Quot gosh Quot moaned the hard bitten sex paratrooper Quot All we Are is one deep. Schwartzwalder was born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. I just want to know -- what did you feel on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis? Your donation is fully tax-deductible. JavaScript is disabled. The most Schwartzwalder families were found in USA in 1920. If you look at the Underground Railroad, it wasnt just Harriet Tubman, it was all those white people who risked their lives to help these slaves get up north. Syracuse University Football Recruiting Database, Syracuse Men's Basketball Recruiting Database, La Fire Bridge: The D-Day Battle You Should Have Heard Of. 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. In 1973, Schwartzwalder retired from coaching and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. Dropped far behind enemy lines and miles off target, Ben organized his command immediately and a week later brought a bunch of prisoners to the Allied lines. This month marks 50 years since the Syracuse 8 began their peaceful protest. He earned a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Silver Star, and Presidential Unit Citation. Coach Ben Schwartzwalder had no interest in acknowledging race and how racism affects the experience of black athletes. 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. The greatest part of Ernie Davis was that he could cross over lines. The demand for a black coach was prompted by the black players accusations of discriminatory practices by their coach, Floyd Ben Schwartzwalder, and his assistant coaches. Then I played Colgate and had a great game and I just sort of broke the back of that whole discriminatory attitude. . 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 like a magnet to good things, always; polite, smart, a real personality," Whelan said. 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. We might have to change and modify things Jim Brown: You can do a hell of a film if you can understand what it is to be a man in America. "I see a lot of things that never were done to Ernie but maybe happened to [Syracuse great] Jim Brown (in the 1950s). They included the battalion surgeon who had stayed behind to care for the wounded. No portion of this site may be reproduced or duplicated without the express written permission of Syracuse University. By Frank Giardina For the Gazette-Mail; Jun 10, 2017 Jun 10, 2017 Updated Nov 21, 2017; Comments; Gary Fleder: Did you feel it from the players? (2017, November 17). Jim was very quiet in the early part of the film, Fleder recalls. He was personally decorated by Matthew Ridgeway who recalled Ben well. Ben and Ed trained together and most likely socialized with each other at unit functions and the officers' club. They identify him as later coaching Syracuse University to the national championship in 1959. He coached at Syracuse from 1949 to 1973, compiling a 178-96-3 record, and winning one national championship in 1959 while going undefeated. I don't know what the ratio of prisoners to guards would have been. He gave me a way in to tell this story. 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. He was also a military veteran. He was the starting center at 152 pounds for the Mountaineers of coach Greasey Neale. Capt. 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. Meanwhile, up in central New York, Syracuse was struggling for survival. A good starting place is his home state of West Virginia. "When Ed initially reported for duty with G Company, 3rd Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Sep42 at Ft. Benning, Georgia, his company commander was none other than Captain Floyd B. Schwartzwalder, the future head football coach of Syracuse University and eventual gridiron nemesis of Ed Wagner's Nittany Lions. This remains Syracuse's only football national championship to date. Floyd Little was raised in poverty in New Haven, Connecticut. But it was changing. 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. Parkersburg. 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. The rest is now history. 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. 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 didn't starve as a boy growing up but he knew what it was to want. The teammates also say that Brown's portrayal misses Davis' essence. There is so much joy on the faces of the players and Ben. Ben passed away in 1993 and is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Ben passed away in 1993 and is buried in the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery. This remains Syracuse's only football national championship to date. Ben was clearly on his way to the top. Lindquist was coming in from the east, and Levy was ensconced in a graveyard across the river at Cauquigny. Despite promising to do so, Schwartzwalder failed to follow through. Jim Brown: If you deal with the times, you have a pretty gritty story. Schwartzwalder had a knack for developing excellent running backs. In 1973, Schwartzwalder retired from coaching and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. Almost immediately, Coach Ben Schwartzwalder enlisted in the United States Army, earning his paratrooper wings as part of the famous 82nd Airborne Division. Gary Fleders The Express, which hits theaters next month, is really two compelling movies in one. He thought there was only one way to play football and that was the rough way. Notably, 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 University of Texas team in the Cotton Bowl while winning the 1959 national championship. With the score Reading 13-6, North Carolina state drove All the Way to the Lions goal but Pound it Over. 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). "We football coaches are most fortunate," Ben said as he left office as the president of the American Football Coaches Association. Jim was skeptical, Fleder recalls. But when he started talking about his own experiences, especially his conflicts with Schwartzwalder and how he was told he couldnt date white girls, I started to see a lot more drama there. He was captain of the football team in 1933. Schwartzwalder was a West Virginia graduate. Syracuse football was coached at the time by Ben Schwartzwalder, a beloved figure on campus, who led the Orange to. 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. They wanted me to change positions, all kinds of stuff. Collapse. When the Waffen-SS troops finally overran Graignes, they took out severe revenge on the villagers for having "collaborated with the enemy". It's a scene included in tonight's world premier of "The Express" at the Landmark Theatre. Ben Schwartzwalder was a decent guy, but he was from another era. The funny part is that so many people have known this for years, including myself.". In 1946, Ben came east and guided Muhlenberg to a 25-5 slate in three years. 5 in our series looking at the coaches and players who have made the biggest impact in Syracuse University sports. Ben died in 1993 at the age of 84.. Ed was killed and the acting battalion commander seriously wounded. He was a paratrooper in World War II, leaving the serv ice as a . The Commission subsequently chaired several meetings between the parties, but without success. Ben Schwartzwalder was a decent guy, but he was from another era. He was also a military veteran. However, Ed Wagner's group overlooked the main route of advance for the German armored forces racing to reinforce the town of Carentan. Ben Schwartzwalder began his football career as a 95-pound high school freshman quarterback. BIO. I didnt know why people gave them money -- I didnt know any of that. This little-known episode of brutality has been documented by the History Channel in a video titled, "Secret Massacre at D-Day". 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. The Orange had won but nine games in four years and everyone was unhappy. Floyd Burdette "Ben" Schwartzwalder Birth 2 Jun 1909. His report card shows 178 wins, 96 losses and three ties during his 28-year tenure as a head coach (three years at Muhlenberg, 25 at Syracuse). 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. You know, white folks could like him, black folks could like him, without really selling out. Born the second daughter to Floyd ("Ben") and He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. 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. 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. Syracuse passing More than Ever in Ben Schwartzwalder s 19 year career took holy Cross apart 41-7. You should know his story, because its a Syracuse University story one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future. They show Ben in his Service today for Ben A Memorial Day service will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 4069 Howlett Hill Rd. One other thought on that. Significance: The Ben . 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. As head coach from 1949-73, he mounted an impressive 153-91-3 record there. You should know his story. After the war, Ben came back to coaching, and eventually found his way to Syracuse University. Schwartzwalder was the head football coach of the Syracuse Orange from 1949 to 1973. Jim told me something really amazing that put things in perspective. During the summer, the black players filed a complaint against Syracuse University and the coaching staff with the Syracuse and Onondaga Human Rights Commission. Walk Where They Fought: La Fire, 82d Airborne Division, D-Day 1944 | Armchair General Magazine - We Put YOU in Command! While the regiment was stateside Capt. The two men shook hands outside the Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf-Astoria. Floyd Benjamin "Ben" Schwartzwalder (June 2, 1909 April 28, 1993) was a Hall of Fame football coach at Syracuse University, where he trained such future National Football League stars as Jim Brown, as well as the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, Ernie Davis. Brown portrays Davis as an intense, shy person moved to anger when Schwartzwalder deflects any discriminatory acts. After associate coaches ignored the players request to hire a black assistant for a year, one of the Syracuse 8, Greg Allen, met with head coach Schwartzwalder in spring 1969. Mary ScofieldMary Scofield (born Mary Schwartzwalder) passed away on December 7, 2017 after battling ovarian cancer for three years. 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. He was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart . Over 25 season, he compiled a 153-91-3 record and led the team an undefeated season in 1959 that included the National Championship. 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.