Ben always refused to pick a favorite team or make comparisons. Schwartzwalder was also a hero of the D-Day invasion and several other important engagements of World War II. He is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Syracuse, NY. During his 25 years as head coach Syracuse teams outrushed their opponents by more than 22,000 yards. Camping World Bowl Game Will Not Feature Schwartzwalder Trophy Dropped far behind enemy lines and miles off target, Ben organized his command immediately and a week later brought a bunch of prisoners to the Allied lines. Adversity and Ben were old combatants and Ben usually won. Schwartzwalder was the head football coach of the Syracuse Orange from 1949 to 1973. Almost immediately, Coach Ben Schwartzwalder enlisted in the United States Army, earning his paratrooper wings as part of the famous 82nd Airborne Division. As a paratrooper with the 82nd, he was among the first wave of soldiers that jumped on D-Day in 1944. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. "He would never in a million years talk to Ben Schwartzwalder like that," Easterly said. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. There is so much joy on the faces of the players and Ben. Davis' accomplishments and abbreviated life inspire the new movie, which Easterly saw at an Orangemen reunion recently. Ben Schwartzwalder. Ben Schwartzwalder Dies at 83; Revitalized Football at Syracuse It doesnt break down in color. Floyd Benjamin Ben Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. Mere Eglise. He was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart . Ben Schwartzwalder | American Football Database | Fandom This was about 67% of all the recorded Schwartzwalder's in USA. Allen explained his position, but the coach refused to listen. "Nor would Ben ever talk to Ernie like that.". You find it where you find it. 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. As head coach from 1949-73, he mounted an impressive 153-91-3 record there. They boycotted knowing that their actions threatened their scholarships as well as potential careers in professional football. We created a day for minority students coming back together. Both sites mention that in addition to the Silver Star, Major Ben was also awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, the latter indicating a combat wound.". Very similar to Ronald Spiers story in episode 2 of that series when he supposedly gave a handful of German soldiers a cigarette and then executed all but one. The teammates also say that Brown's portrayal misses Davis' essence. Some white teammates stood in solidarity and threatened to boycott if the black players were not allowed back, but they were overpowered by the alumni who wanted all the black players off the team and their scholarships revoked. He earned a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Silver Star, and Presidential Unit Citation. 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. He would then later imply he was joking or being sarcastic at the time these promises were made. Floyd Burdette 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. By 1941, he had earned a name for himself and was offered the head coaching job at Canton McKinley High School in Ohio, one of the top jobs in the Midwest. By the time he was in college, it was apparent that he wasn't going to weigh much more than 150 and grow taller than 5-9. Qualities missing from Davis' portrayal in "The Express," opening Friday. All WW11. Walk Where They Fought: La Fire, 82d Airborne Division, D-Day 1944 | Armchair General Magazine - We Put YOU in Command! library.syr.edu, Copyright Syracuse University Libraries, A Courageous Stand: The Story of the Syracuse 8, Trustee, Faculty, and Student Committee Report. But none of these shortcomings stopped Ben Schwartzwalder from plunging head first into the field of battle. At Syracuse, I was the radical and Ernie was the peacemaker, the guy everyone loved. His primary recommendation for every injury was ice and rest. Ernie Davis becomes first Black to win Heisman Trophy The three major forces in the dispute have been the eight black athletes, and their spokesman George Moody, director of King-on-campus School; Chancellor John E. Corbally and the administration; and Coach Schwartzwalder, supported by his coaching staff and football squad. Quick Facts. Anyways, getting back to the rivalry, the trophy was introduced in 1993 after the death of Coach Ben Schwartzwalder. 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. I remember some story like that and Larry committed to SYR because of Ben doing that. I didnt know why people gave them money -- I didnt know any of that. On the right side of the photograph are several Black team members who boycotted the football program the following spring. The sacrifice that it takes, the [bad stuff] that goes on all around and where it comes from. Ben Schwartzwalder - Wikipedia A new head coach, Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder, would take over in 1949. Schwartzwalder, a decorated World War II veteran with just three years of coaching experience at the college level, arrived at Syracuse . 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. Wiping Systems Market Is Likely To Boost In Upcoming Years. Items For Sale At Auction - Online Auction Sunday Jan 29th 9am Military Rivalry Trophy Series: Battle for the Schwartzwalder Trophy 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. You should know his story, because its a Syracuse University story one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future. In the spring of 1970, he arranged for former Syracuse football great Floyd . Floyd Burdette 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 1946 he rotated back to the States and was honorably discharged. The demand for better medical care was rooted in the fact that the medical doctor for the team was a gynecologist by training and was hesitant to touch black bodies. . He coached high schools in West Virginia and Ohio 1933-41. Ben Schwartzwalder, Head Coach 1949-73 - Syracuse University After holding off the vastly superior German forc es for four days, the senior officer in command ordered the paratroopers to withdraw under the cover of darkness and attempt to reach Allied lines by exfilling in small bands through the flooded marshes and swollen streams. He recruited black players not . Here's more about their relationship (all from the unknown emailer): 8 Black Syracuse Football Players Continue Boycott He became a company commander and earned the rank of major. The public Ben Schwartzwalder often appeared to be a cross between a wounded bear and a crossed bull. As a captain in the 82nd Airborne (CO of Company G of the 507th), Schwartzwalder earned distinction during the invasion of Normandy and battles that followed in the last days of the war. Reggie was born on January 18, 1912, in Pine Grove, West. 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. Jim Brown: The other star of "The Express" - Los Angeles Times For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. After the intervention of Syracuse football alumnus Jim Brown, who acted as an intermediary between the coach and the players, a black assistant coach was hired. Ben Schwartzwalder AKA Floyd Burdette Schwartzwalder Born: 2-Jun - 1909 Birthplace: Point Pleasant, WV Died: 28-Apr - 1993 Location of death: St. Petersburg, FL Cause of death: Heart Failure Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Football Nationality: United States The story grew each time it was told. "Ernie knew everybody's name and went out of his way to say hello. Schwartzwalder plays a prominent role in the battle. Ben Schwartzwalder Death Fact Check, Birthday & Date of Death I know it well. By the time the 507th reached the battle for Hill 95, they had suffered more than 65% casualties. 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. Hell, the movie's more about him than Ernie. I loved the genre and I thought Ernie was an intriguing character, but it didnt have any real conflict. Fleder started doing his own research, reading a lengthy Sports Illustrated article by William Nack that dealt with Davis, Brown and racism in college sports in the 60s. Its also a genuine comeback for Fleder, who hasnt made a feature in five years (hes been directing TV pilots), and he finally seems poised to recapture the promise of his early career work on such films as Things To Do in Denver When Youre Dead and Kiss the Girls. Before Fleder began work on the film, he knew he had to have one key figure on board -- Jim Brown, who was a star running back at Syracuse in the 1950s, helped recruit Davis (after Brown left to play in the NFL) and later become an action film star and civil rights activist. Burials may be scheduled by calling the cemetery staff at (315) 484-1564. I wasnt crazy about the original script, Fleder told me over lunch recently. Ben passed away in 1993 and is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Floyd Burdette "Ben" Schwartzwalder (1909-1993) When he was personally decorated by General Matthew Ridgway, the General said "Ben, I never expected to see you here to receive this award.". He was like a Marine, with a real army attitude. Bad-ass Ben | Syracusefan.com 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. Ben gave Syracuse its finest hours in football. Casualties caused the 507th to regroup and reorganize. Schwartzwalder had a knack for developing excellent running backs through their college careers, including Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, Jim Brown, Floyd Little, Jim Nance, and Larry Csonka. 1 overall by the Cleveland Browns, Davis was diagnosed with leukemia. This remains Syracuse's only football national championship to date. He developed some of the most impressive running backs the game has ever seen - Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Jim Nance, Floyd Little and Larry Csonka. Ben Schwartzwalder and Related Topics - hyperleap.com "Unfortunately, little else is known about Coach Schwartzwalder's rather outstanding military service in World War II. The Black student-athletes first sent their grievances to Coach Schwartzwalder, though that document does not exist in the University Archives. They got a long-name coach. And while maybe the alumni didnt get the big name coach, Floyd Burdette Ben Schwartzwalder gave SU its finest hours in football, becoming the most successful football coach in the Universitys history. As Dolan approached from the north, Captain Ben Schwartzwalder led more than 40 men of the 507th to the south side of the Manoir, where he was also stopped by machine-gun fire. He coached the 507th PIR football team, leading them through a ten game season in which the 507th was never defeated and never even scored upon. Ben was just an old fashioned guy who thought you were privileged to play. Ben was clearly on his way to the top. However, his plane was seriously off course and dropped its "stick" of twelve paratroopers some ten miles away from its designated landing zone. Celebrating the 1959 SU football team | WSYR The Schwartzwalder Trophy was named after former Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder, who led the Orange to the 1959 national title. I don't know what the ratio of prisoners to guards would have been. On April 17, 1970, Black members of the football team sent Chancellor John Corbally a letter asking that he address their grievances within two days. Brown portrays Davis as an intense, shy person moved to anger when Schwartzwalder deflects any discriminatory acts. He coached at Syracuse from 1949 to 1973, compiling a 178963 record, and winning one national championship in 1959 while going undefeated with an 110 record. The Syracuse 8 demand for equal access as white players to tutors and academic advisors was based on their being relegated to general reading and education classes predicated on notions of their limited academic ability. He is part of Syracuse University history, and a veteran of the U.S. military. 1 after winning their first seven games. They believed this practice restricted their talents and abilities and decreased the teams likelihood of winning games. Reading your post, I flashed on "Band of Brothers", which detailed a company of the 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne. It's everyone's fight, even if it's not specifically your story Following his death in 1993, Schwartzwalder was survived by his daughters, Susan Walker and Mary Scofield. And that was the first time I ever felt like an alumni. He also watched Spike Lees documentary, Jim Brown All-American, which offered more insight into the era. Finally he called Brown, who lives here in L.A., and set up a meeting. "When Ed initially reported for duty with G Company, 3rd Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Sep42 at Ft. Benning, Georgia, his company commander was none other than Captain Floyd B. Schwartzwalder, the future head football coach of Syracuse University and eventual gridiron nemesis of Ed Wagner's Nittany Lions. Davis, 23, died the next month in a Cleveland hospital. At West Virginia, he became a first-string center at only 148 pounds. 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. As a paratrooper with the 82nd, he was among the first wave of soldiers that jumped on D-Day in 1944. Schwartzwalder was born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. He coached the 507th PIR football team, leading them through a ten-game season in which the 507th was never defeated and never even scored upon. 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. "Ed Wagner, Class of '41, is the namesake of the ROTC Building at Penn State. Schwartzwalder had a knack for developing excellent running backs. You can't be Black and be a . All Rights Reserved. I have to give Jim Brown a ton of credit. Played golf in an SU golf outing at Drrumliuns years back with Ben and an offensive lineman on the championship team (Yeager??). Floyd Burdette "Ben" Schwartzwalder Birth 2 Jun 1909. Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. West Virginia University - Monticola Yearbook (Morgantown, WV), Class of 1932, Page 231 of 392 | E-Yearbook.com has the largest online yearbook collection of college, university, high school, middle school, junior high school, military, naval cruise books and yearbooks. You see, if Ernie didnt perform, all that nice [stuff] wouldnt have been about nothing. They included the battalion surgeon who had stayed behind to care for the wounded. Intro: American football player and coach: Was: Sports coach American football player: From: United States of America: Field: Sports: Gender: male: Birth: 2 June 1909: Death: 28 April 1993 (aged 83 years) Mountaineer fans are just over . During the West Virginia fracas, Davis snaps at his coach: "Maybe, just maybe, the rules down here are your rules too. The most pivotal character was Company Capt. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? Biography Edit Early life and career Edit. Both websites for the West Virginia University, where he played center for the Mountaineers and graduated in 1935, and Syracuse University having disappointingly little information on this period of the coach's life. He was captain of the football team in 1933. He was performing these new duties at the battalion headquarters on 28 June when the command post was struck by a direct artillery hit. 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. Dennis Quaid: I Cleaned My Life Up - Parade: Entertainment, Recipes Honoring Black History: Point Pleasant's Ben Schwartzwalder Ben Schwartzwalder was a decent guy, but he was from another era. Ben Schwartzwalder grew up in West Virginia, and developed into a superb athlete (a standout wrestler and football player, both in high school and college). During his 25 years as head coach Syracuse teams outrushed their opponents by more than 22,000 yards. Notable Veteran Alumni: Floyd Benjamin "Ben" Schwartzwalder The most Schwartzwalder families were found in USA in 1920.