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Gallagher's obvious admiration for Davis shines through in a comprehensive, well-written and inspiring account of his (much too short) life. Superbly written biography of Ernie Davis, a true hero whose story has been overlooked for far too long.
"A Halo for a Helmet" is the actual life story of Ernie, told in a novel form, absolutely true in every part. I am the official biographer of Ernie Davis. Congratulations to Gallagher on helping the film to happen, now read the story that will touch you for a lifetime, "A Halo for a Helmet: The Whole Story of Ernie Davis". It is a read you can't put down. Gallagher and I were researching this story around the same time. His is a blend of quotes from many people of that period, following through Ernie's sports life.
Across the land, in big cities and small towns, in large stadiums and rural high schools--the sights, sounds, and colors of the game are all around us. Gallagher. The movie is slated for release Oct. The teachers loved him. Two days later, on May 18, he died in his sleep.
His concern for his fellow man, and his affection for children, was sincere."I think this is what moved me the most when I read The Express, The Ernie Davis Story by Robert C. The next spring, Davis noticed more swelling and entered the hospital again. It was doubtful right up until game time whether he could play. "Ernie was the same kid at the end as he was at the start," said Jim Flynn, his high school basketball coach. Ernie's talent bloomed, and the honors came early and often. Stop by or tackle it online at www.wellsborobookstore.com
Penn State coach Joe Paterno had this to say about Ernie Davis: "He's the kind of runner you hate to coach against; you can't instruct a boy to tackle a man if he can't catch him."It was December 1961 when Ernie won the Heisman trophy. Ernie believed he was fortunate to be so gifted and never took his ability for granted. You can catch Kevin tailgating at From My Shelf Books in Wellsboro. In Elmira, more than 10,000 citizens passed the Neighborhood House on May 21 where Ernie lay in state. "Ernie was always the first one on the practice field and the last to leave." Many athletes, assured of a college scholarship, would have coasted in class, but "Ernie worked hard when it wasn't popular to get good grades. Though Ernie never played a game for the Cleveland Browns, they retired his number 45, worn only in practice.Davis was easily recognized as a great athlete, but his high school coach, Marty Harrigan, summed up what many felt for Ernie Davis when he said, "Everyone knew Ernie's athletic greatness, but few realized what a great human he was. "Either you fight or you give up," Davis said in remembering how he felt when told the news.
He was diagnosed with leukemia the summer before his rookie season. He never played in the NFL, but succumbed to the disease less than a year later. When he was in New York to receive the Heisman, Davis was treated with media coverage usually reserved for national heroes. "Imagine," Davis said, "a president wanting to shake hands with me."Ernie was the number one pick for the 1962 National Football League draft following his senior year. President John Kennedy was in the city at the time and asked to see Ernie, a visit that thrilled him. He grew up in poverty in Uniontown, a coal-mining town 50 miles south of Pittsburgh, where caring grandparents raised him.At 12, Davis moved to live with his mother and stepfather in Elmira. At the time, Ernie and the public were told only that he had a "blood disorder".
He practiced with the Browns. Davis was born on Dec. The Elmira ExpressI love the Twin Tiers in the autumn. Winning the Heisman is a significant accomplishment regardless of the year or player, but it was a significant racial breakthrough at a time with segregation was just beginning to become a social issue. Fall in the Twin Tiers ushers in a revered tradition. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, also the burial place of Mark Twain.
The Washington Redskins had the initial selection, but soon traded him to the Cleveland Browns, who signed him to a three-year no-cut, no-trade $65,000 contract with a $15,000 signing bonus, a new record for a rookie.The next summer while training for the upcoming All-Star game, Ernie awoke with swelling in his neck. Stop by your local bookstore or library and check it out. Four days before the game, Ernie pulled a hamstring while practicing place kicks. He believed that education would lead to social and economic success.Syracuse University experienced its greatest football success during Ernie's career. And then, suddenly, he was gone. The days are still warm; the nights cool, giving birth to vibrant fall colors. The book is available now. But when bowl officials said that only white players were invited to the dinner and that Davis would have to leave after picking up his trophy, the Syracuse team refused to attend.
The common thread is the game, and the athletes that practice and play it with heart and determination to the very best of their abilities.Few players have shown more heart or determination than Ernie Davis. There are lots of talented professional athletes today, and most of them are more than willing to inform you just how gifted they are, but the media exposure never changed him. The hills seem almost alive, and the threat of colder weather is a promise on the wind. Today, black players often win the award, and it might be hard for his contemporaries to appreciate his achievement.
He went on to become Elmira's favorite son, both as an outstanding athlete and as a respected and well-loved citizen. He led Elmira Free Academy to a 52-game winning streak in basketball and as a Syracuse sophomore helped the Orangemen gain their only national football championship. Coach Paul Brown, heeding the advice of medical people who warned him of the risks, did not play Davis. Davis was to have received his MVP award at the awards banquet that night.
When it's autumn in America, it's time for football. His parents separated shortly after his birth, and his father was soon killed in an accident. It was Ernie's performance against the University of Pittsburgh that same year which inspired the nickname "The Elmira Express." Elmira Star-Gazette sports writer Al Mallette coined the phrase. The disease went into remission, and Davis kept planning on pro football. He wasn't told it was leukemia until October, after he had been in and out of the hospital.
Flags in the city were flown at half-mast. Before leaving the game in the fourth quarter, he scored two touchdowns, including a then Bowl-record pass play, scored twice on two-point conversions, and intercepted a pass that led to Syracuse's final touchdown.He was voted the game's Most Valuable Player. 10. He never would excuse himself from work and say he had too many outside activities." Ernie intended to play professional football, but he knew that career expectancy in the NFL was only a few seasons, so he wanted to be prepared for another career when he retired from football. Universal Pictures has finished production on the film adaptation of Davis's life. 14, 1939, in New Salem, Pa.
A trainer sent him to the hospital, and doctors soon discovered the leukemia. The Orangemen became the national champions and winners of the Cotton Bowl. As a senior in 1961, he became the first African American athlete to win the Heisman trophy and was the number one pick in the 1962 NFL draft. He worked hard both on the field and in the classroom.
If you have a teen-ager, please try to get him (or her) to read this book. Well. The Elmira Express (on which the movie, The Express, is based) may not be the most literary piece of work ever written, but it the real story of Ernie Davis' legacy. It may just change your child's view of the world. OK.Just maybe. The movie may make for good "family viewing", but this book explains the TRUE story of just how brave, unselfish and caring this young man was, right up until his death. The book explains the indepth accounts of not only Ernie Davis' plight, but also of those who coached him, loved him, and experienced his untimely death.
Hopefully the movie coming out next year will capture the true heart of Ernie Davis. This isn't the greatest book, but a very good and emotional read about a guy that a lot of people should strive to be.
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