Im just saying you have an opportunity to take that story and do some things thatve never been done. I didnt know why people gave them money -- I didnt know any of that. I remember all I was thinking was, Great, hes not gonna kill me. After it was over, Jim said, You got it right. That was the best compliment a filmmaker could ask for. What is a filmmaker looking for when hes researching a film based on real-life events? 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. You must log in or register to reply here. But none of these shortcomings stopped Ben Schwartzwalder from plunging head first into the field of battle. The Commission subsequently chaired several meetings between the parties, but without success. Both websites for the West Virginia University, where he played center for the Mountaineers and graduated in 1935, and Syracuse University having disappointingly little information on this period of the coach's life. You find it where you find it. 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.. A good starting place is his home state of West Virginia. !8 holes of golf and Ben never said a word about football. And then we played Illinois, and I had to play. When he refused their request, they walked out of spring practice and leaked their act of resistance to the media. Mountaineer fans are just over . The public Ben Schwartzwalder often appeared to be a cross between a wounded bear and a crossed bull. Did you feel the constant pressure or did you acclimate to it? He was captain of the football team in 1933. He said, You have to realize, in the civil rights movement, there had to be radicals and peacemakers, radicals like Malcolm X and peacemakers like Martin Luther King. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. The most pivotal character was Company Capt. 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. 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. He was a real comedian too. A new head coach, Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder, would take over in 1949. Finally he called Brown, who lives here in L.A., and set up a meeting. He overcame those . 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. Schwartzwalder was born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Schwartzwalder, 61 years old, has been head coach since 1949. The Syracuse 8 continued their boycott through the 1969 football season. Jim Brown: The coaches. In 1967, Schwartzwalder was elected president of the American Football Coaches Association. 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. He was captain of the football team in 1933. 1/11/2013. . All WW11. Years after Davis' death, Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder called him "the best kid I ever had anything to do with." "Ernie was just like a puppy dog, friendly and warm and kind," he told. January 25, 2010 Floyd Benjamin "Ben" Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. "Ernie knew everybody's name and went out of his way to say hello. In 1973, Schwartzwalder retired from coaching and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. After talking to him, I knew we had a movie. Cemetery Policies Our goal is to provide and maintain a facility of respect and dignity for the men and women of the military and their families. Truth is sometimes rearranged in screen biographies, when facts aren't dramatic enough for the filmmaker's vision. I didnt know why people loved their university. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Just watched Seize and Secure a one hour documentary on PBS about the battle to secure the bridge at La Fire on DDay Capt. The sacrifice that it takes, the [bad stuff] that goes on all around and where it comes from. You should know his story. A nice memory. Orange teams outrushed opponents by more than 22,000 yards under Ben. Ben passed away in 1993 and is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery. They then approached the Office of the Chancellor. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. But what was Coach Ben like? I am not sure the assistant coach had the facts correct. Damn right. Schwartzwalder is portrayed by actor Dennis Quaid in the 2008 Universal Pictures film The Express: The Ernie Davis Story, a biographical film about Syracuse University Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis. 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. Brown portrays Davis as an intense, shy person moved to anger when Schwartzwalder deflects any discriminatory acts. 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). 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. Even as a paratrooper, Schwartzwalder remained focused on his football career. 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). 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Schwartzwalder was born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. They basically tried to take all my self-esteem away. Ben Schwartzwalder, who recruited a series of acclaimed running backs as he restored Syracuse to football glory during 25 sparkling seasons that included an undefeated campaign in 1959, died. Floyd Benjamin Ben Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. 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. Corbally and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Jim Carleton met with the boycotting players that spring and committed to hiring a Black assistant football coach before fall practice. Cutting black players from the list of team members mak ing trips. Ben organized and coached the 507th's football team. The story grew each time it was told. Ben Schwartzwalder was a decent guy, but he was from another era. 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. 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. Ben Schwartzwalder, a pre-war high school coach in West Virginia who served as a major with the army paratroopers during the war, returned home and took over the program as its new coach. Those units were from the 17th Waffen-SS Panzer Grenadier Division "Gotz von Berlichingen". You know, white folks could like him, black folks could like him, without really selling out. Later that afternoon, a beaming Davis, seeing Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder, went floating toward him through a. Over 25 season, he compiled a 153-91-3 record and led the team an undefeated season in 1959 that included the National Championship. 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 . He thought there was only one way to play football and that was the rough way. - Ben Schwartzwalder. Fleder didnt simply want Browns take on Davis; he wanted to hear what the former football star thought of Ben Schwartzwalder, the legendary Syracuse coach who wasnt so enthralled by the civil rights fervor that was starting to sweep the nation. So if you take a story like Ernies, you can show that, for the first time somebody can show what it is to be an American and the subtleties of carrying that burden. 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. 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. But what do you do when youve got these circumstances? Notably, he coached the first African-American to win a Heisman trophy and maintained team unity and cohesiveness in a racially charged environment to defeat the all-white University of Texas team in the Cotton Bowl while winning the 1959 national championship. Syracuse a Veteran coach Ben Schwartzwalder was musing about his Lack of depth recently. You can't be Black and be a . Despite promising to do so, Schwartzwalder failed to follow through. See About archive blog posts. Even as a paratrooper, Schwartzwalder remained focused on his football career. Reading your post, I flashed on "Band of Brothers", which detailed a company of the 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne. Neither believes "The Express" captures his personality, or accurately portrays his relationships with head coach Ben Schwartzwalder and teammates. Frank Giardina: Sports Legend Dinner, relationships, Ben Schwartzwalder and D-Day. He gave me a way in to tell this story. 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. "We football coaches are most fortunate," Ben said as he left office as the president of the American Football Coaches Association. Biography Edit Early life and career Edit. 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). As a member of the famed 82nd Airborne, he parachuted onto Normandy Beach on D-Day in 1944. He also was a hero of World War II. It was 1963 at Syracuse University's alumni football game, where teammates celebrated the Orangemen's 1959 national championship. 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. He coached the first African-American to win a Heisman Trophy and maintained team unity and cohesiveness in a racially charged environment to defeat the all-white Texas Longhorns in the 1960 Cotton Bowl Classic and win a national championship. The Schwartzwalder family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. Enjoyed the story, I am sure Czonka repeated what he heard. I don't know what the ratio of prisoners to guards would have been. Both taught and Ben began coaching in his home state. Director Gary Fleder uses Davis' football career to illustrate racial intolerance that Easterly and Whelan claim seldom existed for him. During the D-Day invasion in 1944, Schwartzwalder parachuted into Normandy and was wounded. Following his completion of ROTC, as a Distinguished. Sc This is where that appetite of desire was whetted and the burning determination to succeed was honed. The story of Jackie Robinson is also the story of Branch Rickey. Ben Schwartzwalder. Under Bens leadership, SU produced 22 straight years of non-losing football. 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. Reggie was the widow of legendary Syracuse University head football coach Floyd Ben Schwartzwalder, who died in 1993. Search and browse yearbooks online! 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 any definition, during the war Ben distinguished himself in service to the nation, and to his men. We created a day for minority students coming back together. It is very likely that Lt. Wagner assisted him with this extracurricular athletic program in view of the fact that Ed had been an assistant manager for the Penn State football team in 1939, and as the 3rd Battalion's personnel officer, or S-1, he would have been able to identify unit personnel with football experience and "facilitate" their assignment to "extra duties". He was a paratrooper in World War II, leaving the serv ice as a . Gary Fleder: I just want to make a film that has the essence of Ernie Davis. He thought there was only one way to play football and that was the rough way . During the summer, the black players filed a complaint against Syracuse University and the coaching staff with the Syracuse and Onondaga Human Rights Commission. serving during World War II, Ben Schwartzwalder returned home and began coaching college football; and WHEREAS, In 1949, the couple moved to Syracuse, New York, and Ben Schwartzwalder began his long and distinguished coaching career with the football team at Syracuse University; and Los Angeles Times Staff Writer. Shortly after Dec. 7, 1941, Canton McKinley lost a coach and the U.S. Army gained a soldier. 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. West Virginia and Syracuse might have a sordid past as Big East rivals, but you'd never know it by what's not at stake in this month's upcoming Camping World Bowl. Lindquist was coming in from the east, and Levy was ensconced in a graveyard across the river at Cauquigny. These SS troopers also executed the twenty plus wounded US paratroopers who had been too injured to evacuate with the others. Floyd Little was raised in poverty in New Haven, Connecticut. He produced 22 straight years of non-losing football, took the Orange to seven bowls, and won the national championship in 1959. 1 overall by the Cleveland Browns, Davis was diagnosed with leukemia. And less than a handful of men who have entered the coaching profession since Princeton and Rutgers started the madness back in 1869 have recorded as many victories as did this crew-cut, bespectacled quiet little giant out of the hills of West Virginia. "He was a real taskmaster. Schwartzwalder with quarterback Dick Easterly at the Los Angeles Coliseum, 1959. About coming to Syracuse, Schwartzwalder famously said: The alumni wanted a big-name coach. Syracuse, New York 13244 But you needed both of us to make real changes. , Fleder shakes his head. Born the second daughter to Floyd ("Ben") and They wanted me to change positions, all kinds of stuff. Point Pleasant, Mason County, West Virginia, USA. At Syracuse, I was the radical and Ernie was the peacemaker, the guy everyone loved. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. He earned a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Silver Star, and Presidential Unit Citation. 222 Waverly Avenue Muhlenberg College was founded in 1848 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, as the Allentown Seminary by Samuel K. Brobst, a Reformed Lutheran minister. Floyd Benjamin "Ben" Schwartzwalder (June 2, 1909 as Floyd Benjamin Schwartzwalder - April 28, 1993) AKA Ben Schwartzwalder 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 Am 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. The rest is now history. 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]. While the regiment was stateside Capt. 3 pair military pants 36s 38s 36xs shirt. At first, Ben Schwartzwalder was a legend at Syracuse. 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.. Since Davis grew up with his grandfather, he always wanted his grandfather, "pops" to have a say in what he did. And that was the first time I ever felt like an alumni. But in real life, there are people -- white people -- who have done wonderful things because they were just good human beings. Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 00:55, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "'The Express' and the movie's connections to Parkersburg", by Jody Murphy. map this locationGoogle map location It is where the seeds of the fierce competitor were nurtured and matured. An ad blocker has likely prevented this video content from loading. They believed this practice restricted their talents and abilities and decreased the teams likelihood of winning games. Dropped far behind enemy lines and miles off target, Ben organized his command immediately and a week later brought a bunch of prisoners to the Allied lines. Burials may be scheduled by calling the cemetery staff at (315) 484-1564. He also watched Spike Lees documentary, Jim Brown All-American, which offered more insight into the era. 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. He was a member of the 1964 Sugar Bowl team. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Syracuse 8 Collection, University Archives. Christian Rudolph Kessler was the school's first teacher and administrator. The teammates also say that Brown's portrayal misses Davis' essence. This little-known episode of brutality has been documented by the History Channel in a video titled, "Secret Massacre at D-Day". Penn state then killed the clock and Tom Cherry took a deliberate safety with eight seconds to play to preserve the Victory. Ernie Davis was only weeks from dying the last time Dick Easterly saw his Heisman Trophy-winning teammate. Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder (Ben was a childhood nickname) had a major impact on the Syracuse University football program during his 25 years as head coach including winning a national championship in 1959. Allen explained his position, but the coach refused to listen. Ben Schwartzwalder grew up in West Virginia, and developed into a superb athlete (a standout wrestler and football player, both in high school and college). But it was changing. What did Jim Brown say that made such a difference? 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. 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. During the spring season, the players attempted to nudge coach Schwartzwalder one more time. All Rights Reserved. Jim told me something really amazing that put things in perspective. Thats the reason I recruited Ernie, because he was a great, great player and it was starting to change. 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.
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