Ernie Davis Statue

This statue commemorates former Syracuse halfback, Ernie Davis (1939-1963). Nicknamed “The Elmira Express,” he became not only the first Syracuse football player, but also the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy in 1961. The first overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft, Davis died of leukemia at the age of twenty-three before ever playing a snap of professional football. On September 13, 2008, Syracuse unveiled a statue of Davis on campus, just off the southwest corner of the Quad, near the Carrier Dome. Designed by Italian-American artist Bruno Lucchesi, the life-sized bronze sculpture depicts the Heisman Trophy winner standing proudly in his Syracuse football uniform. Sporting a large smile, he peers at the horizon while holding his helmet under his left arm and a football in his right hand. Less than a month after its unveiling, the university removed the statue and sent it back to Luchessi for alterations after fans and members of the media pointed out that Davis’ cleats and helmet were not period appropriate. After spending several months in Lucchesi’s New York City studio undergoing modifications, the sculpture returned to its marble pedestal in early March 2009.

Ernest R. Davis was born on December 14, 1939 in the small community of New Salem in southwestern Pennsylvania. When he was still an infant, his father died tragically in an accident. Unable to raise her son alone, his mother, Avis Marie Davis Fleming, sent Davis to live with his grandparents in nearby Uniontown. He remained with his grandparents until the age of eleven, when he reunited with his mother in Elmira, New York. Later, Davis attended Elmira Free Academy, where he earned high school All-American honors in basketball and football. Recruited by some of the top college football programs in the country at the time, he decided to enroll at Syracuse University after some persuading by his childhood idol and Syracuse alum, Jim Brown. 

During his sophomore season at Syracuse, Davis rushed for 686 yards and ten touchdowns, earning himself the nickname “The Elmira Express.” In the Cotton Bowl, he ran for two touchdowns, powering the Orangemen to a victory over the Texas Longhorns and the school’s first (and only) national title. The following year, Davis improved on his sophomore campaign by scampering for 877 yards. During his senior season in 1961, he rushed for 823 yards and fifteen touchdowns. Moreover, the halfback led the team in receiving, catching sixteen passes that year for 157 yards. For his performance on the gridiron that season, Davis became not only the first Syracuse football player, but also the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy.

A few days before Davis collected his hardware in New York City, the Washington Redskins selected him with the first overall pick of the 1962 NFL Draft. Immediately after, however, the organization traded him to the Cleveland Browns. Sadly, Davis never played a snap for the team. In the summer of 1962, after being hospitalized with what doctors suspected was mononucleosis or mumps, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Following a nearly year-long battle, Davis died in Cleveland on May 18, 1963 at the age of twenty-three. In 1979, he was posthumously inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. 

On September 13, 2008, prior to the football team’s home game against the Penn State Nittany Lions, Syracuse unveiled a statue of Davis on campus, just off the southwest corner of the Quad, near the Carrier Dome. Designed by Italian-American artist Bruno Lucchesi, the life-sized bronze sculpture depicts the Heisman Trophy winner standing proudly in his Syracuse football uniform. Sporting a large smile, he peers at the horizon while holding his helmet under his left arm and a football in his right hand. Less than a month after its unveiling, the university removed the statue and sent it back to Luchessi for alterations after fans and members of the media pointed out that Davis’ cleats and helmet were not period appropriate. In fact, the former had Nike swooshes on them, while the latter was of a more modern design. After spending several months in Lucchesi’s New York City studio undergoing modifications, the sculpture returned to its marble pedestal in early March 2009. 

"Davis statue back at Syracuse." espn.com. 10 March 2009. Web. 10 August 2021 <https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3968344>.

"Ernie Davis." Encyclopædia Britannica. Web. 10 August 2021 <https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ernie-Davis>.

"Ernie Davis." heisman.com. The Heisman Trophy Trust. Web. 10 August 2021 <https://www.heisman.com/heisman-winners/ernie-davis/>.

"Tribute to Ernie Davis is Installed." cuse.com. Syracuse University Athletics. 10 March 2009. Web. 10 August 2021 <https://cuse.com/news/2009/3/10/FB_0310091926>.

Webb, Donnie. "SU removes Ernie Davis statue, wraps it up and sends it back to the studio for modifications." syracuse.com. 9 October 2008. Web. 10 August 2021 <https://www.syracuse.com/news/2008/10/su_removes_ernie_davis_statue.html>.