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The Daily OrangeElmira Express
Ernie Davis' hometown helps keep legacy alive
By Michael Bonner
Posted: 9/9/08, 11:17 PM EST Section: Sports
Davis was different. Even 45 years after he lost his battle with leukemia, the legendary SU tailback who lead the team to its only national championship, in 1959, is still different. Williams doesn't have a school in Elmira named after him. Hilfiger doesn't have a community center named after him.
"People continue to talk about Ernie in everyday conversations," said Mayor of Elmira John Tonello. "Ernie Davis' legacy is sort of a multi-sport athlete, but really it's his character. People from Elmira grew up with this guy who was not just an outstanding athlete, but who, by every measure, was just a humble and hardworking young man. That legacy and his presence is still very much talked about."
***
Ernie Davis stood in a corner and waited. He wanted to play with his good friend Ben Jolley, but he was too polite to interrupt. It was dinnertime, and the last thing Davis was going be was a nuisance. He was raised better than that.
Sometimes Jolley just took too long, even for Davis.
"I'll never forget what he said," Bob Jolley, Ben's brother said. "One time, Ben kept saying 'Give me this, give me that.' He always had a big appetite. He ate like a son of a gun. And Ernie said 'Ben Jolley, you're a greedy boy.' That sticks in my mind."
Soon after, the Jolleys moved to Athens, but it wouldn't be the last time the friends would meet up.
Elmira's junior high football team traveled to Athens. The Jolleys suited up for the game, and when they arrived at the stadium couldn't believe who they saw.
"My brother said, 'who's that there on the other team,'" Bob Jolley said. "I had to look and look, I said, 'Oh my god, that's Ernie Davis.'"
"He ran all over us."
It was obvious early that Davis was a gifted athlete. But that meeting was the only football memory that came to mind for Jolley. What he and others remembered most was Ernie the person.
"There's no way anybody could knock him down," Jolley said. "He was just, his reputation, he was just the best."
"People continue to talk about Ernie in everyday conversations," said Mayor of Elmira John Tonello. "Ernie Davis' legacy is sort of a multi-sport athlete, but really it's his character. People from Elmira grew up with this guy who was not just an outstanding athlete, but who, by every measure, was just a humble and hardworking young man. That legacy and his presence is still very much talked about."
***
Ernie Davis stood in a corner and waited. He wanted to play with his good friend Ben Jolley, but he was too polite to interrupt. It was dinnertime, and the last thing Davis was going be was a nuisance. He was raised better than that.
Sometimes Jolley just took too long, even for Davis.
"I'll never forget what he said," Bob Jolley, Ben's brother said. "One time, Ben kept saying 'Give me this, give me that.' He always had a big appetite. He ate like a son of a gun. And Ernie said 'Ben Jolley, you're a greedy boy.' That sticks in my mind."
Soon after, the Jolleys moved to Athens, but it wouldn't be the last time the friends would meet up.
Elmira's junior high football team traveled to Athens. The Jolleys suited up for the game, and when they arrived at the stadium couldn't believe who they saw.
"My brother said, 'who's that there on the other team,'" Bob Jolley said. "I had to look and look, I said, 'Oh my god, that's Ernie Davis.'"
"He ran all over us."
It was obvious early that Davis was a gifted athlete. But that meeting was the only football memory that came to mind for Jolley. What he and others remembered most was Ernie the person.
"There's no way anybody could knock him down," Jolley said. "He was just, his reputation, he was just the best."
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