in five years (hes been directing TV pilots), and he finally seems poised to recapture the promise of his early career work on such films as Things To Do in Denver When Youre Dead and Kiss the Girls. Before Fleder began work on the film, he knew he had to have one key figure on board -- Jim Brown, who was a star running back at Syracuse in the 1950s, helped recruit Davis (after Brown left to play in the NFL) and later become an action film star and civil rights activist. I know it well. During the D-Day invasion in 1944, Schwartzwalder parachuted into Normandy and was wounded. Quot gosh Quot moaned the hard bitten sex paratrooper Quot All we Are is one deep. He organized an athletic league from among the soldiers being assembled in England in preparation for D-Day in order to keep the troops motivated and fit. Reggie was born on January 18, 1912, in Pine Grove, West. kids games foreign dolls asst. In 1959, he also won the national coach of the year award. (Courtesy Syracuse University Press) "So he looks me in the eye, and he said, 'Well then, you have a decision to make. In addition to Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, he coached Jim Brown, Floyd Little, Jim Nance, and Larry Csonka through their college careers. When Ben recruited Larry, he did all that and also drove Larry out to the beautiful Central NY countryside and showed him where he could hunt and fish. They cited instances of unfair treatment, ranging from differences in disciplinary action to the coaching staffs intolerance of their civil rights activism elsewhere on campus. Hell, the movie's more about him than Ernie. He also wrestled and dodged a young coed who was just as fierce a competitor as he when it came to getting her man. The teammates also say that Brown's portrayal misses Davis' essence. 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. The school? Prijevodi fraza TOP THEMSELVES s engleskog na hrvatski i primjeri upotrebe rijei "TOP THEMSELVES" u reenici s njihovim prijevodima: Top themselves . Frank Giardina: Sports Legend Dinner, relationships, Ben Schwartzwalder and D-Day. Cemetery staff is on duty Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Dropped far behind enemy lines and miles off target, Ben, a Captain in Company G of the 507th, organized his men, established command, and a week later delivered a large group of prisoners to the Allied lines. Cutting black players from the list of team members mak ing trips. I think a couple of guys got hurt and they put me on defense. The basics. library.syr.edu, Copyright Syracuse University Libraries, A Courageous Stand: The Story of the Syracuse 8, Trustee, Faculty, and Student Committee Report. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Both taught and Ben began coaching in his home state. He rose to the rank of major and was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, four battle stars, and a Presidential Unit citation. It was a scene he had repeated several hundred times but on this particular day, November 24, 1973, it was different. 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). He played key roles in the capture of the La Fire Causeway and Sainte-Mre-glise, crucial points of entry into France during the D-Day invasion. The team he was coaching at the time was his favorite simply because of his great love of coaching. One other thought on that. . ", Easterly scoffs at that dramatic license. Starting in the fall of 1968, Black football players at Syracuse University expressed concerns about racial discrimination within the football program. This is where that appetite of desire was whetted and the burning determination to succeed was honed. He is part of Syracuse University history, and a veteran of the U.S. military. But its also a great drama about how both the athletes and coaches of that era were profoundly transformed by the civil rights movement, which initially had a far greater impact on society than on the football field. 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. Reading your post, I flashed on "Band of Brothers", which detailed a company of the 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne. 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. Coach Schwartzwalder's Decision A Black assistant football coach, Carlmon Jones, was finally hired in the summer of 1970, but neither the administration nor the football coaching staff took any other steps to address the boycotting athletes' other grievances. Just watched Seize and Secure a one hour documentary on PBS about the battle to secure the bridge at La Fire on DDay Capt. Schwartzwalder, 61 years old, has been head coach since 1949. Ben passed away in 1993 and is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Search and browse yearbooks online! In 1959, he also won the national coach of the year award. 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). The public Ben Schwartzwalder often appeared to be a cross between a wounded bear and a crossed bull. He produced 22 straight years of non-losing football, took the Orange to seven bowls, and won the national championship in 1959. This remains Syracuse's only football national championship to date. Ben Schwartzwalder began his football career as a 95-pound high school freshman quarterback. The student-athletes four demands were access to the same academic tutoring as their white teammates; better medical care for all team members; starting assignments based on merit; and racially integrating the coaching staff, which had been all white since 1898. 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. JavaScript is disabled. During the spring season, the players attempted to nudge coach Schwartzwalder one more time. But what do you do when youve got these circumstances? No portion of this site may be reproduced or duplicated without the express written permission of Syracuse University. Biography Lists News Also Viewed. Sc 1 after winning their first seven games. What is a filmmaker looking for when hes researching a film based on real-life events? After the war, Ben came back to coaching, and eventually found his way to Syracuse University. Schwartzwalder had a significant history of recruiting and developing black players during the 1950s and 1960s when many other major programs refused to do so. Syracuse head football coach Ben Schwartzwalder. You know, white folks could like him, black folks could like him, without really selling out. wood stock homemade appx 30 3/4l 2" metal lincoln bust heavy appx 5" politician dewey bust copyright 1899 5" general john j pershing 1917 glass mold. Mere Eglise. Floyd Benjamin Ben Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. Since Davis grew up with his grandfather, he always wanted his grandfather, "pops" to have a say in what he did. Even if you go to Syracuse now, there is a constant battle that goes on. Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. 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. By Frank Giardina For the Gazette-Mail; Jun 10, 2017 Jun 10, 2017 Updated Nov 21, 2017; Comments; I gave him the transcript of my talk with Jim and based on that, he said, Im in. Hearing Jim talk about the times was all he needed to convince him., Two and a half years later, after Fleder had a completed film -- with Rob Brown playing Davis and Dennis Quaid as Schwartzwalder -- Fleder returned to Browns house with a DVD of the film in his hands. Meanwhile, up in central New York, Syracuse was struggling for survival. When their request was not met, Greg Allen, Richard Bulls, John Godbolt, Robin Griffin (who only boycotted in the spring), Dana D.J. Harrell, John Lobon, Clarence Bucky McGill, A. Alif Muhammad (then known as Al Newton), and Duane Walker began their boycott of spring football practice. After returning home, Schwartzwalder began his college coaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he went 25-5. He organized an athletic league from among the soldiers being assembled in England in preparation for D-Day in order to keep the troops motivated and fit. But it was changing. Bemiller was quite literally at the center of Buffalo's American Football League back-to-back championship teams. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) The year was 1959. Point Pleasant, Mason County, West Virginia, USA. 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. Here are some excerpts from a 2005 conversation between Fleder and Brown that paved the way for the making of The Express.. Mary ScofieldMary Scofield (born Mary Schwartzwalder) passed away on December 7, 2017 after battling ovarian cancer for three years. Coach Ben Schwartzwalder began routines of coming up to Elmire to visit Davis and his family. I will probably buy this book too. All Rights Reserved. "Sometimes outstanding individuals are never appreciated until they are gone," said Beano Cooke, a former sports information director and now with ABC-TV. No. Schwartzwalder had a knack for developing excellent running backs. Ben Schwartzwalder College Coaching Records, Awards and Leaderboards | College Football at Sports-Reference.com Ben Schwartzwalder Career Record: 25 Years, 153-91-3, .626 Win% (at major schools) Bowl Record: 7 Games, 2-5, .286 Win% (at major schools) College Football Coaches Ben Schwartzwalder Overview More Other SR Sites All WW11. Schwartzwalder with quarterback Dick Easterly at the Los Angeles Coliseum, 1959. 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. In the spring of 1970, he arranged for former Syracuse football great Floyd . 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. But what was Coach Ben like? The funny part is that so many people have known this for years, including myself.". 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. By the time he was in college, it was apparent that he wasn't going to weigh much more than 150 and grow taller than 5-9.