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Article: This week in Black History.(Ernie Davis became the first Black to win the Heisman Trophy )(Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a White man)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Jet
- Article date:
- December 5, 2005
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Johnson Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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November 28, 1961--
Ernie Davis, Syracuse University halfback, became the first Black to win the Heisman Trophy as the nation's Outstanding College Football Player on this day. At 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds, Davis was nicknamed "the Elmira Express." During his time at the university from 1959 to 1961, he broke 10 of Jim Brown's football records there, including rushing (2,386), yards gained all ways (3,414), scoring (220) and touchdowns (35). A native of New Salem, PA, he was a first-round National Football League draft pick of the Cleveland Browns and was signed up for an unprecedented $80,000. However, Davis was stricken with leukemia before he ever played a game ...