BEN SCHWARTZWALDER (1909-93) The game ended and Ben Schwartzwalder walked to the middle of the field, shook hands, exchanged a few words with his opposing coach, then turned and headed toward the dressing room. Ben passed away in 1993 and is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery. "I have a strange feeling that in the years to come, officials, alumni and fans might finally realize what a tremendous asset Ben was. He thought there was only one way to play football and that was the rough way . In "The Express," Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid) is initially depicted as reluctant to recruit Davis (Rob Brown) because he's "too old to butt heads with another Jim Brown," one of the first black. He was performing these new duties at the battalion headquarters on 28 June when the command post was struck by a direct artillery hit. 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. The Commission subsequently chaired several meetings between the parties, but without success. As a paratrooper with the 82nd, he was among the first wave of soldiers that jumped on D-Day in 1944. The military also named Schwartzwalder governor of Essen, Germany, for about six months following the fall of Nazi Germany. Collapse. It is very likely that Lt. Wagner assisted him with this extracurricular athletic program in view of the fact that Ed had been an assistant manager for the Penn State football team in 1939, and as the 3rd Battalion's personnel officer, or S-1, he would have been able to identify unit personnel with football experience and "facilitate" their assignment to "extra duties". Syracuse passing More than Ever in Ben Schwartzwalder s 19 year career took holy Cross apart 41-7. They believed this practice restricted their talents and abilities and decreased the teams likelihood of winning games. Dec. 15, 1991 12 AM PT. See About archive blog posts. Floyd Benjamin Ben Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. Ernie doesnt scream and he doesnt protest, but hes raging inside. Ernie Davis was only weeks from dying the last time Dick Easterly saw his Heisman Trophy-winning teammate. This remains Syracuse's only national football title in football to date. 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. They claim key events on screen never occurred, like the team being showered with garbage and racial epithets during a game at West Virginia. Doesn't the story go that when Larry was recruited by all the Big Ten schools and Notre Dame, they only showed him around the football facilities, stadiums and campuses? He served with the 82nd Airborne and was in the first wave of troops that jumped on D-Day in 1944. The student-athletes also repeatedly requested that head football coach Ben Schwartzwalder hire a Black assistant coach, with whom they felt they could talk more easily about problems relating to race. In 1959, he also won the national coach of the year award. But because that promise already had been made and broken repeatedly, the student-athletes decided to not return to practice and instead hold their own practice for the time being. Syracuse a Veteran coach Ben Schwartzwalder was musing about his Lack of depth recently. By Frank Giardina For the Gazette-Mail; Jun 10, 2017 Jun 10, 2017 Updated Nov 21, 2017; Comments; He was like a Marine, with a real army attitude. He was also a military veteran. Frank Giardina: Sports Legend Dinner, relationships, Ben Schwartzwalder Notably, he coached the first African-American to win a Heisman trophy and maintained team unity and cohesiveness in a racially charged environment to defeat the all-white University of Texas team in the Cotton Bowl while winning the 1959 national championship. "Ed Wagner, Class of '41, is the namesake of the ROTC Building at Penn State. The Schwartzwalder family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. Syracuse University Football Collection, University Archives. Mostly, we remember Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder as Syracuse University's successful head football coach, 1949 to 1973. Ben Schwartzwalder | hall-of-fame He wore street clothes at the alumni game, serving as an honorary coach. December 23, 2014 Floyd Benjamin "Ben" Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. St Louis Sporting News Archives, Oct 7, 1967, p. 58 New York had the highest population of Schwartzwalder families in 1880. During World War II, Schwartzwalder enlisted and served as a paratrooper in the United States Army. Richard Winters (played by Damian Lewis), who also received a battlefield promotion to major and was also from West Virginia, like Ol' Ben. You had an amazing four years, breaking records and you make it easier for Ernie to come to school. Schwartzwalder, 61 years old, has been head coach since 1949. 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. Schwartzwalder had a famous Penn State teammate in Normandy - syracuse Davis still had no idea where he was going to attend, but what sealed the deal with Syracuse was when Jim Brown the former Syracuse . How does one describe Ben Schwartzwalder? About coming to Syracuse, Schwartzwalder famously said: The alumni wanted a big-name coach. Former Syracuse head coach Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder (center with his arm around SU's Ger Schwedes, 16) was no stranger to a good fight including this one involving the Orange and Texas. What is a filmmaker looking for when hes researching a film based on real-life events? Schwartzwalder's teams went to seven bowl games and won four Lambert Trophies. 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. "Ernie knew everybody's name and went out of his way to say hello. He finally gets his chance in The Express, playing legendary Syracuse coach Ben. Carolina a amp to 0 a Murray state 21 Livingston 0 j. C. Smith 15 William amp Mary 7 a West Liberty 20 Virginia military 9 appalachian 0 Austin play 6 Gonso. He was also a military veteran. Almost immediately, Coach Ben Schwartzwalder enlisted in the United States Army, earning his paratrooper wings as part of the famous 82nd Airborne Division. Floyd Benjamin "Ben" Schwartzwalder (June 2, 1909 April 28, 1993) was a Hall of Fame football coach at Syracuse University, where he trained such future National Football League stars as Jim Brown, as well as the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, Ernie Davis. Born the second daughter to Floyd ("Ben") and Lindquist was coming in from the east, and Levy was ensconced in a graveyard across the river at Cauquigny. A new head coach, Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder, would take over in 1949. Al Davis: the Machiavelli of football - Los Angeles Times 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 YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Ben Schwartzwalder: Syracuse University top sports figures of - YouTube Hon. Mordue Obituary (1942 - 2022) - Syracuse, NY - Syracuse Post Standard You should know his story. Today in History: Syracuse University Football Legend, Floyd "Ben But what was Coach Ben like? When their request was not met, Greg Allen, Richard Bulls, John Godbolt, Robin Griffin (who only boycotted in the spring), Dana D.J. Harrell, John Lobon, Clarence Bucky McGill, A. Alif Muhammad (then known as Al Newton), and Duane Walker began their boycott of spring football practice. 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. Ben Schwartzwalder - Wikipedia Gary Fleder: You came before Ernie. Syracuse football was coached at the time by Ben Schwartzwalder, a beloved figure on campus, who led the Orange to. If Jim Brown was happy, I was happy., Still, what fascinated me was that first conversation between Fleder and Brown. And that was the first time I ever felt like an alumni. During practices a limit was placed on the number of black players who could be on the field at the same time. I remember some story like that and Larry committed to SYR because of Ben doing that. 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. After associate coaches ignored the players request to hire a black assistant for a year, one of the Syracuse 8, Greg Allen, met with head coach Schwartzwalder in spring 1969. He earned a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Silver Star, and Presidential Unit Citation. Floyd Benjamin Ben Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. The school? 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. Ben Schwartzwalder. Schwartzwalder was the head football coach of the Syracuse Orange from 1949 to 1973. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Jim Brown. You can't be Black and be a . Schwartzwalder Trophy not in play - Big 12 Blog- ESPN Less than a dozen men rank in this category. He had the same burning drive in 1973 as he did as a rookie coach back in West Virginia in 1933. Schwartzwalder was also a hero of the D-Day invasion and several other important engagements of World War II. 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. Ben passed away in 1993 and is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery. He was captain of the football team in 1933. They wanted me to change positions, all kinds of stuff. The trophy was established in 1993 and was sculpted by Syracuse sports hall-of-famer Jim Ridlon. In 1941, Ben found himself a 33 year old high school football coach, working in Canton, Ohio, on the day that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He 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. It is where the seeds of the fierce competitor were nurtured and matured. But there was to be a delay. She was 76 years old. (2017, November 17). His primary recommendation for every injury was ice and rest. When he refused their request, they walked out of spring practice and leaked their act of resistance to the media. The Orange had won but nine games in four years and everyone was unhappy. ". NY Senate Resolution | NY State Senate You should know his story, because its a Syracuse University story one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future. 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. Notable Veteran Alumni: Floyd Benjamin "Ben" Schwartzwalder Just watched Seize and Secure a one hour documentary on PBS about the battle to secure the bridge at La Fire on DDay Capt. Schwartzwalder had a significant history of recruiting and developing black players during the 1950s and 1960s when many other major programs refused to do so. Chuck Leavitt did a great page-one rewrite of the script. World War II: Capturing the La Fiere Causeway - HistoryNet Over that time he led Syracuse to its only football national title, in 1959. How Floyd Little Decided To Play Football At Syracuse: The Non 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. Mere Eglise. 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 was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, four battle stars, Presidential Unit Citation and was promoted to the rank of Major for his actions during the invasion. Floyd Burdette "Ben" Schwartzwalder (1909-1993) The media focused on only one request, the hiring of a black assistant coach, ignoring their other grievances. The funny part is that so many people have known this for years, including myself.". Syracuse University Football Recruiting Database, Syracuse Men's Basketball Recruiting Database, La Fire Bridge: The D-Day Battle You Should Have Heard Of. Because in my experience, I just wanted to get out of there and get moving. Sc He was a paratrooper in World War II, rose to the rank of major, and was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple . Teammates say 'Express' fumbles the facts - Chicago Tribune 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. But what do you do when youve got these circumstances? All rights reserved (About Us). Ben Schwartzwalder - OVMA - Syracuse University Under Bens leadership, SU produced 22 straight years of non-losing football. Orange teams outrushed opponents by more than 22,000 yards under Ben. Search and browse yearbooks online! You must log in or register to reply here. He was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, four battle stars, Presidential Unit Citation and was promoted to the rank of Major for his actions during the invasion. The Syracuse 8 continued their boycott through the 1969 football season. 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. Mary ScofieldMary Scofield (born Mary Schwartzwalder) passed away on December 7, 2017 after battling ovarian cancer for three years. You find it where you find it. library.syr.edu, Copyright Syracuse University Libraries, A Courageous Stand: The Story of the Syracuse 8, Trustee, Faculty, and Student Committee Report. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? Scoop: Fans want The Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy to be awarded to the winner of the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl, which features old Big East rivals Syracuse and West Virginia. "What the director tried to accomplish is showing the conditions of those times," Easterly said. Enjoyed the story, I am sure Czonka repeated what he heard. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. He also watched Spike Lees documentary, Jim Brown All-American, which offered more insight into the era. 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. During the West Virginia fracas, Davis snaps at his coach: "Maybe, just maybe, the rules down here are your rules too. Hell, the movie's more about him than Ernie. 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. They included the battalion surgeon who had stayed behind to care for the wounded. A Life Cut Short - Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. 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. The war ended and football again became his life. Later that afternoon, a beaming Davis, seeing Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder, went floating toward him through a. On the Monday following a game, the coaches used to show the game films in Sadler Hall for anyone wishing to see them. 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. As a first lieutenant and S-1/adjutant of the 3rd Battalion, 507th PIR, he jumped into Normandy in the same air drop as Coach Ben. 1/11/2013. You should know his story, because it's a Syracuse University story - one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future. He was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, four battle stars, Presidential Unit Citation and was promoted to the rank of Major for his actions during the invasion. 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. In 1969 a group of nine student-athletes boycotted Syracuse Universitys football program to demand change and promote racial equality. He was also a military veteran. Ben Schwartzwalder (2004) - WVU Sports Hall of Fame A report on Ben Schwartzwalder. Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 00:55, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "'The Express' and the movie's connections to Parkersburg", by Jody Murphy. 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. I don't know what the ratio of prisoners to guards would have been. 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. Bills two-time AFL champion, Al Bemiller passed away You should know his story. Syracuse's 1959 National Championship Team 'Had No Weaknesses' With the aid of the local French people this small group, isolated behind the German lines, attempted to hold the village of Graignes until the US units moving inland from the invasion beaches could reach their position. He coached high schools in West Virginia and Ohio 1933-41. Biography Edit Early life and career Edit. During his 25 years as head coach Syracuse teams outrushed their opponents by more than 22,000 yards. 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. Ben Schwartzwalder. Ben Schwartzwalder was a decent guy, but he was from another era. Lots of midgets. As a paratrooper with the 82nd, he was among the first wave of soldiers that jumped on D-Day in 1944. I have to give Jim Brown a ton of credit. Neither believes "The Express" captures his personality, or accurately portrays his relationships with head coach Ben Schwartzwalder and teammates. Ron Womack had been removed from the roster due to an injury, a coaching decision he and his Black teammates viewed with suspicion, but he supported them through the whole boycott and is counted with them. Ben Schwartzwalder, Head Coach 1949-73 - Syracuse University I remember Ben as gruff, but kind. 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. 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). 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. 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. The Black student-athletes first sent their grievances to Coach Schwartzwalder, though that document does not exist in the University Archives. ben schwartzwalder autograph hotel. Ben organized and coached the 507th's football team. When Ben recruited Larry, he did all that and also drove Larry out to the beautiful Central NY countryside and showed him where he could hunt and fish. Floyd Benjamin "Ben" Schwartzwalder (June 2, 1909 as Floyd Benjamin Schwartzwalder - April 28, 1993) AKA Ben Schwartzwalder 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 Am Syracuse University Photo & Imaging Collection, University Archives. 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. 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. The ROTC building at Penn State is named after Wagner. 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. Schwartzwalder's teams went to seven bowl games and won four Lambert Trophies. "I see a lot of things that never were done to Ernie but maybe happened to [Syracuse great] Jim Brown (in the 1950s). I am not sure the assistant coach had the facts correct. 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. Walk Where They Fought: La Fire, 82d Airborne Division, D-Day 1944 Here are some excerpts from a 2005 conversation between Fleder and Brown that paved the way for the making of The Express.. Almost immediately, Coach Ben Schwartzwalder enlisted in the United States Army, earning his paratrooper wings as part of the famous 82nd Airborne Division. Although in his thirties, Ben decided he was going to be a paratrooper. And if you deal with my life, while Im dealing with all these bad people at Syracuse, I got all these good people out there helping [me]. List of battleships of the United States Navy, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, West Virginia Mountaineers football players, High school football coaches in the United States, United States Army personnel of World War II, People from Point Pleasant, West Virginia, Players of American football from West Virginia, "'The Express' and the movie's connections to Parkersburg", by Jody Murphy. During the spring season, the players attempted to nudge coach Schwartzwalder one more time. After being labeled black dissidents, the Syracuse 8 were suspended from the team. Cemeteries & Memorials Onondaga County Parks !8 holes of golf and Ben never said a word about football. . Bernie Custis, Orange Quarterback, Changed Far More than a Game - SU News In 2006, thirty-six years after leaving the team, during a Syracuse University-University of Louisville halftime ceremony, the nine former players were recognized with their letterman jackets for the courageous stand they took against racism. Damn right. Death 28 Apr 1993 (aged 83) . serving during World War II, Ben Schwartzwalder returned home and began coaching college football; and WHEREAS, In 1949, the couple moved to Syracuse, New York, and Ben Schwartzwalder began his long and distinguished coaching career with the football team at Syracuse University; and 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. During his 25 years as head coach Syracuse teams outrushed their opponents by more than 22,000 yards. It was 1963 at Syracuse University's alumni football game, where teammates celebrated the Orangemen's 1959 national championship. National Veterans Resource Center | Daniel & Gayle DAniello Building | 101 Waverly Ave, Syracuse, NY 13244. Ben Schwartzwalder, former Syracuse University football coach He played key roles in the capture of the La Fire Causeway and Sainte-Mre-glise, crucial points of entry into France during the D-Day invasion. Ben Schwartzwalder began his football career as a 95-pound high school freshman quarterback. Point Pleasant, Mason County, West Virginia, USA. After returning home, Schwartzwalder began his college coaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he went 25-5. Bad-ass Ben | Syracusefan.com Coach Schwartzwalder's Decision A Black assistant football coach, Carlmon Jones, was finally hired in the summer of 1970, but neither the administration nor the football coaching staff took any other steps to address the boycotting athletes' other grievances. Schwartzwalder had a knack for developing excellent running backs. 8 Black Syracuse Football Players Continue Boycott However, Ed Wagner's group overlooked the main route of advance for the German armored forces racing to reinforce the town of Carentan. He also wrestled and dodged a young coed who was just as fierce a competitor as he when it came to getting her man. 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.
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