I saw Ernie Davis play in November 1961

November 1961. I was 9 years old. It was a crisp day in Chestnut Hill, Mass., for my first football game: Syracuse versus Boston College. My dad, a BC alum, told me Ernie Davis was a great player, so I tried to keep track of his orange helmet that afternoon as he darted around the field.

I remember BC quarterback Jack Concannon, in his shiny gold helmet, under constant attack by Syracuse’s defenders as the Eagles lost.

Davis, the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, is the subject of a new film, "The Express."

That Syracuse-BC game was so long ago it predates instant replay and SportsCenter. I just looked up some game accounts to see if I remembered things correctly. Syracuse did beat BC, 28-13. Davis scored two touchdowns, one on an interception -- yes, he played on both sides of the ball -- as he rolled up 203 yards and surpassed his Orangeman predecessor, Jim Brown, in total career yardage. But it was Concannon who had the longest run of the day: 79 yards for a TD.

Oddly, of all the players on the field, Concannon would have the longest NFL career — 10 years, mostly with the Bears.

Davis was the top NFL draft pick, and he signed what was then a whopping $200,000, three-year deal with the Browns. But he was diagnosed with leukemia and never played a game in the pros. He died at 23.

I remember reading about his death and getting an early sense of the fleeting nature of youth.

-- Barry Stavro

Photo: A view of the helmet on the statue of Syracuse University football great Ernie Davis during an unveiling ceremony on Sept. 13 in Syracuse, N.Y. Credit: Frank Ordonez / The Post-Standard / Associated Press

Comments

[Donald Neal McKay]

I, too, saw Ernie Davis play at Syracuse. Being a Syracuse native, and a proud fan of the team who won the National Championship in 1959. One game in particular, against a then strong Colgate University team, played in Archbold Stadium stands out. Davis took a hand-off on a reverse play from mid-field and then came charging down the sideline right in front of where I was sitting. He went in for a touchdown. The thing is, Ernie carried along with him four Colgate backfield defenders. They just couldn't stop him or bring him down.

[Vincent]

I'm a native Syracusan a bit too young to remember Ernie Davis playing for SU, but you folks should know that the statue has been sent back to eliminate Nike references that were placed on it (of course, the company didn't exist in 1961).

[Bryan scott flowers]

Ernie davis was a star he lived to play for fun ,and winning up to be the best he is a true running back .......... just like jim brown but brown never even played for pro he died before he did and the exspress is a sad/sports/thriller in most parts so you watch for me Bryan Flowers im not as good as ernie but im going to be great

[Doug Nichols]

The film of Ernie Davis did an honor to this great hero, an example of one who lived as an example to us all! I am ashamed still of the racism then and now and am thankful to God for Ernie Davis not allowing it to bring him down in bitterness but confronted it head on in grace and hard work. Even though I am white I would love to be a man like Davis. What a tremendous example!

[Dave Tomeo]

I was at that game to. My cousin Mike Tomeo played for BC that year as a cornerback. Remember Ernie Davis coming around his side and running it in for a touochdown....Great memory of my cousin Mike and watching a legend.

[dejon]

ernie was tough hard workin runing back and he played very hard and neva gave up his game till he died that was very sad he is gone he always was a great player

[Misty]

The TRUTH, Please!! I read that the mostly white Syracuse team boycotted the dinner in Dallas because they did not want Ernie there, but then one of his teammates said that after being honored, Ernie was hurried off to another place in Dallas while his white teammates remained at the reception. Which is true?