All-American Don McPherson Reacts to 'The Express'
9/10/2008 11:19:02 AM | Football
The triumphs and tragedies of Ernie Davis’ life story have lingered through the halls of Syracuse University, through the local and national media, and through the conversations of sports fans across the country. Some of the public were alive to watch his incredibly journey, while others have only heard about it.
Orange All-American quarterback and 2008 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Don McPherson, who led the 1987 team to an undefeated season and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up, had only heard of Davis’ story until he recently saw the film The Express, which depicted his life story, during a private screening in New York City.
“I think it was the first time I felt the lineage,” McPherson said. “People can tell you and you can read about it, and you can understand it on somewhat of a historical level, but watching it and seeing it was a different experience.
“It wasn’t a factious view of the SU campus. It was my campus. It was the history you hear. All of it really brought it home that this was my lineage."
Jump ahead 25-plus years from the time Davis donned the Orange to when McPherson led the Syracuse football program to its only other undefeated season, parallel experiences were occurring. McPherson was nominated for the Heisman Trophy and if he were to win, he would be the first African-American quarterback to win such an honor. Davis was the first African-American football player in history to win the trophy. History would have McPherson finishing second in the running.
“The only thing that I was really disappointed about was that I wanted to be the first African-American quarterback to win,” McPherson said. “I wanted that place in history and to sit next to Davis in that, and we came so close to making that history.
“It would have been great for Syracuse University to have two Heisman Trophies. It would have been a link to Davis that I would have really just loved and enjoyed.”
Syracuse University could have had two of the most prestigious football honors in the college game—each shattering the racial ceiling of the sport and our country—making for a remarkable reflection.
Although the racial tensions in the country, on SU’s campus and the dynamic of the football team were not nearly as intense as they were during Davis’ era, they were still there for McPherson. The presentation of these challenges for Davis was a significant part of the film.
“We tend to celebrate Davis in absence of the reality of what he endured,” McPherson said. “He faced a lot of racism here at SU and on his own team. It wasn’t a perfect welcoming experience. The historical, social context so often gets lost when telling the story. There was that part of it that I think was really important and I am glad it was depicted in the film.”
The world premiere of The Express will take place on Friday, September 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the historic Landmark Theatre in downtown Syracuse. On Friday, Sept. 12, fans are invited to line Salina Street for the Orange Carpet Pre-Show beginning at 5 p.m., which will feature performances by The Coasters and video clips from the movie.
The Key Bank 44 Rewards Orange Carpet Show on Salina Street begins at 5 p.m. with music by The Coasters and video features on the making of the movie. A ribbon cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. will officially open the Orange Carpet. Fans can catch a glimpse of the stars of the movie, including Rob Brown and Dennis Quaid, as well as Syracuse University dignitaries in a parade down Salina Street to the Landmark Theatre.
The film will open in theaters on October 10, 2008.
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