Syracuse 8: Tom Smith, Walker, Muhammad, McGill, Lobon, Harrell, Allen, and Godbolt, Spring 1969. Finally, we got the scene where Ernie wants to give his jersey, with No. Allen explained his position, but the coach refused to listen. They show Ben in his Service today for Ben A Memorial Day service will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 4069 Howlett Hill Rd. This remains Syracuse's only football national championship to date. Frank Giardina: Sports Legend Dinner, relationships, Ben Schwartzwalder and D-Day. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. 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. Today in History: Syracuse University Football Legend, Floyd "Ben I just want to know -- what did you feel on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis? Schwartzwalder, Floyd Burdette ("Ben") - Encyclopedia.com His wife Ruth "Reggie" Schwartzwalder died on August 25, 2012, aged 100. By the end of the war Ben had been promoted to major and during the post-war period of occupation served as the military mayor of Essen, Germany. Mere Eglise. The Syracuse 8 (1969) - BlackPast.org Time Machine: Eight Black athletes off football team You should know his story, because it's a Syracuse University story - one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future. He was also a military veteran. Davis still had no idea where he was going to attend, but what sealed the deal with Syracuse was when Jim Brown the former Syracuse . In the spring of 1970, he arranged for former Syracuse football great Floyd . He was also a military veteran. 222 Waverly Avenue library.syr.edu, Copyright Syracuse University Libraries, A Courageous Stand: The Story of the Syracuse 8, Trustee, Faculty, and Student Committee Report. "By doing the best we can do with the job we have, wherever it is, we can serve our nation in its greatest task.". Is that in the book? Less than a dozen men rank in this category. Rivalry Trophy Series: Battle for the Schwartzwalder Trophy Enjoyed the story, I am sure Czonka repeated what he heard. You see, if Ernie didnt perform, all that nice [stuff] wouldnt have been about nothing. "Ernie knew everybody's name and went out of his way to say hello. Shortly after Dec. 7, 1941, Canton McKinley lost a coach and the U.S. Army gained a soldier. He thought the first script was a little thin. When he was personally decorated by General Matthew Ridgway, the General said "Ben, I never expected to see you here to receive this award.". Bemiller was quite literally at the center of Buffalo's American Football League back-to-back championship teams. He wore street clothes at the alumni game, serving as an honorary coach. During the spring season, the players attempted to nudge coach Schwartzwalder one more time. Lindquist was coming in from the east, and Levy was ensconced in a graveyard across the river at Cauquigny. 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. Los Angeles Times Staff Writer. 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. All these years later, Easterly still recalls his teammate not only for his football prowess, but also for his warm, comical personality. New York had the highest population of Schwartzwalder families in 1880. After being labeled black dissidents, the Syracuse 8 were suspended from the team. 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. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. But there was to be a delay. 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. We created a day for minority students coming back together. Schwartzwalder Trophy not in play - Big 12 Blog- ESPN 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. He was like a Marine, with a real army attitude. 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. Jim Brown: The other star of "The Express" - Los Angeles Times You can't be Black and be a . Jim Brown. Floyd Benjamin Ben 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. 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. 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]. You know, the funny thing about cinema is, usually when they do a story that has African Americans in it, there always has to be a white guy whos the savior. Syracuse, West Virginia Fans Create Petition For The Ben Schwartzwalder 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. He would then later imply he was joking or being sarcastic at the time these promises were made. [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. 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 2023 Syracuse University. Ben died in 1993 at the age of 84.. 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. Ernie Davis was only weeks from dying the last time Dick Easterly saw his Heisman Trophy-winning teammate. 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 Floyd Burdette "Ben" Schwartzwalder (1909-1993) Ben passed away in 1993 and is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery. However, his plane was seriously off course and dropped its "stick" of twelve paratroopers some ten miles away from its designated landing zone. After the war, Ben came back to coaching, and eventually found his way to Syracuse University. He also was a hero of World War II. About coming to Syracuse, Schwartzwalder famously said: The alumni wanted a big-name coach. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Capt. According to an email sent to SU's office of athletics communication and passed along to me, Schwartzwalder served in the same World War II unit and fought together during the D-Day invasion of Normandy with Penn State's Harry Edward Wagner, a Phi Betta Kappa graduate. He became a company commander and earned the rank of major. Anyways, getting back to the rivalry, the trophy was introduced in 1993 after the death of Coach Ben Schwartzwalder. Davis' accomplishments and abbreviated life inspire the new movie, which Easterly saw at an Orangemen reunion recently. 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. In 1941, Ben found himself a 33 year old high school football coach, working in Canton, Ohio, on the day that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Schwartzwalder, a decorated paratrooper during World War II in the 82nd Airborne Division who was among the first wave of soldiers that jumped at D-Day in 1944, coached the Orange from 1949 through 1973. Chancellor John Corbally Records, University Archives. 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. As head coach from 1949-73, he mounted an impressive 153-91-3 record there. 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. Walk Where They Fought: La Fire, 82d Airborne Division, D-Day 1944 I didnt know why people gave them money -- I didnt know any of that. By any definition, during the war Ben distinguished himself in service to the nation, and to his men. Casualties caused the 507th to regroup and reorganize. Gary Fleder: Did you feel it from the players? Christian Rudolph Kessler was the school's first teacher and administrator. He brought the school it's one and only national championship and undefeated season in 1959, but as his career progressed, it seemed to produce more and more cracks in a once so respected man. Those units were from the 17th Waffen-SS Panzer Grenadier Division "Gotz von Berlichingen". 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. And enthusiasm!! You should know his story. The Schwartzwalder family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. Gary Fleder: I just want to make a film that has the essence of Ernie Davis. 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. 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. Today Ed is buried with many of his fallen comrades from the 507th PIR in the beautiful US Military Cemetery, which overlooks Omaha Beach in Normandy. Biography Lists News Also Viewed. While the team will be forever linked to offensive stars like Davis, consensus All-America guard Roger Davis, and fellow All-Americans Fred Mautino and Bob Yates, the defense . Cutting black players from the list of team members mak ing trips. With the score Reading 13-6, North Carolina state drove All the Way to the Lions goal but Pound it Over. Collapse. Im just saying you have an opportunity to take that story and do some things thatve never been done. ben schwartzwalder autograph hotel. A nice memory. 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. Coach Ben Schwartzwalder had no interest in acknowledging race and how racism affects the experience of black athletes. Schwartzwalder was born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. 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, 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. Muhlenberg College was founded in 1848 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, as the Allentown Seminary by Samuel K. Brobst, a Reformed Lutheran minister. He rose to the rank of major and in the process picked up the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart, four battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. An endearing photo is one from 90s I believe when Cuse players have Ben raised on their shoulders after a win. Honoring Black History: Point Pleasant's Ben Schwartzwalder He had the same burning drive in 1973 as he did as a rookie coach back in West Virginia in 1933. Over 25 season, he compiled a 153-91-3 record and led the team an undefeated season in 1959 that included the National Championship. Finally he called Brown, who lives here in L.A., and set up a meeting. See About archive blog posts. Syracuse Chancellor John Corbally, prompted by faculty sympathetic to the 8, allowed the players to keep their scholarships and to graduate, which they did. Teammates say 'Express' fumbles the facts - Chicago Tribune Both taught and Ben began coaching in his home state. He had many reasons for doing what he did, but he stood up against his own people. Hon. Mordue Obituary (1942 - 2022) - Syracuse, NY - Syracuse Post Standard Cemeteries & Memorials Onondaga County Parks Reading your post, I flashed on "Band of Brothers", which detailed a company of the 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne. BEN SCHWARTZWALDER (1909-93) - Syracuse University Athletics But none of these shortcomings stopped Ben Schwartzwalder from plunging head first into the field of battle. The story grew each time it was told. Before Kaepernick, The 'Syracuse 8' Were Blackballed By Pro Football - WBUR