ben schwartzwalder military ben schwartzwalder military

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. 20072023 Blackpast.org. In fact, I never knew what being an alumnus was. Reggie was the widow of legendary Syracuse University head football coach Floyd Ben Schwartzwalder, who died in 1993. One of Buffalo's longest-tenured AFL players, Al Bemiller, passed away on Wednesday. This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. Damn right. 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. Point Pleasant, Mason County, West Virginia, USA. Both taught and Ben began coaching in his home state. Gary Fleders The Express, which hits theaters next month, is really two compelling movies in one. He is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Syracuse, NY. 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. 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. West Virginia and Syracuse might have a sordid past as Big East rivals, but you'd never know it by what's not at stake in this month's upcoming Camping World Bowl. Ben Schwartzwalder. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). He is part of Syracuse University history, and a veteran of the U.S. military. 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. Since Davis grew up with his grandfather, he always wanted his grandfather, "pops" to have a say in what he did. Capt. It was a scene he had repeated several hundred times but on this particular day, November 24, 1973, it was different. The team he was coaching at the time was his favorite simply because of his great love of coaching. It doesnt break down in gender. The most Schwartzwalder families were found in USA in 1920. Gary Fleder: You came before Ernie. Ben Schwartzwalder, Head Coach 1949-73. He was a real comedian too. Less than a dozen men rank in this category. 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. Gary Fleder: I just want to make a film that has the essence of Ernie Davis. You see, if Ernie didnt perform, all that nice [stuff] wouldnt have been about nothing. A nice memory. Almost immediately, Coach Ben Schwartzwalder enlisted in the United States Army, earning his paratrooper wings as part of the famous 82nd Airborne Division. 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. It doesnt break down in color. Floyd Burdette "Ben" Schwartzwalder Birth 2 Jun 1909. Then I played Colgate and had a great game and I just sort of broke the back of that whole discriminatory attitude. 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. Chancellor John Corbally Records, University Archives. Soon after being drafted No. Played golf in an SU golf outing at Drrumliuns years back with Ben and an offensive lineman on the championship team (Yeager??). Following his death in 1993, Schwartzwalder was survived by his daughters, Susan Walker and Mary Scofield. The basics. 5 in our series looking at the coaches and players who have made the biggest impact in Syracuse University sports. Walk Where They Fought: La Fire, 82d Airborne Division, D-Day 1944 | Armchair General Magazine - We Put YOU in Command! Chuck Leavitt did a great page-one rewrite of the script. 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. I just want to know -- what did you feel on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis? Meanwhile, up in central New York, Syracuse was struggling for survival. What is a filmmaker looking for when hes researching a film based on real-life events? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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". Ernie doesnt scream and he doesnt protest, but hes raging inside. Syracuse leads the overall record of the series 31-27, however West Virginia has won the trophy 11 times to Syracuse's 7. He wanted p During World War II, Schwartzwalder enlisted and served as a paratrooper in the United States Army. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Ed was killed and the acting battalion commander seriously wounded. He was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart . [1] 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[1] and Ohio a year at Canton McKinley High School[1] and won two state championships. Search and browse yearbooks online! Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Davis' accomplishments and abbreviated life inspire the new movie, which Easterly saw at an Orangemen reunion recently. Google Image Result for https://d3d4f9a2nwdz4m.cloudfront.net/images/2011/9/28/SchwartzwalderBenonshoulderscolor.jpg, The Penn State game looms down there in Jersey; not so long ago, it delivered Dome delirium. "Ed Wagner, Class of '41, is the namesake of the ROTC Building at Penn State. ", Easterly scoffs at that dramatic license. 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.. 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 also a military veteran. Director Gary Fleder uses Davis' football career to illustrate racial intolerance that Easterly and Whelan claim seldom existed for him. 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. An ad blocker has likely prevented this video content from loading. 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. The story grew each time it was told. West Virginia University - Monticola Yearbook (Morgantown, WV), Class of 1932, Page 231 of 392 | E-Yearbook.com has the largest online yearbook collection of college, university, high school, middle school, junior high school, military, naval cruise books and yearbooks. Ben organized and coached the 507th's football team. "He was a real taskmaster. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? Ben died in 1993 at the age of 84.. When he was personally decorated by General Matthew Ridgway, the General said "Ben, I never expected to see you here to receive this award.". Quaid, who plays legendary Syracuse University coach Ben Schwartzwalder, described his character as "a hard-nosed, tough guy who stormed the beaches at Normandy. You either throw in the towel or you go ahead and try to make your performance speak for you. How does one describe Ben Schwartzwalder? 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. Ben Schwartzwalder was a decent guy, but he was from another era. Quot gosh Quot moaned the hard bitten sex paratrooper Quot All we Are is one deep. Mere Eglise. Those units were from the 17th Waffen-SS Panzer Grenadier Division "Gotz von Berlichingen". As head coach from 1949-73, he mounted an impressive 153-91-3 record there. While the team will be forever linked to offensive stars like Davis, consensus All-America guard Roger Davis, and fellow All-Americans Fred Mautino and Bob Yates, the defense . After returning home, Schwartzwalder began his college coaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he went 25-5. Both websites for the West Virginia University, where he played center for the Mountaineers and graduated in 1935, and Syracuse University having disappointingly little information on this period of the coach's life. He was a paratrooper in World War II, rose to the rank of major, and was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple . Born the second daughter to Floyd ("Ben") and An hour before the game, Al Davis stands at the 50-yard line of the silent Coliseum, surveying the field through his sunglasses darkly, as . That makes it exciting. He was captain of the football team in 1933. One other thought on that. The trophy was established in 1993 and was sculpted by Syracuse sports hall-of-famer Jim Ridlon. Just watched Seize and Secure a one hour documentary on PBS about the battle to secure the bridge at La Fire on DDay Capt. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. The Schwartzwalder family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. National Veterans Resource Center | Daniel & Gayle DAniello Building | 101 Waverly Ave, Syracuse, NY 13244, Notable Veteran Alumni: Floyd Benjamin Ben Schwartzwalder. 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 athletes to openly defy American racism. He became a company commander and earned the rank of major. Richard Winters (played by Damian Lewis), who also received a battlefield promotion to major and was also from West Virginia, like Ol' Ben. (2017, November 17). 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. The players believed that many of these issues could be remedied by hiring a black coach. The student-athletes four demands were access to the same academic tutoring as their white teammates; better medical care for all team members; starting assignments based on merit; and racially integrating the coaching staff, which had been all white since 1898. "I see a lot of things that never were done to Ernie but maybe happened to [Syracuse great] Jim Brown (in the 1950s). But there was to be a delay. A call for help went out and in the end it was that man who was to win more games than Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy, Bud Wilkinson or Earl Blaik that answered. By any definition, during the war Ben distinguished himself in service to the nation, and to his men. 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 He would then later imply he was joking or being sarcastic at the time these promises were made. 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. He developed some of the most impressive running backs the game has ever seen - Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Jim Nance, Floyd Little and Larry Csonka. Finally he called Brown, who lives here in L.A., and set up a meeting. Schwartzwalder was the head football coach of the Syracuse Orange from 1949 to 1973. 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. Neither believes "The Express" captures his personality, or accurately portrays his relationships with head coach Ben Schwartzwalder and teammates. Cemetery staff is on duty Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. During his 25 years as head coach Syracuse teams outrushed their opponents by more than 22,000 yards. The war ended and football again became his life. He would lead the program for more than 20 years, a period that would reach its crescendo with a national championship, in 1959. About coming to Syracuse, Schwartzwalder famously said: The alumni wanted a big-name coach. I wasnt crazy about the original script, Fleder told me over lunch recently. They wanted me to change positions, all kinds of stuff. 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. "I have a strange feeling that in the years to come, officials, alumni and fans might finally realize what a tremendous asset Ben was. In 1969 a group of nine student-athletes boycotted Syracuse Universitys football program to demand change and promote racial equality. But none of these shortcomings stopped Ben Schwartzwalder from plunging head first into the field of battle. Almost immediately, Coach Ben Schwartzwalder enlisted in the United States Army, earning his paratrooper wings as part of the famous 82nd Airborne Division. About Ben Schwartzwalder is a member of the following lists: 1993 deaths , American military personnel of World War II and United States Army officers . 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. After being labeled black dissidents, the Syracuse 8 were suspended from the team. Despite promising to do so, Schwartzwalder failed to follow through. The two men shook hands outside the Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf-Astoria. Yet forget wins and losses. And that was the first time I ever felt like an alumni. Did you feel the constant pressure or did you acclimate to it? 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. Ben Schwartzwalder . Reggie was born on January 18, 1912, in Pine Grove, West. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The rest is now history. Burials may be scheduled by calling the cemetery staff at (315) 484-1564. In addition to Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, he coached Jim Brown, Floyd Little, Jim Nance, and Larry Csonka through their college careers. But in real life, there are people -- white people -- who have done wonderful things because they were just good human beings. 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. Ben always refused to pick a favorite team or make comparisons. 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. At Syracuse, I was the radical and Ernie was the peacemaker, the guy everyone loved. Mary ScofieldMary Scofield (born Mary Schwartzwalder) passed away on December 7, 2017 after battling ovarian cancer for three years. Although in his thirties, Ben decided he was going to be a paratrooper. 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. And then we played Illinois, and I had to play. When he was personally decorated by General Matthew Ridgway, the General said "Ben, I never expected to see you here to receive this award.". He was a member of the 1964 Sugar Bowl team. 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. You should know his story, because its a Syracuse University story one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future. The story of Jackie Robinson is also the story of Branch Rickey. He coached at Syracuse from 1949 to 1973, compiling a 178963 record, and winning one national championship in 1959 while going undefeated with an 110 record. 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. At first, Ben Schwartzwalder was a legend at Syracuse. Adversity and Ben were old combatants and Ben usually won. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. 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. 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. He was personally decorated by Matthew Ridgeway who recalled Ben well. You know, white folks could like him, black folks could like him, without really selling out. Jim Brown: I was going to leave because it was almost unbearable. You should know his story, because it's a Syracuse University story - one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future. This was about 67% of all the recorded Schwartzwalder's in USA. During his 25 years as head coach Syracuse teams outrushed their opponents by more than 22,000 yards. You had an amazing four years, breaking records and you make it easier for Ernie to come to school. What did Jim Brown say that made such a difference? Ben and Ed trained together and most likely socialized with each other at unit functions and the officers' club. 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). Floyd Benjamin Ben Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. What made him tick and what made him one of the giants of the game? Their demand was based on their awareness of how their academic potential exceeded the universitys expectations. 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. I'm guessing it's after beating WVU to claim the Schwartzwalder Trophy. Jim Brown: If you deal with the times, you have a pretty gritty story. 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 . Quick Facts. Mountaineer fans are just over . Finally, we got the scene where Ernie wants to give his jersey, with No. "He was like a magnet to good things, always; polite, smart, a real personality," Whelan said. Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. He thought the first script was a little thin. Schwartzwalder had a knack for developing excellent running backs through their college careers, including Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, Jim Brown, Floyd Little, Jim Nance, and Larry Csonka. The three major forces in the dispute have been the eight black athletes, and their spokesman George Moody, director of King-on-campus School; Chancellor John E. Corbally and the administration; and Coach Schwartzwalder, supported by his coaching staff and football squad. [continued on next page] Pages: 1 2 3 4 Following his completion of ROTC, as a Distinguished. Ben Schwartzwalder College Coaching Records, Awards and Leaderboards | College Football at Sports-Reference.com Ben Schwartzwalder Career Record: 25 Years, 153-91-3, .626 Win% (at major schools) Bowl Record: 7 Games, 2-5, .286 Win% (at major schools) College Football Coaches Ben Schwartzwalder Overview More Other SR Sites 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 Texas Longhorns in the 1960 Cotton Bowl Classic and win a national championship. 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. Lots of midgets. The school? But its also a great drama about how both the athletes and coaches of that era were profoundly transformed by the civil rights movement, which initially had a far greater impact on society than on the football field. It was superficial and cloying and didnt give enough dimension to the story. Bemiller was quite literally at the center of Buffalo's American Football League back-to-back championship teams. Syracuse Chancellor John Corbally, prompted by faculty sympathetic to the 8, allowed the players to keep their scholarships and to graduate, which they did. Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder (Ben was a childhood nickname) had a major impact on the Syracuse University football program during his 25 years as head coach including winning a national championship in 1959. Here are some excerpts from a 2005 conversation between Fleder and Brown that paved the way for the making of The Express.. All Rights Reserved. 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. The most pivotal character was Company Capt. 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 media focused on only one request, the hiring of a black assistant coach, ignoring their other grievances. 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. "We football coaches are most fortunate," Ben said as he left office as the president of the American Football Coaches Association. He thought there was only one way to play football and that was the rough way. On April 17, 1970, Black members of the football team sent Chancellor John Corbally a letter asking that he address their grievances within two days. Floyd Burdette Schwartzwalder (June 2, 1909 - April 28, 1993) 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 American to win the Heisman Trophy . Youre always having to think of what youre going to say, what youre going to do, where you can go and where you cant. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. The military also named Schwartzwalder governor of Essen, Germany, for about six months following the fall of Nazi Germany. Davis, 23, died the next month in a Cleveland hospital. Ben led G Company during the D-Day operation and was decorated with the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry in his first combat action. In 1967, Schwartzwalder was elected president of the American Football Coaches Association. The Black student-athletes first sent their grievances to Coach Schwartzwalder, though that document does not exist in the University Archives. Ben Schwartzwalder was a decent guy, but he was from another era. Syracuse University did not strip the players of their scholarships, but. He was captain of the football team in 1933. t: 1.315.443.2093f: 1.315.443.4083 scrc@syr.edu Parkersburg. 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). Allen explained his position, but the coach refused to listen. Ruth Simpson Reggie Schwartzwalder, 100, of Syracuse, died peacefully and surrounded by her family on August 25, 2012, at Crouse Hospital. 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. Schwartzwalder had a knack for developing excellent running backs. After the United States entered World War II, Schwartzwalder joined the U.S. Army and served with the 507th Parachute Infantry of the famed Eighty-second Airborne Division. Ben was just an old fashioned guy who thought you were privileged to play.