The Express on HBO by Jongsstraw

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The Express on HBO

POSTED BY: JONGSSTRAW
UPDATED: Thursday, October 1, 2009 01:30
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Thursday, October 1, 2009 1:30 AM

Anybody see this movie about legendary Syracuse running back Ernie Davis? I think it's one of the best presentations I've ever seen about what Black athletes went through during the 50's, as institutional racism was in full swing. It makes one quiver now to feel it from his point of view. It was indeed a rough and ugly struggle, but in the end his bravery and courage and character was one of the catalysts which led to integration of college sports. Dennis Quaid played the coach, and together with Davis, Syracuse went un-defeated in 1959, winning the Jan. 1 1960 Cotton Bowl against Texas for the national title. Ernie & the 2 other Black players were not permitted to stay at the hotel in Dallas with the team, and they could not attend the awards presentation because it was held at a restrictive country club. The whole team instead went to a rib joint. Ernie later won the Heisman Trophy, and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. Sadly, Ernie never played one game for them. He died of leukemia at the age of 23. The Browns retired his #45 jersey out of their tremendous respect for what Ernie had accomplished during his brief life.

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