Fighting Discrimination

The time of segregation impacted some people more than it did others, clearly. In my opinion, sports should be a way to get away from it all. What I mean by it all, is the world, as well as its problems. Unfortunately during the time of segregation, the first African-American to ever win the Heisman, Ernie Davis, had to deal with segregation on and off of the field. Because he was African-American, Davis had a lot of struggles playing American football. Struggles included racial slurs, being targeted on the field, and the feeling that he did not belong in the sport.

Davis was born in 1939, and lived in Pennsylvania for most of his early life. At the age of 12 Ernie went to live in Elmira, New York with his mom and step father. Davis attended Elmira Free Academy and was talented in all three sports, football, basketball, and baseball. After being successful throughout his high school career and earning two All-American honors, Davis was recruited to multiple colleges but decided to attend Syracuse University. Ernie attended Syracuse University from 1959 to 1961. In these three years, Davis had extreme success winning the First Team All-American honor twice. During his sophomore year he led the Otto’s to a national championship, finishing the season 11-0, beating the Texas Longhorns 23-14 in 1960 Cotton Bowl Classic. Scoring three of the touchdowns during the game Ernie Davis earned himself the MVP award for that game. Though it didn’t seem Davis had any struggles in his Cotton Bowl game he had to overcome many. Throughout the championship game he fought through racial slurs and even opponents spitting in his face.  

After Davis’s senior year, overcoming discrimination, he was named the Heisman Trophy winner, and was the first African-American to ever win it. Winning the highest collegiate football award Ernie Davis was the number one pick by the Washington Redskins in the 1962 NFL draft.  The summer of 1962 Davis got diagnosed with leukemia, a disease that was incurable. He started receiving medical treatment immediately. Davis’s NFL career was short lived, Davis wouldn’t play the sport of football again. on May 18, 1963, Ernie Davis died, living only to the age of 23. Following his death the Cleveland Browns retired his number 45 jersey. Later in the year of 2005 Syracuse University also retired the number 44, honoring Ernie Davis’s successful career playing football for their university.