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. The Schwartzwalder Trophy was named after former Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder, who led the Orange to the 1959 national title. Very similar to Ronald Spiers story in episode 2 of that series when he supposedly gave a handful of German soldiers a cigarette and then executed all but one. Under Bens leadership, SU produced 22 straight years of non-losing football. The Commission subsequently chaired several meetings between the parties, but without success. See About archive blog posts. For his actions during the invasion, Ben was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, four battle stars, the Presidential Unit Citation, and was promoted to the rank of Major. He is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Syracuse, NY. Soon thereafter, a force of 80 507th paratroopers led by G Company commander, Captain Ben Schwartzwalder, joined the developing battle. Truth is sometimes rearranged in screen biographies, when facts aren't dramatic enough for the filmmaker's vision. This remains Syracuse's only football national championship to date. A good starting place is his home state of West Virginia. In 1941, Ben found himself a 33 year old high school football coach, working in Canton, Ohio, on the day that the Japanese attached Pearl Harbor. 2023 Syracuse University. 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) We created a day for minority students coming back together. What is a filmmaker looking for when hes researching a film based on real-life events? Its a great history lesson, offering kids a look at the real-life exploits of Ernie Davis, the trail-blazing Syracuse University running back who in 1961 became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. 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. 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. They got a long-name coach. And while maybe the alumni didnt get the big name coach, Floyd Burdette Ben Schwartzwalder gave SU its finest hours in football, becoming the most successful football coach in the Universitys history. . In 1959, he also won the national coach of the year award. 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. 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. 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. Quick Facts. map this locationGoogle map location At first, Ben Schwartzwalder was a legend at Syracuse. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. 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. In 1967, Schwartzwalder was elected president of the American Football Coaches Association. Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. ", Easterly scoffs at that dramatic license. It doesnt break down in gender. "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. Coach Ben Schwartzwalder began routines of coming up to Elmire to visit Davis and his family. Mountaineer fans are just over . Ben always refused to pick a favorite team or make comparisons. 3 pair military pants 36s 38s 36xs shirt. He eventually was able to link up with some 180 other "lost" paratroopers who had been dropped off target. Fleder admits to being something of a nervous wreck. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. And there was always the female situation -- dont date white girls and you have to play better than anybody else. He remained with the 507th PIR when it was reassigned to the newly formed 17th Abn Div, and fought with this unit during the Battle of the Bulge and in the airborne drop across the Rhine River at Wessel in March 1945. The Schwartzwalder family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. Davis' accomplishments and abbreviated life inspire the new movie, which Easterly saw at an Orangemen reunion recently. Ruth Simpson Reggie Schwartzwalder, 100, of Syracuse, died peacefully and surrounded by her family on August 25, 2012, at Crouse Hospital. Ben gave Syracuse its finest hours in football. The game ended and Ben Schwartzwalder walked to the middle of the field, shook hands, exchanged a few words with his opposing coach, then turned and headed toward the dressing room. 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 and Ohio a year at Canton McKinley High School and won two state championships. He was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart . After holding off the vastly superior German forc es for four days, the senior officer in command ordered the paratroopers to withdraw under the cover of darkness and attempt to reach Allied lines by exfilling in small bands through the flooded marshes and swollen streams. He was also a military veteran. Just watched Seize and Secure a one hour documentary on PBS about the battle to secure the bridge at La Fire on DDay Capt. But in real life, there are people -- white people -- who have done wonderful things because they were just good human beings. He wanted p A new head coach, Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder, would take over in 1949. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The media focused on only one request, the hiring of a black assistant coach, ignoring their other grievances. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. The demand for better medical care was rooted in the fact that the medical doctor for the team was a gynecologist by training and was hesitant to touch black bodies. "By doing the best we can do with the job we have, wherever it is, we can serve our nation in its greatest task.". You are using an out of date browser. During World War II, Schwartzwalder enlisted and served as a paratrooper in the United States Army. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. The team he was coaching at the time was his favorite simply because of his great love of coaching. As head coach from 1949-73, he mounted an impressive 153-91-3 record there. Youre always having to think of what youre going to say, what youre going to do, where you can go and where you cant. Davis, 23, died the next month in a Cleveland hospital. The story grew each time it was told. Death 28 Apr 1993 (aged 83) . All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. He would lead the program for more than 20 years, a period that would reach its crescendo with a national championship, in 1959. When he was personally decorated by General Matthew Ridgway, the General said "Ben, I never expected to see you here to receive this award.". I loved the genre and I thought Ernie was an intriguing character, but it didnt have any real conflict. Fleder started doing his own research, reading a lengthy Sports Illustrated article by William Nack that dealt with Davis, Brown and racism in college sports in the 60s. 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. They claim key events on screen never occurred, like the team being showered with garbage and racial epithets during a game at West Virginia. His primary recommendation for every injury was ice and rest. Syracuse Chancellor John Corbally, prompted by faculty sympathetic to the 8, allowed the players to keep their scholarships and to graduate, which they did. As Dolan approached from the north, Captain Ben Schwartzwalder led more than 40 men of the 507th to the south side of the Manoir, where he was also stopped by machine-gun fire. During the West Virginia fracas, Davis snaps at his coach: "Maybe, just maybe, the rules down here are your rules too. Orange teams outrushed opponents by more than 22,000 yards under Ben. In 1946, Ben came east and guided Muhlenberg to a 25-5 slate in three years. Ben Schwartzwalder was a decent guy, but he was from another era. However, his plane was seriously off course and dropped its "stick" of twelve paratroopers some ten miles away from its designated landing zone. Over that time he led Syracuse to its only football national title, in 1959. 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. He graduated from Syracuse University in January 1966 with a bachelor's degree in Economics. Burials may be scheduled by calling the cemetery staff at (315) 484-1564. Parkersburg, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ben_Schwartzwalder&oldid=1140633059, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 00:55. Here are some excerpts from a 2005 conversation between Fleder and Brown that paved the way for the making of The Express.. The priest, his friar and two elderly women who had been caring for the wounded in the local church, a structure dating back to the 12th Century, were summarily shot, and the village then set aflame. 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. I have to give Jim Brown a ton of credit. Even if you go to Syracuse now, there is a constant battle that goes on. Before Kaepernick, The Syracuse 8 Were Blackballed By Pro Football, WBUR Radio, https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2017/11/17/syracuse-8-football-boycott-kaepernick. 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. 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. Before the summer of 1970, Coach Schwartzwalder agreed but failed to hire a Black assistant coach more than once. Syracuse 8 Collection, University Archives. Ben Schwartzwalder was a decent guy, but he was from another era. He was the starting center at 152 pounds for the Mountaineers of coach Greasey Neale. Because in my experience, I just wanted to get out of there and get moving. Floyd Burdette "Ben" Schwartzwalder Birth 2 Jun 1909. She was 76 years old. He served with the 82nd Airborne and was in the first wave of troops that jumped on D-Day in 1944. 222 Waverly Avenue Prijevodi fraza TOP THEMSELVES s engleskog na hrvatski i primjeri upotrebe rijei "TOP THEMSELVES" u reenici s njihovim prijevodima: Top themselves . 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. I wasnt crazy about the original script, Fleder told me over lunch recently. He was 80 then and hit every drive down the middle. I will probably buy this book too. Jim told me something really amazing that put things in perspective. You know, white folks could like him, black folks could like him, without really selling out. Schwartzwalder was the head football coach of the Syracuse Orange from 1949 to 1973. He was bowlegged, sent off to military school and told his IQ was too low to even consider college. Coach Ben Schwartzwalder had no interest in acknowledging race and how racism affects the experience of black athletes. The coaches? Mostly, we remember Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder as Syracuse University's successful head football coach, 1949 to 1973. 20072023 Blackpast.org. He was a member of the 1964 Sugar Bowl team. library.syr.edu, Copyright Syracuse University Libraries, A Courageous Stand: The Story of the Syracuse 8, Trustee, Faculty, and Student Committee Report. Jim was very quiet in the early part of the film, Fleder recalls. He was basically a shy, quiet individual who never got very close to the press or general public. Schwartzwalder's teams went to seven bowl games and won four Lambert Trophies. Former Syracuse head coach Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder (center with his arm around SU's Ger Schwedes, 16) was no stranger to a good fight including this one involving the Orange and Texas Longhorns in the 1960 Cotton Bowl. But there was to be a delay. Jim was skeptical, Fleder recalls. A report on Ben Schwartzwalder. 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. But what was Coach Ben like? The ROTC building at Penn State is named after Wagner. Please disable your ad blocker to view the video content. Adversity and Ben were old combatants and Ben usually won. However, Ed Wagner's group overlooked the main route of advance for the German armored forces racing to reinforce the town of Carentan. There is so much joy on the faces of the players and Ben. And according to the emailer, Schwartzwalder and Wagner served together as paratroopers in the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. "He was a real taskmaster. So the story is like you said -- its a big story and a small story. List of battleships of the United States Navy, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, West Virginia Mountaineers football players, High school football coaches in the United States, United States Army personnel of World War II, People from Point Pleasant, West Virginia, Players of American football from West Virginia, "'The Express' and the movie's connections to Parkersburg", by Jody Murphy. It is where the seeds of the fierce competitor were nurtured and matured. 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, because it's a Syracuse University story - one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future. In 1969 a group of nine student-athletes boycotted Syracuse Universitys football program to demand change and promote racial equality. Syracuse 8: Tom Smith, Walker, Muhammad, McGill, Lobon, Harrell, Allen, and Godbolt, Spring 1969. "He was like a magnet to good things, always; polite, smart, a real personality," Whelan said. 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. A i turned . Those units were from the 17th Waffen-SS Panzer Grenadier Division "Gotz von Berlichingen". 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). Ben passed away in 1993 and is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery. 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.. The story of Jackie Robinson is also the story of Branch Rickey. (Courtesy Syracuse University Press) "So he looks me in the eye, and he said, 'Well then, you have a decision to make. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Over 25 season, he compiled a 153-91-3 record and led the team an undefeated season in 1959 that included the National Championship. 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. Chancellor John Corbally Records, University Archives. Cemetery staff is on duty Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. You had an amazing four years, breaking records and you make it easier for Ernie to come to school. On the Monday following a game, the coaches used to show the game films in Sadler Hall for anyone wishing to see them. 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. This little-known episode of brutality has been documented by the History Channel in a video titled, "Secret Massacre at D-Day". kids games foreign dolls asst. "Unfortunately, little else is known about Coach Schwartzwalder's rather outstanding military service in World War II. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. And then people, the fans, used to always call for me. Syracuse University did not strip the players of their scholarships, but. Parkersburg. He coached high schools in West Virginia and Ohio 1933-41. 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. The players believed that many of these issues could be remedied by hiring a black coach. 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. 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 "I never expected to see you here to receive this award," said the commander of the 82nd. He thought the first script was a little thin. After the intervention of Syracuse football alumnus Jim Brown, who acted as an intermediary between the coach and the players, a black assistant coach was hired. Schwartzwalder was born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Following his death in 1993, Schwartzwalder was survived by his daughters, Susan Walker and Mary Scofield. 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). "I have a strange feeling that in the years to come, officials, alumni and fans might finally realize what a tremendous asset Ben was. He also watched Spike Lees documentary, Jim Brown All-American, which offered more insight into the era. Ben led G Company during the D-Day operation and was decorated with the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry in his first combat action. Damn right. That makes it exciting. Floyd Little was raised in poverty in New Haven, Connecticut. 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. Schwartzwalder plays a prominent role in the battle. 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 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. I didnt know why people loved their university. But when he started talking about his own experiences, especially his conflicts with Schwartzwalder and how he was told he couldnt date white girls, I started to see a lot more drama there. And enthusiasm!! Less than a dozen men rank in this category. The sacrifice that it takes, the [bad stuff] that goes on all around and where it comes from. Schwartzwalder, a decorated World War II veteran with just three years of coaching experience at the college level, arrived at Syracuse . Director Gary Fleder uses Davis' football career to illustrate racial intolerance that Easterly and Whelan claim seldom existed for him. From 1946-48 he coached Muhlenberg (Pa.) College to a 25-5 record before heading to Syracuse to coach the Orangemen. Ben enrolled at West Virginia University and went out for football. Muhlenberg College was founded in 1848 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, as the Allentown Seminary by Samuel K. Brobst, a Reformed Lutheran minister. I know it well. It doesnt break down in color. Syracuse, NY -- Syracuse football players all heard first-hand stories of hand-to-hand combat involving the head coach of the Orangemen, Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder, from his service as a paratrooper in World War II. In addition to Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, he coached Jim Brown, Floyd Little, Jim Nance, and Larry Csonka through their college careers. Finally, we got the scene where Ernie wants to give his jersey, with No. He also was a hero of World War II. Syracuse a Veteran coach Ben Schwartzwalder was musing about his Lack of depth recently. 5 in our series looking at the coaches and players who have made the biggest impact in Syracuse University sports. 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. At West Virginia, he became a first-string center at only 148 pounds. In 2006, thirty-six years after leaving the team, during a Syracuse University-University of Louisville halftime ceremony, the nine former players were recognized with their letterman jackets for the courageous stand they took against racism. He didn't starve as a boy growing up but he knew what it was to want. The three major forces in the dispute have been the eight black athletes, and their spokesman George Moody, director of King-on-campus School; Chancellor John E. Corbally and the administration; and Coach Schwartzwalder, supported by his coaching staff and football squad. 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. Syracuse leads the overall record of the series 31-27, however West Virginia has won the trophy 11 times to Syracuse's 7. He also developed some of the most impressive running backs the game has ever seen Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Jim Nance, Floyd Little and Larry Csonka. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) The year was 1959. It was superficial and cloying and didnt give enough dimension to the story. Ben Schwartzwalder. ben schwartzwalder autograph hotel. 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. December 23, 2014 Floyd Benjamin "Ben" Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. 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. Ben was clearly on his way to the top. And thus, Ruth Simpson became Mrs. Floyd Schwartzwalder. 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 . "Ed Wagner, Class of '41, is the namesake of the ROTC Building at Penn State. 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. Almost immediately, Coach Ben Schwartzwalder enlisted in the United States Army, earning his paratrooper wings as part of the famous 82nd Airborne Division. He gave me a way in to tell this story. He was also a military veteran. Shortly after Dec. 7, 1941, Canton McKinley lost a coach and the U.S. Army gained a soldier. Schwartzwalder 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.". The school? I think a couple of guys got hurt and they put me on defense. 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. Google Image Result for https://d3d4f9a2nwdz4m.cloudfront.net/images/2011/9/28/SchwartzwalderBenonshoulderscolor.jpg, The Penn State game looms down there in Jersey; not so long ago, it delivered Dome delirium. You see, if Ernie didnt perform, all that nice [stuff] wouldnt have been about nothing. Did you feel the constant pressure or did you acclimate to it? BEN SCHWARTZWALDER (1909-93) The game ended and Ben Schwartzwalder walked to the middle of the field, shook hands, exchanged a few words with his opposing coach, then turned and headed toward the dressing room. At Syracuse, I was the radical and Ernie was the peacemaker, the guy everyone loved. 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. You find it where you find it. 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.

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