Weba motion picture biography, the express: The story of ernie davis by. Webhelen gott was just a month from graduation. Across the candlelit table from her at the tippin’ inn in syracuse, n. y. , was her steady boyfriend, ernie davis, a recent. Ernie davis became the first african american to win the heisman trophy before his life was tragically cut short by leukemia at the age of 23. Weba friend of ernie davis's. The last night she ever saw him, they were sitting together at a table with candlelight in an italian restaurant just off the campus of. Webernie davis, the “elmira express” who was the first black player to win the heisman trophy in 1961, came from humble beginnings, but persevered into. Webdirected by gary fleder and released in 2008, the film is based on the true story of davis, a syracuse university football player who overcame numerous social.
