"The way he carried himself, the way he did not drown in his own tears, the way that he did not hang on his sickness, the way that he functioned as a human being under all of those conditions was tremendous courage," says Jim Brown about Ernie Davis.

The most celebrated college player of his time, Ernie Davis was a powerful 6-2, 210-pounder who led Syracuse to a national championship in 1959. Opponents keyed their defenses in an effort to stop Davis.

Ernie was a standout athlete in high school and chose to attend Syracuse in order to follow in the footsteps of his idol Jimmy Brown. Davis broke all of Brown's records, rushing for 2,386 yards, netting 3,306 yards in all-purpose running, scoring 220 points including 35 touchdowns. His rushing record was long-standing at Syracuse, 6.6 yards per carry.

Davis was the first African American ever to win the coveted Heisman Trophy. He won it in 1961 after a season in which he gained 823 yards on 150 carries, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. He scored 15 touchdowns and totaled 94 points, leading Syracuse in pass receiving with 16 catches for 157 yards.

"Winning the Heisman Trophy is something you just dream about," Davis remarked, "You never think it could happen to you." Davis also gained All-America status as a senior.

Davis signed with the Cleveland Browns for the then astronomical sum of $65,000 a year. A few days before the 1962 All-Star game it was discovered that Ernie had leukemia. He died before his first pro game.

"Some people say I'm unlucky," Davis remarked, "I don't believe it...when I look back, I can't call myself unlucky." Source - College Football Hall of Fame