Ernie Davis was perhaps the greatest football player to never get to play in the NFL....he won the Heisman 45 years ago today, before many of us were ever born.
As a sophomore in 1959, Davis led Syracuse to the NCAA Championship, capping an undefeated season with a win in the Cotton Bowl. Ernie was voted Most Valuable Player of the 1960 Cotton Bowl and the 1961 Liberty Bowl.
Not sure if many around here even heard of this guy....he appeared to be destined for greatness before his tragic demise , this reminds of a lot of Lou Gehrig's story or even the Len Bias death as Davis was set to play alongside his idol Jim Brown another Syracuse alum.
Davis was the first player taken in the 1962 draft, selected by the Washington Redskins, who then traded his rights to the Browns. However, the organization's dream of pairing Davis with Jim Brown in the backfield took a tragic turn when Davis was diagnosed with leukemia during preparations for the college all star game.
Ernie was diagnosed with acute monocytic leukemia on Monday, July 30, 1962. He died on Saturday, May 18, 1963 and was mourned by the nation.
Though Ernie never played a game for the Cleveland Browns, they retired his number 45, worn only in practice.
As a sophomore in 1959, Davis led Syracuse to the NCAA Championship, capping an undefeated season with a win in the Cotton Bowl. Ernie was voted Most Valuable Player of the 1960 Cotton Bowl and the 1961 Liberty Bowl.
Not sure if many around here even heard of this guy....he appeared to be destined for greatness before his tragic demise , this reminds of a lot of Lou Gehrig's story or even the Len Bias death as Davis was set to play alongside his idol Jim Brown another Syracuse alum.
Davis was the first player taken in the 1962 draft, selected by the Washington Redskins, who then traded his rights to the Browns. However, the organization's dream of pairing Davis with Jim Brown in the backfield took a tragic turn when Davis was diagnosed with leukemia during preparations for the college all star game.
Ernie was diagnosed with acute monocytic leukemia on Monday, July 30, 1962. He died on Saturday, May 18, 1963 and was mourned by the nation.
Though Ernie never played a game for the Cleveland Browns, they retired his number 45, worn only in practice.