ben schwartzwalder military

World War II: Capturing the La Fiere Causeway - HistoryNet After the war, Ben came back to coaching, and eventually found his way to Syracuse University. Syracuse, New York 13244 Gary Fleder: Did you feel it from the players? This is where that appetite of desire was whetted and the burning determination to succeed was honed. It's a scene included in tonight's world premier of "The Express" at the Landmark Theatre. All these years later, Easterly still recalls his teammate not only for his football prowess, but also for his warm, comical personality. The trophy was established in 1993 and was sculpted by Syracuse sports hall-of-famer Jim Ridlon. So the story is like you said -- its a big story and a small story. The Syracuse Eight - Tumblr Jim Brown: The other star of "The Express" - Los Angeles Times 222 Waverly Avenue He wore street clothes at the alumni game, serving as an honorary coach. However, his plane was seriously off course and dropped its "stick" of twelve paratroopers some ten miles away from its designated landing zone. An ad blocker has likely prevented this video content from loading. He thought there was only one way to play football and that was the rough way. At first, Ben Schwartzwalder was a legend at Syracuse. 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. 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. It was 1963 at Syracuse University's alumni football game, where teammates celebrated the Orangemen's 1959 national championship. They cited instances of unfair treatment, ranging from differences in disciplinary action to the coaching staffs intolerance of their civil rights activism elsewhere on campus. Hon. Mordue Obituary (1942 - 2022) - Syracuse, NY - Syracuse Post Standard He didn't starve as a boy growing up but he knew what it was to want. Its a great history lesson, offering kids a look at the real-life exploits of Ernie Davis, the trail-blazing Syracuse University running back who in 1961 became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. Schwartzwalder's teams went to seven bowl games and won four Lambert Trophies. One other thought on that. Today Ed is buried with many of his fallen comrades from the 507th PIR in the beautiful US Military Cemetery, which overlooks Omaha Beach in Normandy. "Sometimes outstanding individuals are never appreciated until they are gone," said Beano Cooke, a former sports information director and now with ABC-TV. During his 25 years as head coach Syracuse teams outrushed their opponents by more than 22,000 yards. And that was the first time I ever felt like an alumni. All Rights Reserved. I didnt know why people gave them money -- I didnt know any of that. 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. "We football coaches are most fortunate," Ben said as he left office as the president of the American Football Coaches Association. After returning home, Schwartzwalder began his college coaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he went 25-5. He was personally decorated by Matthew Ridgeway who recalled Ben well. About Ben Schwartzwalder: American football player and coach (1909 Schwartzwalder, a decorated World War II veteran with just three years of coaching experience at the college level, arrived at Syracuse . 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. If Jim Brown was happy, I was happy., Still, what fascinated me was that first conversation between Fleder and Brown. He was also a military veteran. From 1946-48 he coached Muhlenberg (Pa.) College to a 25-5 record before heading to Syracuse to coach the Orangemen. After being labeled black dissidents, the Syracuse 8 were suspended from the team. He was also a military veteran. 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. Ernie doesnt scream and he doesnt protest, but hes raging inside. Ben died in 1993 at the age of 84.. About coming to Syracuse, Schwartzwalder famously said: The alumni wanted a big-name coach. Floyd Benjamin Ben Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. Ben gave Syracuse its finest hours in football. 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. 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. He was like a Marine, with a real army attitude. After holding off the vastly superior German forc es for four days, the senior officer in command ordered the paratroopers to withdraw under the cover of darkness and attempt to reach Allied lines by exfilling in small bands through the flooded marshes and swollen streams. He was a real comedian too. The public Ben Schwartzwalder often appeared to be a cross between a wounded bear and a crossed bull. He coached at Syracuse from 1949 to 1973, compiling a 178-96-3 record, and winning one national championship in 1959 while going undefeated. BIO. He thought the first script was a little thin. No portion of this site may be reproduced or duplicated without the express written permission of Syracuse University. Adversity and Ben were old combatants and Ben usually won. You should know his story, because its a Syracuse University story one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future. 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. Coach Ben Schwartzwalder began routines of coming up to Elmire to visit Davis and his family. This remains Syracuse's only football national championship to date. The players believed that many of these issues could be remedied by hiring a black coach. Burials may be scheduled by calling the cemetery staff at (315) 484-1564. 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". Ben Schwartzwalder. Some white teammates stood in solidarity and threatened to boycott if the black players were not allowed back, but they were overpowered by the alumni who wanted all the black players off the team and their scholarships revoked. 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. In 1941, Ben found himself a 33 year old high school football coach, working in Canton, Ohio, on the day that the Japanese attached Pearl Harbor. Schwartzwalder 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. They wanted me to change positions, all kinds of stuff. Mostly, we remember Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder as Syracuse University's successful head football coach, 1949 to 1973. He coached high schools in West Virginia and Ohio 1933-41. You should know his story. The Schwartzwalder Trophy was named after former Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder, who led the Orange to the 1959 national title. Ben led G Company during the D-Day operation and was decorated with the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry in his first combat action. Soon thereafter, a force of 80 507th paratroopers led by G Company commander, Captain Ben Schwartzwalder, joined the developing battle. I wasnt crazy about the original script, Fleder told me over lunch recently. 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. No. A report on Ben Schwartzwalder. Syracuse Chancellor John Corbally, prompted by faculty sympathetic to the 8, allowed the players to keep their scholarships and to graduate, which they did. 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 would then later imply he was joking or being sarcastic at the time these promises were made. 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. Coach Ben Schwartzwalder and the SU football team were having a great season. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. 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. Floyd Burdette "Ben" Schwartzwalder (1909-1993) Sc And enthusiasm!! This remains Syracuse's only football national championship to date. 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). "A lot of things in the movie didn't happen at that time at Syracuse but did happen in the country. Jim Brown. By the time the 507th reached the battle for Hill 95, they had suffered more than 65% casualties. Ernie Davis becomes first Black to win Heisman Trophy 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. Both taught and Ben began coaching in his home state. Ben Schwartzwalder . Schwartzwalder was born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. He is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Syracuse, NY. 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. 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. Led by College Football Hall of Fame coach Ben Schwartzwalder, the Orange were unranked to start the season, but climbed to No. JavaScript is disabled. 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. Unresolved Grievances - Syracuse 8 - Syracuse University During the war, Schwartzwalder was a military hero, a paratrooper, part of the D-Day invasion in June 1944 fighting behind enemy lines. Floyd Benjamin Ben Schwartzwalder was for 25 years a teacher, a mentor, and a coach at Syracuse University. A Life Cut Short - Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com The Mules played in the 1946 Tobacco Bowl - The Morning Call Items For Sale At Auction - Online Auction Sunday Jan 29th 9am Military He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. Los Angeles Times Staff Writer. During the West Virginia fracas, Davis snaps at his coach: "Maybe, just maybe, the rules down here are your rules too. 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. He was basically a shy, quiet individual who never got very close to the press or general public. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. He overcame those . He said, You have to realize, in the civil rights movement, there had to be radicals and peacemakers, radicals like Malcolm X and peacemakers like Martin Luther King. An endearing photo is one from 90s I believe when Cuse players have Ben raised on their shoulders after a win. ". We created a day for minority students coming back together. The greatest part of Ernie Davis was that he could cross over lines. He was 80 then and hit every drive down the middle. Wiping Systems Market Is Likely To Boost In Upcoming Years. Syracuse, West Virginia Fans Create Petition For The Ben Schwartzwalder Jim Brown: If you deal with the times, you have a pretty gritty story. He was captain of the football team in 1933. Schwartzwalder Trophy not in play - Big 12 Blog- ESPN 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. 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. This month marks 50 years since the Syracuse 8 began their peaceful protest. You are using an out of date browser. In 1880 there were 6 Schwartzwalder families living in New York. Floyd Benjamin 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. In 1946, Ben came east and guided Muhlenberg to a 25-5 slate in three years. Fleder didnt simply want Browns take on Davis; he wanted to hear what the former football star thought of Ben Schwartzwalder, the legendary Syracuse coach who wasnt so enthralled by the civil rights fervor that was starting to sweep the nation. 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. . During his 25 years as head coach Syracuse teams outrushed their opponents by more than 22,000 yards. The media focused on only one request, the hiring of a black assistant coach, ignoring their other grievances. In 1959, he also won the national coach of the year award. 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 doing the best we can do with the job we have, wherever it is, we can serve our nation in its greatest task.". Both sites mention that in addition to the Silver Star, Major Ben was also awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, the latter indicating a combat wound.". 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. Played golf in an SU golf outing at Drrumliuns years back with Ben and an offensive lineman on the championship team (Yeager??). Years after Davis' death, Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder called him "the best kid I ever had anything to do with." "Ernie was just like a puppy dog, friendly and warm and kind," he told. He also developed some of the most impressive running backs the game has ever seen Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Jim Nance, Floyd Little and Larry Csonka. Syracuse a Veteran coach Ben Schwartzwalder was musing about his Lack of depth recently. "I see a lot of things that never were done to Ernie but maybe happened to [Syracuse great] Jim Brown (in the 1950s). He earned a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Silver Star, and Presidential Unit Citation. St Louis Sporting News Archives, Oct 7, 1967, p. 58 Notable Veteran Alumni: Floyd Benjamin "Ben" Schwartzwalder In 1946 he rotated back to the States and was honorably discharged. Floyd Little was raised in poverty in New Haven, Connecticut. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. It was a scene he had repeated several hundred times but on this particular day, November 24, 1973, it was different. He gave me a way in to tell this story. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) The year was 1959. "He was like a magnet to good things, always; polite, smart, a real personality," Whelan said. 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. "Ernie knew everybody's name and went out of his way to say hello. Under Bens leadership, SU produced 22 straight years of non-losing football. Allen explained his position, but the coach refused to listen. St Louis Sporting News Archives, Nov 25, 1967, p. 18 Oct 8, 2008 Dennis Quaid has played both a baseball and football star on the big screen but never a coach. Schwartzwalder, a decorated paratrooper during World War II in the 82nd Airborne Division who was among the first wave of soldiers that jumped at D-Day in 1944, coached the Orange from 1949 through 1973. About coming to Syracuse, Schwartzwalder famously said: The alumni wanted a big-name coach. As a paratrooper with the 82nd, he was among the first wave of soldiers that jumped on D-Day in 1944. He thought there was only one way to play football and that was the rough way . "He was a real taskmaster. He produced 22 straight years of non-losing football, took the Orange to seven bowls, and won the national championship in 1959. 1 after winning their first seven games. Dec. 15, 1991 12 AM PT. map this locationGoogle map location Reading your post, I flashed on "Band of Brothers", which detailed a company of the 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne. Orange teams outrushed opponents by more than 22,000 yards under Ben. Ben organized and coached the 507th's football team. West Virginia University - Monticola Yearbook (Morgantown, WV) 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. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? Ben Schwartzwalder. He became a company commander and earned the rank of major. Point Pleasant, Mason County, West Virginia, USA. You had an amazing four years, breaking records and you make it easier for Ernie to come to school. But none of these shortcomings stopped Ben Schwartzwalder from plunging head first into the field of battle. 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. This remains Syracuse's only national football title in football to date. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. At West Virginia, he became a first-string center at only 148 pounds. ben schwartzwalder autograph hotel. By the time the 507th reached the battle for Hill 95, they had suffered more than 65% casualties. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. Because in my experience, I just wanted to get out of there and get moving. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Mary Scofield Obituary (2017) - Westport, CT - Westport News - Legacy.com Quite a story, but as an amateur historian, that kind of second or third hand quote, especially one delivered 50 years after it was shared, makes me very skeptical to its veracity. [continued on next page] Pages: 1 2 3 4 Since Davis grew up with his grandfather, he always wanted his grandfather, "pops" to have a say in what he did. Ben Schwartzwalder, former Syracuse University football coach 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. Following his death in 1993, Schwartzwalder was survived by his daughters, Susan Walker and Mary Scofield. The priest, his friar and two elderly women who had been caring for the wounded in the local church, a structure dating back to the 12th Century, were summarily shot, and the village then set aflame. The team he was coaching at the time was his favorite simply because of his great love of coaching. The Commission subsequently chaired several meetings between the parties, but without success. 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. I remember Ben as gruff, but kind. 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. 3 pair military pants 36s 38s 36xs shirt. 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. Cemetery staff is on duty Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. It is where the seeds of the fierce competitor were nurtured and matured. ", Easterly scoffs at that dramatic license. 8 Black Syracuse Football Players Continue Boycott Ben Schwartzwalder was a decent guy, but he was from another era. Ben Schwartzwalder College Coaching Records, Awards and Leaderboards t: 1.315.443.2093f: 1.315.443.4083 scrc@syr.edu But what was Coach Ben like? 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 . Collapse. 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. But in real life, there are people -- white people -- who have done wonderful things because they were just good human beings. 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. NY Senate Resolution | NY State Senate Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Popularized erroneously in 1970 by the media as the Syracuse 8, the nine students behind the boycott were Gregory Allen, Richard Bulls, Dana Harrell, John Godbolt, John Lobon, Clarence Bucky McGill, A. Alif Muhammad, Duane Walker, and Ron Womack. 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. 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. Syracuse football was coached at the time by Ben Schwartzwalder, a beloved figure on campus, who led the Orange to. "Nor would Ben ever talk to Ernie like that.". Ben Schwartzwalder began his football career as a 95-pound high school freshman quarterback. When the Waffen-SS troops finally overran Graignes, they took out severe revenge on the villagers for having "collaborated with the enemy". Ben Schwartzwalder, a pre-war high school coach in West Virginia who served as a major with the army paratroopers during the war, returned home and took over the program as its new coach. Almost immediately, Coach Ben Schwartzwalder enlisted in the United States Army, earning his paratrooper wings as part of the famous 82nd Airborne Division. george w bush medal, us defense savings. Syracuse 8 Collection, University Archives. Ben Schwartzwalder (2004) - WVU Sports Hall of Fame In 1973, Schwartzwalder retired from coaching and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. He recruited black players not . "Unfortunately, little else is known about Coach Schwartzwalder's rather outstanding military service in World War II. Their demand was based on their awareness of how their academic potential exceeded the universitys expectations. He later joined teammate Patrick Whelan, 71, of Safety Harbor, at a Tampa screening. Ben and Ed trained together and most likely socialized with each other at unit functions and the officers' club. The trophy was established in 1993, the year Schwartzwalder died, and was sculpted by Syracuse sports hall-of-famer Jim Ridlon. !8 holes of golf and Ben never said a word about football.

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