l tried not to run up the score
l know You just had our number tonight
Say, Ben, how many coloreds you got playing for you?
Three, why?
You just be careful, Ben They got no discipline
Too many of them and they'll take the team away from you
Now, you give my best to Reggie
Coon-lover!
Can l sit down?
l'm sorry l lost my temper
But l'm not sorry l stayed in the game, and l'm not sorry l scored
Now, what kind of an apology is this?
l've never walked off the field for anybody
(SlGHS)
These people down here, they're dug in
They're set in their ways We got
Coach, that
You're just hiding behind those words
l have a responsibility to my team, Davis
That's not how it has to be
Yes Jack, Art and me, we're all a part of your team
But we can't run across that goal line down here without you
lt doesn't mean a damn thing unless you're with us
ls that it?
(SlGHS)
ANNOUNCER 1: And in coIIege footbaII, the Syracuse Orangemen
continue their dominance of the Eastern Conference with a 29-0
ANNOUNCER 2: Fans, I wish aII of you couId be here
to see what these eyes have just witnessed
briIIiant dispIays of athIetic taIent I've seen on any gridiron
Come on, guys! Sustain your block!
Ied by Ernie Davis, from EImira, New York
ANNOUNCER 3: Another jaw-dropping performance here at Navy MemoriaI Stadium
ANNOUNCER 2: I teII you one thing, he's eIectrified this crowd
The unbeaten Syracuse Orangemen
ANNOUNCER 4: Davis, who has been
nothing short of briIIiant today, reserves the victory
for coach Ben SchwartzwaIder and the Syracuse Orangemen
ALL: (SlNGlNG) nothing but a hound dog
You know it!
Crying aII the time
WeII, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine
(ALL CHEERlNG)
SlMMONS: Settle down Listen up, boys
All right, listen up Listen up!
PLAYER: Coach!
Gentlemen, congratulations
Undefeated with a number one ranking is something to be proud of
ALL: Yeah!
But
Mr Andreas has informed me
that we have been offered two different bowl games,
the Orange Bowl in Miami
and the Cotton Bowl in Dallas
Now, in Miami, we would play Georgia, ranked ninth in the polls
And in Dallas, we would play Texas, ranked second, right behind us
lf we win either game, we will be the national champions
Texas is the tougher opponent, the tougher team
But to be the best, l believe you have to beat the best
So, l guess you know how l would vote, but this is your vote
This is your team Your decision
Texas
PLAYER 1 : Texas
PLAYER 2:Texas
PLAYER 3: Texas
Texas Texas
ALL: Texas
Texas
Looking forward to it! Texas
Texas!
Texas Texas
A lot of people think the Texas Longhorns
are the best team in the nation
One big reason is Clay Taylor
All-American, best Division One tackle in the nation
three years in a row
Now, some folks even think that the only reason that we are undefeated
is because we have not met Clay Taylor and his teammates
l want everyone to take a good long look at what we're up against here
because in Texas, football is a religion
You think we been south?
We ain't been south till we go to Texas
Schwedes, give me a goose-step
(ALL LAUGHlNG)
FAUBUS ON TV: We are now faced with a far different probIem
The forcibIe integration of the pubIic schooIs of LittIe Rock
against the overwheIming sentiment of the peopIe of the area
CROWD: Two, four, six, eight!
We don't want to integrate!
Two, four, six, eight!
We don't want to integrate!
(BUS HORN HONKlNG)
KING: We stiII have the attitude of Iove,
we stiII have the method of passive resistance
and we are stiII insisting emphaticaIIy,
that vioIence is seIf-defeating
That he who Iives by the sword wiII perish by the sword
(SlREN BLARlNG)
(ALL CLAMORlNG)
This is quite a ruckus
Hey, Ernie, Roger Page, Channel Nine
They're calling this game the North against the South
ln light of what's going on in this country,
do you feel added pressure to represent change?
We don't concern ourselves with politics
We're just here to play a great football game
and take home the championship
To be honest, Mr Page, when l'm out on that field,
l only think about winning the game
But that doesn't mean l don't know the color of my own skin
Let's check in
We've got a problem, Ben
What?
The Aristocrat Hotel does not allow coloreds to stay here
l need my team together, Lew
Now, you do whatever it takes to make that happen
What's the problem? What's the problem here?
Right this way, gentlemen
(COUGHS)
Fellas, looks like we once again found the Negro wing
(WHlSTLE BLOWS)
State seven! State seven!
SARETTE: Set! LUNDY: Double tight! Double tight!
Wing left, watch it
(WHlSTLE BLOWS)
Stop!
Do you think it is the New York City Ballet
that's going to be running up your ass on New Year's day?
These are the goddamn Texas Longhorns!
lf you cannot fight off blocks better than that,
let's just get on the bus and go home
Run the play again!
(ERNlE GROANS)
Shit!
My hamstring!
ANDREAS: This may be a blessing in disguise
Look at these
Where did you get these?
Where did l get them?
They were sent to the hotel to your boys
Scare tactics
Doesn't have a goddamn thing to do with football
We shouldn't play him
Maybe not even Art or Jack but especially Ernie
The NCAA is on my back
Even the Mayor of Dallas is nervous, afraid of race riots
Lew, you hired me to win
Well, l'm here at the goddamn Cotton Bowl,
and this time we're gonna win it
So why don't you tell that to the Mayor of Dallas?
l'm playing You hear me? l'm playing
You're goddamn right you are
(CROWD CHEERlNG)
CBS ANNOUNCER: There's an electricity in the air today in Dallas
And, as you can see from the clear skies behind me,
it's not a local thunderstorm
All eyes are on the field as undefeated Syracuse,
the Beast from the East,
takes on Texas, the power of the Southwest Conference
Do l need to say anything?
WlLL: Come on, it's on!
Come on, it's on, the Cotton Bowl Come on, Marie
Come on Come on Come on
All right, all right
Get two ice teas, please
And the Cotton Bowl
(LAUGHS)
Drop your heads
ALL: Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
George, fancy seeing you here
You taking a look at Davis?
l've seen him
Really?
ln a Redskins uniform?
l think he'd look better in a Cleveland uniform
Now, wouldn't that be something?
ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentIemen, pIease give a warm Texas weIcome
to the Syracuse University Orangemen
With a phenomenal record of 10-0,
Ben Schwartzwalder and his mighty Orangemen of Syracuse,
ranked number 1 in the nation,
take the fieId here at the historic Cotton BowI in DaIIas
to face DarreII RoyaI
and the second-ranked Longhorns of Texas
You ready for this?
l'm ready
MAN: Get off the field!
ANNOUNCER: If the Orangemen are going to be successfuI moving the footbaII today,
they're going to have to go through Clay Taylor and Pete Logan,
two very dominant footbaII pIayers
and the defensive Ieaders for the Longhorns
Davis, hamstring
Tails
Syracuse receives!
That's what we wanted
Go, boy PLAYER 1 : Get them
Ernie, if you get the ball, go all the way
PLAYER 2: Let's go! Let's go! PLAYER 1 : Let's go, four-four
(CROWD CHEERS)
ANNOUNCER: And the 1960 Cotton BowI is underway
(GRUNTS)
Offense! Let's go!
ANNOUNCER: An incredibIy enthusiastic crowd on hand
as Syracuse Iines up for its first series
l've been waiting for this nigger
SARETTE: Okie Okie Set!
l'm about to kick your black ass back to Africa, boy
Oh, yeah? Too bad l'm from Philly
ANNOUNCER: The give is to Ernie Davis
He gains two yards and is brought down quickIy by TayIor and Logan
LOGAN: We're in the Cotton Bowl, not the cotton patch, boys
Personal foul, ref! 84!
84, ref
ANNOUNCER: The handkerchief on the fieId
There appears to be some Iate contact by both TayIor and Logan
Holding, offense!
(CROWD CHEERS)
That's bullshit Will!
But there, did you see that? l saw it
You don't stop this quick, it's gonna get out of hand
That's one You've been warned
''l've been warned'' What are you, my first grade teacher?
ANNOUNCER: Sophomore Davis is cIearIy favoring his right Ieg
as he moves back to the Orangemen huddIe
SARETTE: Okay, on one, on one Ready?
ANNOUNCER: The Orangemen facing first and 20
It's to Davis
Runs to his Ieft Looks to throw
Now cuts back to the right
with a dazzling spin move, and sheds the tackler
He turns the corner He's in the cIear He's gone!
BEN: Quick Go! Go! Go! Go!
Go!
He's driIIed out of bounds at the 3-yard Iine
And now Davis, who's lying prone on the sidelines,
appears to be either exhausted or hurt
(CROWD CHEERlNG)
I can't beIieve they caught him
Ernie, get up!
Ernie! Ernie!
Ernie, you all right?
Davis is finaIIy heIped to his feet
by AII-American tackIer Jack BuckIey
One has to wonder
just what kind of shape Ernie Davis is in l told you
Syracuse, first down at the Longhorn three
The give is to the right haIfback, Gerhard Schwedes
Outstanding bIock by Davis
He crosses the goaI Iine to put Syracuse on the board
Here in the second quarter
Coach Ben Schwartzwalder and his top-ranked team find themselves
on top of the Texas Longhorns, 7-0
SARETTE: Ready? ALL: Break!
The Orangemen are knocking on the door once again
SARETTE: State seven! State seven!
Set! Hut one
The give is to Ernie Davis and the sophomore finds the end zone,
as the Orangemen increase their Iead on the Longhorns!
So precisely when is it you're going to
start kicking my black ass back to Africa?
(SPlTS)
Hey, Buckley!
Hey, come on, stay cool
They're baiting us They're baiting them
Hey, Logan, Taylor, 44 is embarrassing you
And after a successful two-point conversion
the Orangemen of Syracuse lead the Longhorns of Texas
by a score of 15-0
McKinIey on a sweep to the right
Bobby Lundy steps up and there's a huge hit on McKinIey
And the baII is Ioose, recovered by the Orangemen
and Syracuse takes over
ERNlE: Yeah
ANNOUNCER: My, that's a cheap shot
A Iate hit by TaIbert on Ernie Davis
after the pIay was whistIed dead
Back! Everybody, back! Back! Back! Back!
You all right, son? You okay?
l'm all right, Coach
All right You sure? Yeah
Offense on the field Let's go!
(CROWD JEERlNG)
Told you this would get out of hand This is bullshit
ANNOUNCER: Syracuse wiII run one Iast pIay before haIftime
Pack your bags, spook
Scoreboard, eight-four
Come on, let's just play ball
You defending this nigger?
How you gonna call yourself a white Christian?
l'm Jewish
Hut one!
(GRUNTS)
BEN: That's another late hit
ANNOUNCER: And once again, Ernie Davis is pummeIed!
Break it up, ref!
Come on, ref, do something
(GRUNTS)
(CROWD CHEERlNG)
ANNOUNCER: And both teams are cIearing their benches
and heading to the middIe of the fieId
Ref, l told you to do something about this
This has become a fiasco It's a donnybrook
My God, no This
This is no Ionger a footbaII game, Iadies and gentIemen
WlLL: ls somebody gonna stop this?
ugIy dispIay
Get off! Get off the field!
PLAYER: Hey, Coach!
Get off of him! Break it up!
Petey, you all right?
JACK: You guys see what happened?
BELL: Come on, cozy up to the blackboard
JACK: You see what happened, Lundy? That's what l'm telling you
You can't let people talk to you like this,
be pounding on your leg the whole time
ERNlE: l know, but you'll get ejected They won't
You're done for the day
We're up by 15 We can take it from here
Coach, l can still get back out there and play
No, l want you to put some ice on that leg
l had a halftime speech all planned out
lt seemed pretty good up till about 10 minutes ago
lt was all about victory and champions and glory
But this is not just a game anymore
We're fighting something else out on that field right now
And l can see it just as clearly as you
And that's why winning this one
means nothing if you lose yourselves
Don't give this one away
Keep it Hold on to it for yourselves
and for everyone in this room
lt's here lt's right here
And no one can take it from you, gentlemen
Not the officials, not the crowds
and certainly not the other team
lt belongs to you, gentlemen
Don't you let anyone steal history away from you
Glory! Glory!
ANNOUNCER: As pIay resumes here at the Cotton BowI,
Ernie Davis has not joined the rest of the Orangemen
for the second haIf
Down 15 to nothing, the Longhorns are
desperate to get something on the board
Bobby Lackey drops back to pass
And it's compIete to Bobby Gurwitz
for a 69-yard Texas touchdown!
What a throw by the Heisman-hopefuI quarterback from Texas
ANNOUNCER 2: A 69-yard touchdown pass caught by number 24, Bobby Gurwitz
Goal line, goal line Ready?
ANNOUNCER 1: DarreII RoyaI and Texas opt to go for the two-point conversion
(GRUNTlNG)
Another walloping tackle by Syracuse's Bob Lundy
That'll mean something later on
ANNOUNCER: Midway through the third quarter,
Syracuse protecting a 15-6 Iead against the Longhorns
PLAYER: Three SARETTE: Hut, hut!
Sarette with a fake to Baker
Options to Schwedes
Schwedes is hammered by MuehIing and coughs up the baII
All right! Let's go!
Protect the ball!
And watch out! The Longhorns are buiIding some momentum
Texas, knocking on the door at the goal line
Bobby Lackey caIIs his own number and finds the end zone
The Longhorns have suddenly given us a football game here in Dallas
Lackey drops back to pass,
and it's compIete to PauI
Syracuse 15, Texas 1 4
The Longhorns have made it a one-point game
Tough break
l mean, they probably got it in hand
Baker, Schwedes, they're good backs
But no sense in getting hurt worse, right?
Entering the fourth quarter of play,
the tension level here at the Cotton Bowl is palpable
We let them right back in the game
Coach, Davis
All right, boys, keep your heads in the game Don't worry about it
Ernie, what are you doing?
l need to talk to you, Coach l need you to ice that leg
l already have l need to talk to you for a sec
No, no, you are not playing Just listen to me for a sec
You can watch, but you cannot play
Just hear me out, Coach
Coach, on the trip down here l saw a lot of things out that bus window
Now, we get to Dallas, they got me, Jack and Art
in a tiny room with cots
We can't use the elevator 'cause we might scare the white folks
Can't even walk in the front door of a hotel
Now, all those people who did that,
who believe that's right, are watching
But you know what, so are they
(CHEERlNG)
(SlGHS)
Can you even run?
Yes, sir
l don't want to hurt you anymore
l'm ready
All right
Strong load right, 42 shovel pass
Go Let's go, Ernie
And now the 76,000 fans at the Cotton Bowl are stunned!
ANNOUNCER: Ernie Davis has returned to the pIaying fieId
Let's go
Man, that's Ernie Davis!
(ALL CHEERlNG)
LUNDY: Strong left
SARETTE: Six regular! Six regular! Tight
ANNOUNCER: The Orangemen, baII on their own 40-yard Iine,
are desperate for a first down
to keep the baII out of the hands
of Longhorn quarterback Bobby Lackey
And the baII comes Ioose
Texas has recovered
His knee was down, ref
First down, Texas!
Bad call, ref
My knee was down, sir
They're trying to steal it from us l was down
Franklin, Franklin, get in there for Davis, go
No Get back l'm staying in l'm staying in
Regulations!
ANNOUNCER: Texas on the 40-yard Iine with the baII and with the game's momentum
Bobby Lackey drops back to pass
Throws downfieId, he's got a receiver open
(CROWD CHEERlNG)
Go! Go!
All the way! All the way!
That's the way Offense, offense, let's go!
Let's take advantage
BEN: Get out there Let's go!
ANNOUNCER: First down, 10 yards to go from the 13
Syracuse has to move the chains
and keep the cIock ticking down
or put this game away with another touchdown
SARETTE: Hut one
Yeah! Yeah, go, go, go!
He's behind you Go!
That's it! That's it
He got this Go!
ANNOUNCER: An unbeIievabIe pIay!
Ernie Davis scoring
on an amazing 87-yard catch and run!
(CROWD CHEERlNG)
With the finaI seconds ticking away
Stay in the game
lt's not over
the Longhorns are Iooking to tie this game up
with a Iast chance shot at the end zone
(ALL CHEERlNG)
(lNAUDlBLE)
All right, ladies, settle down Settle down Give me your undivided attention Hey!
lt's just been announced,
the 1960 Cotton Bowl MVP Congratulations to Mr Ernie Davis
(ALL CHEERlNG)
Ernie! Congrats
Come here
Congratulations, brother
All right, everybody, listen up
This gentleman wants to say something
Go ahead
What the man is trying to say is that the trophy ceremony in our honor
will be held at Oak Hill Country Club tonight
Great Very nice
Unfortunately, the Oak Hill Country Club is color restricted
Which means that three of us,
including the player who was awarded the Cotton Bowl MVP today, cannot attend
(ALL GROANlNG)
PLAYER: Seriously?
Ridiculous
Now, how do we feel about that?
l don't know about you,
but l hear they have some great barbecue down here
(ALL EXCLAlMlNG)
(BAND PLAYlNG ROCK 'N' ROLL MUSlC)
(SINGING)
(ALL CHEERlNG)
(ALL WHOOPlNG)
You read it
''To Syracuse University department of athletics
''This is to inform you that Ernest Davis
''has been selected as one of the three finalists for the''
(CHUCKLES)
Congratulations, Ernie
MAN: We're ready for you, Mr Davis
MAN ON MIC: or witnessed more cIoseIy
Good luck, Mr Davis
Thank you, sir
the importance of the gridiron or effected more change in the game
than John W Heisman So, it is with distinct pIeasure
No matter what happens up there,
l want you to know that l'm really proud of you, son
the memoriaI trophy bearing his name
The first is Ernest R Davis from Syracuse University
Our next nominee is Robert Ferguson, Ohio State University
Our third nominee is James Saxton, the University of Texas
Congratulations
Thanks, man
The Heisman Trophy has,
since 1935, represented everything that is great about coIIegiate athIetics
And these three fine young men represent their teams, their schooIs
and their famiIies with honor
The voting for this year's award was the cIosest in history
and each of these pIayers is deserving
That said, the winner of this year's Heisman MemoriaI Trophy is
Ernest R Davis from Syracuse University
(EXCLAlMlNG)
Congratulations
Thank you
Congratulations
l appreciate it
Congratulations, Ernie Thank you
You did great
(EXHALES)
First, I'd Iike to thank the Heisman committee
Sarah,
my famiIy,
Mom,
WiII,
and
And Pops for beIieving in me
And Jim Brown for Ietting me wear his number
(PEOPLE CHUCKLlNG)
I'd aIso Iike to thank my head coach, Ben SchwartzwaIder,
for making me better, being a good teacher,
and for being a good man
Thank you, everyone
Where exactly are we going?
Right this way
Ernie, l was in town and l wanted to get a chance to meet you
l know today is a proud day for you You've really accomplished something here
Congratulations
Thank you, Mr President
MAN: Fourth down, 9 yards
Must be nice having the number one draft pick, huh, George?
l'm sure Ernie Davis is a fine boy,
but l'll start signing Negroes when the Harlem Globetrotters start signing whites
Mr Modell, George Marshall from the Washington Redskins is on the phone
Of course he is
George, what a surprise to hear from you
You do? Okay, l'm listening
LAWYER: lt's all over the wire
The Redskins just traded their number one pick to Cleveland
You're a commodity now
Yeah, you should listen to your lawyer, man He's right lt's all business now
Have you been sick recently?
No, l feel great
l may be a commodity, but this commodity is playing for Cleveland
Me and Jim Brown in the same backfield
You're gonna steal his number again?
ERNlE: Oh! Oh!
Stop it
l don't want to leave
You don't have to leave
l do
l should bring you with me
Just jump in my suitcase You know you can fit
Oh!
Oh, no Oh, l slipped
l'm sorry
That was a mistake, too l'm sorry Uh-huh Uh-huh
l have to get you a new blouse
Look at you
What are you doing?
He's at the 10
(SARAH LAUGHlNG) The 20, the 30
The 40
(EXCLAlMlNG)
ls that another nose bleed?
You know, Hound Dog says he gets hit so hard,
he wakes up with blood on his pillow Doesn't even know where it came from
But you haven't been hit
Ernie, you haven't been hit What
Bus leaves for practice in a half hour
Be here when l get back?
l'll be here
Right two to Maury, right two to Maury
QUARTERBACK: Set? Go!
MAN 1 : Stop MAN 2: Change your block, change your block
Behind me, the East team led by Syracuse's Ben Schwartzwalder
Ernie Davis goes through the paces
in preparation for Saturday night's All-America game
ASSlSTANT COACH: Davis look a little sluggish to you?
He'll be fine
QUARTERBACK: Tight right, 34 wide dig Ready?
PLAYER: Come on! ALL: Break!
QUARTERBACK: Okie Okie
Watch Strong left Strong left!
PLAYER: Right!
(PANTlNG)
QUARTERBACK: Six box! Six box! Set!
Hut! Hut!
(WHlSTLE BLOWS)
All right, let's run it again Let's go
lt's all right You'll get them next time Come on
(PANTlNG)
Ernie?
Ernie? You okay?
(lNAUDlBLE)
He's got to have another transfusion He's lost quite a lot of blood
How'd he do that? We're not sure
He's gonna need further tests
So test Gentlemen
(SlGHS)
Now what am l supposed to tell the press?
Mumps What?
He's got a bad case of the mumps
That's good
(REPORTERS CLAMORlNG)
QUARTERBACK: Double tight! Double tight! Down!
Set!
(PANTlNG)
Blue 3-21 !
Hut! Hut!
(PANTlNG)
(WHlSTLE BLOWS)
ASSlSTANT COACH: Hey, Ernie!
The man wants to see you
PLAYER 1 : All right, get back PLAYER 2: Let's go
Hey
Hey, Mr Modell
Hey How are you?
l'm good l've been watching you
l'm still trying to find my rhythm out there
You know, new system and all Yeah, listen, Ernie
All l need is some rest Yeah, the system is
Once l get used to it
All right Ernie, Ernie, Ernie,
l spoke with Dr Hewlett and
Look, he doesn't know what it is, but they know something's not right, Ernie
l should have told you earlier, kid l really can't clear you for practice
lf l can't practice, how am l gonna play?
You're not gonna play Not now
And maybe not this season
(SlGHS)
(STAMMERS) Well, when?
l don't know
l don't know, kid
Get better, okay? Your job is to get well
Mr Modell, you don't understand
Everything l got is because of football
l need to play
Yeah
Mr Modell, please, sir
Next year, kid We're counting on you next year Really
(PANTlNG)
Thank you
Thank you, sir
Did you hear back from the teaching job yet?
Well?
They offered it to me
That's great
l told them l had to think about it
What's to think about?
The distance between Cleveland and Oakland for one
Take it
What?
Take the job, Sarah
You've always said you want to do something with your life
You didn't just come to school just to find a husband
You're beautiful, smart
Stick to that dream
How sick are you, Ernie?
Look at me
Sarah
MAN: Ernie Davis?
l hate to disturb you, but would you sign an autograph for my son?
He's 1 2, and you're his favorite player
Gonna be great to see you with the Browns
Thank you
You're welcome
Leukemia
It's a word that jumps out at you
I know when I first heard it myseIf,
I was
I was scared
But I got a Iot of peopIe in my corner,
good peopIe,
standing beside me
My doctors are confident
They teII me I'm responding weII to my treatment
So, things are good
And you know me I'm an optimist I'm gonna fight it
I hope to get on that fieId and see you aII in that press box reaI soon
ReaI soon
(REPORTERS CLAMORlNG)
Mr Davis, Tom Martin, Saturday Evening Post
l saw you play in the Cotton Bowl two years ago
Okay
l'm wondering if you'd like to write an article for us
You want me to write an article?
I don't know whether you know this,
but you're an inspiration to a Iot of our readers
There he is, number 77
He's as good as me?
Maybe better
BEN: Hey, Ernie
Ernie, this is Floyd Little Floyd, this is
Ernie Davis
2,386 yards, 360 carries,
66 yards a carry
You good at math, huh?
(CHUCKLES)
FLOYD: You see, my plan is to be just like you,
best Negro running back in the NCAA,
Heisman Trophy all the way
Then the NFL, make some money
(LAUGHlNG)
You got it all figured out, don't you?
What kind of bottle do you think this is?
Don't know Don't have a label
Right
lt could be a soda bottle,
it could be a beer bottle, it could be anything
No label
You see, l never set out to be the best Negro running back
l just wanted to be the best running back
The best football player l could be Period
Look, now l'm
Floyd, l'm never gonna play for Cleveland
Or any other team
My playing days are over
So don't you look at that poster of me on your wall and tell me
you want to be like me, because that isn't enough
You're gonna have to do better than that
You think you can?
Yes, sir
Good
But the thing is, l told Notre Dame l would sign with them
(EXCLAlMS SOFTLY)
Floyd, you know how Notre Dame loves their passing game
My fear is a talented runner like yourself
may get stuck polishing that Notre Dame bench with your butt
You don't want that
(PLAYERS EXCLAlMlNG)
(DOOR OPENS)
l want to know something
Coach?
What the hell did you say to Floyd Little?
(SlGHS) Why? What happened?
Well, l'll be damned, he backed out on Notre Dame
He's coming to Syracuse
Well, let's see l told him you like your runners lazy,
and you like players who backtalk
Mmm-hmm
Anything else?
l told him you were a good coach
(SlGHS)
l'm not gonna lie to him, Ernie,
because l know how hard it's gonna be for him
And l promise, if he works hard,
he can run for that end zone whether he's in Boston or Mississippi
And l won't tell him that he's the next Ernie Davis,
because there won't be another Ernie Davis
Can you believe they suited me up to run on the field and take a bow?
l'll be right here with you, son
ANNOUNCER: PIease weIcome to the fieId,
number 45, from Syracuse at haIfback, Ernie Davis
(CROWD CHEERlNG)
ERNIE: Mr Martin, in the end it turns out you did me a favor
when you asked me to write this for The Post
You see, yesterday was my 23rd birthday,
and compared to some, that doesn't seem Iike a whoIe Iot of Iife to taIk about
Thing is, I don't know how much more is in front of me
And as you see from the number of pages, if you've read this far,
I did have a few things to say, and I'm not sure how to end this
or even if I want to
It's funny Most peopIe think my Iife has been aII about footbaII
I've even thought that myseIf
But footbaII is just a game
What matters is what you pIay for
Sometimes, when the game is cIose and everything is on the Iine,
that's when you forget the crowd and the noise
That's when it's just you against somebody eIse to see who is the better man
That's what I Iike about the game
Because at that moment you are friends
and you are enemies
and you are brothers
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