Ben Schwartzwalder was a decent guy, but he was from another era. They wanted me to change positions, all kinds of stuff. The ROTC building at Penn State is named after Wagner. Richard Winters (played by Damian Lewis), who also received a battlefield promotion to major and was also from West Virginia, like Ol' Ben. 20072023 Blackpast.org. No portion of this site may be reproduced or duplicated without the express written permission of Syracuse University. Floyd Benjamin Ben Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. 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. When he refused their request, they walked out of spring practice and leaked their act of resistance to the media. You find it where you find it. The Orange had won but nine games in four years and everyone was unhappy. During practices a limit was placed on the number of black players who could be on the field at the same time. He was also a military veteran. After talking to him, I knew we had a movie. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. Corbally and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Jim Carleton met with the boycotting players that spring and committed to hiring a Black assistant football coach before fall practice. He coached high schools in West Virginia and Ohio 1933-41. He was a paratrooper in World War II, rose to the rank of major, and was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple . 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. Capt. "A lot of things in the movie didn't happen at that time at Syracuse but did happen in the country. Qualities missing from Davis' portrayal in "The Express," opening Friday. Yet forget wins and losses. During the summer, the black players filed a complaint against Syracuse University and the coaching staff with the Syracuse and Onondaga Human Rights Commission. He wore street clothes at the alumni game, serving as an honorary coach. JavaScript is disabled. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. Coach Ben Schwartzwalder began routines of coming up to Elmire to visit Davis and his family. Cemetery staff is on duty Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. 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. 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). 222 Waverly Avenue Starting in the fall of 1968, Black football players at Syracuse University expressed concerns about racial discrimination within the football program. What did Jim Brown say that made such a difference? Syracuse football was coached at the time by Ben Schwartzwalder, a beloved figure on campus, who led the Orange to. Ben Schwartzwalder. In 1973, Schwartzwalder retired from coaching and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. He was like a Marine, with a real army attitude. "I never expected to see you here to receive this award," said the commander of the 82nd. "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. Allen explained his position, but the coach refused to listen. 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. You can't be Black and be a . kids games foreign dolls asst. While the regiment was stateside Capt. He was the starting center at 152 pounds for the Mountaineers of coach Greasey Neale. Syracuse leads the overall record of the series 31-27, however West Virginia has won the trophy 11 times to Syracuse's 7. He would then later imply he was joking or being sarcastic at the time these promises were made. After returning home, Schwartzwalder began his college coaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he went 25-5. How does one describe Ben Schwartzwalder? The two men shook hands outside the Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf-Astoria. They boycotted knowing that their actions threatened their scholarships as well as potential careers in professional football. Schwartzwalder is portrayed by actor Dennis Quaid in the 2008 Universal Pictures film The Express: The Ernie Davis Story, a biographical film about Syracuse University Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis. wood stock homemade appx 30 3/4l 2" metal lincoln bust heavy appx 5" politician dewey bust copyright 1899 5" general john j pershing 1917 glass mold. And less than a handful of men who have entered the coaching profession since Princeton and Rutgers started the madness back in 1869 have recorded as many victories as did this crew-cut, bespectacled quiet little giant out of the hills of West Virginia. The players believed that many of these issues could be remedied by hiring a black coach. See About archive blog posts. Over that time he led Syracuse to its only football national title, in 1959. Courtesy Syracuse Library Special Collections (Syracuse 8 Collection, John Lobon Box 1), African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, Racial Conflict - Segregation/Integration, https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/syracuse-football-1960s-race-civil-rights, https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2017/11/17/syracuse-8-football-boycott-kaepernick, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. He organized an athletic league from among the soldiers being assembled in England in preparation for D-Day in order to keep the troops motivated and fit. Soon after being drafted No. All rights reserved (About Us). Syracuse a Veteran coach Ben Schwartzwalder was musing about his Lack of depth recently. He was 80 then and hit every drive down the middle. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Syracuse, New York 13244 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). But for the guards to be enough men to make a difference in a pitched battle, there must have been a lot of German prisoners for Badass Ben to mow down - if that actually happened. 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. Penn state then killed the clock and Tom Cherry took a deliberate safety with eight seconds to play to preserve the Victory. The team he was coaching at the time was his favorite simply because of his great love of coaching. 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. Ben always refused to pick a favorite team or make comparisons. All WW11. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. A good starting place is his home state of West Virginia. 1/11/2013. Schwartzwalder was born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. It was a scene he had repeated several hundred times but on this particular day, November 24, 1973, it was different. They identify him as later coaching Syracuse University to the national championship in 1959. During World War II, Schwartzwalder enlisted and served as a paratrooper in the United States Army. Schwartzwalder is portrayed by actor Dennis Quaid in the 2008 Universal Pictures film The Express, a biography about Syracuse University Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis. Ben enrolled at West Virginia University and went out for football. 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. You should know his story, because it's a Syracuse University story - one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future. An endearing photo is one from 90s I believe when Cuse players have Ben raised on their shoulders after a win. This is where that appetite of desire was whetted and the burning determination to succeed was honed. Coach Schwartzwalder led the SU team to an impressive record of 153 wins, 91 losses, and 3 ties, including seven bowl games, and the only National Championship in SUs history (1959 undefeated team). On the right side of the photograph are several Black team members who boycotted the football program the following spring. An ad blocker has likely prevented this video content from loading. The 1987 Orangemen electrified a crowd of more than 50,000 up there on their campus while routing these Nittany Lions' ancestors behind Don McPherson & Co. Find high-quality images, photos, and animated GIFS with Bing Images. He was personally decorated by the commander of the 82nd, the legendary General Matthew Ridgeway, who recalled saying to Ben I never expected to see you here to receive this award.. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Frank Giardina: Sports Legend Dinner, relationships, Ben Schwartzwalder and D-Day. I gave him the transcript of my talk with Jim and based on that, he said, Im in. Hearing Jim talk about the times was all he needed to convince him., Two and a half years later, after Fleder had a completed film -- with Rob Brown playing Davis and Dennis Quaid as Schwartzwalder -- Fleder returned to Browns house with a DVD of the film in his hands. The trophy was established in 1993, the year Schwartzwalder died, and was sculpted by Syracuse sports hall-of-famer Jim Ridlon. And according to the emailer, Schwartzwalder and Wagner served together as paratroopers in the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He was personally decorated by Matthew Ridgeway who recalled Ben well. Dropped far behind enemy lines and miles off target, Ben, a Captain in Company G of the 507th, organized his men, established command, and a week later delivered a large group of prisoners to the Allied lines. Gary Fleder: You came before Ernie. 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. Ben passed away in 1993 and is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Jim Brown: The coaches. He produced 22 straight years of non-losing football, took the Orange to seven bowls, and won the national championship in 1959. During the West Virginia fracas, Davis snaps at his coach: "Maybe, just maybe, the rules down here are your rules too. 44 on it, back to Ben Schwartzwalder, saying Im not Jim Brown. And Ben says to him, God I hope not and God I hope so. And Jim started laughing out loud, watching that, and I finally relaxed. At first, Ben Schwartzwalder was a legend at Syracuse. Parkersburg, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ben_Schwartzwalder&oldid=1140633059, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 00:55. Although in his thirties, Ben decided he was going to be a paratrooper. All Rights Reserved. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The sacrifice that it takes, the [bad stuff] that goes on all around and where it comes from. Ernie doesnt scream and he doesnt protest, but hes raging inside. He also was a hero of World War II. Im just saying you have an opportunity to take that story and do some things thatve never been done. I remember all I was thinking was, Great, hes not gonna kill me. After it was over, Jim said, You got it right. That was the best compliment a filmmaker could ask for. I know it well. 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. Despite promising to do so, Schwartzwalder failed to follow through. Lots of midgets. By the time the 507th reached the battle for Hill 95, they had suffered more than 65% casualties. It is where the seeds of the fierce competitor were nurtured and matured. Ben Schwartzwalder, Head Coach 1949-73. Before Kaepernick, The Syracuse 8 Were Blackballed By Pro Football, WBUR Radio, https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2017/11/17/syracuse-8-football-boycott-kaepernick. ". "Miraculously, Ed and the majority of his "lost" group were able to reach the US lines and by 14 June he was reunited with the regiment outside of St. The demand for a black coach was prompted by the black players accusations of discriminatory practices by their coach, Floyd Ben Schwartzwalder, and his assistant coaches. He was like a Marine, with a real army attitude. 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. It doesnt break down in gender. Enjoyed the story, I am sure Czonka repeated what he heard. The coach is also remembered through the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy which, goes to the winner of each game between West Virginia University (where he had played as a college student) and Syracuse University. Ruth Simpson Reggie Schwartzwalder, 100, of Syracuse, died peacefully and surrounded by her family on August 25, 2012, at Crouse Hospital. It may not display this or other websites correctly. He was captain of the football team in 1933. 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. Schwartzwalder plays a prominent role in the battle. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. 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. Point Pleasant, Mason County, West Virginia, USA. But you needed both of us to make real changes. , Fleder shakes his head. A report on Ben Schwartzwalder. He also watched Spike Lees documentary, Jim Brown All-American, which offered more insight into the era. - Ben Schwartzwalder. He is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Syracuse, NY. He was a real comedian too. 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. His wife Ruth "Reggie" Schwartzwalder died on August 25, 2012, aged 100. But none of these shortcomings stopped Ben Schwartzwalder from plunging head first into the field of battle. "Ed Wagner, Class of '41, is the namesake of the ROTC Building at Penn State. This remains Syracuse's only football national championship to date. He also wrestled and dodged a young coed who was just as fierce a competitor as he when it came to getting her man. He was captain of the football team in 1933. Gary Fleders The Express, which hits theaters next month, is really two compelling movies in one. For his actions during the invasion, Ben was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, four battle stars, the Presidential Unit Citation, and was promoted to the rank of Major. In 1969 a group of nine student-athletes boycotted Syracuse Universitys football program to demand change and promote racial equality. However, his plane was seriously off course and dropped its "stick" of twelve paratroopers some ten miles away from its designated landing zone. Cutting black players from the list of team members mak ing trips. The trophy was established in 1993 and was sculpted by Syracuse sports hall-of-famer Jim Ridlon. Please disable your ad blocker to view the video content. Born the second daughter to Floyd ("Ben") and The most Schwartzwalder families were found in USA in 1920. I remember some story like that and Larry committed to SYR because of Ben doing that.
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