Between the Lines
12/9/2011 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball, Football, General
Higgo's Hero: Ernie Davis. Why? I'm sure you're not asking why we remember Ernie fondly. All good Syracuse fans know the tale by now. But this year, and specifically this week, marks the 50th anniversary of Ernie becoming the first African American to take home the Heisman.
Think of it this way. Saturday night the front row of the Best Buy Theater in New York will be filled with this year's five finalists: Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Trent Richardson, Montee Ball, and Tyrann Mathieu. In 1960 it was a foregone conclusion that from that standout group Luck would bring the Heisman back to Stanford.
Let's rewind not 50 but 55 years. In 1956 Jim Brown was the first Syracuse 44 to have a chance at the Heisman, but he finished fifth. A number that today sounds inconceivable but, “As great as Jim Brown was and they talked about Jim Brown, he didn't win it,” said Ernie's aunt Marion Summers. “So you just put that in the back of your mind that it's never going to happen.”
“I don't necessarily feel that I deserved the top award in school,” Jim Brown recalled. “I don't think that it was that clear cut. So I had no problems not winning it. But I did have problems knowing that I couldn't win it.”
That changed in 1961 with Ernie. “He certainly deserved it,” Brown said. “He was very unique and inspirational, but I don't think just to African Americans. I think to many athletes who followed in his tracks, because it was the game that counted and the commonality was not the color. So he represented great things to all people.”
Friday night at the New York Historical Society Museum Ernie's now 50 year old achievement will again be honored. The evening will begin with Syracuse grad and MC Marv Albert introducing a Syracuse law school grad who just happens to be the Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, for remarks. That's followed by a panel discussion moderated by another Syracuse grad Len Berman that will address the evolution of diversity and equal rights in athletics. And how about this for the panel? It includes Floyd Little, Art Monk, Dave Bing, and director of the NBA Players Association Billy Hunter, Syracuse graduates all. On top of that the second African American to win the Heisman, USC's Mike Garrett, and distinguished sportswriter Frank Deford will also participate.
Fret not Cuse fans. Next week on Orange All Access the whole event will be available to watch from start to finish.
This Week: A Big East street fight. There is never any easing into the Big East women's basketball season. The teams generally greet each other with all the warmth of a dump truck and a brontosaurus colliding at high speed. Usually the 16 squads have the good sense to avoid each other until the new year. Not this season.
14 of the league's 16 teams had conference games scheduled this month, including 5 matchups Wednesday night. Syracuse's opponent? West Virginia. With the Mountaineers pushing hard to join the Big 12 next season and the Orange destined eventually for the ACC, Wednesday was possibly the last meeting between the old rivals.
This is how you know you're watching Big East basketball. After a particularly punishing stretch of the game late in the first half where nary a whistle was heard Quentin Hillsman yelled out, “Tougher team will win tonight!”
His remarks were directed at the Orange five on the floor at the time, but anyone who heard them knew it was true. Syracuse fell behind by as many as 16 with 9:05 to go, but roared back twice pulling within two. Unfortunately the hole proved too deep to fully dig out of.
“We played tough for about 30 minutes and you have to play tough for 40 of them,” Q said afterward. “You can't give a team like this a little edge on you physically.”
Consider this week a dip of the toe into Big East waters. Six games stand between the Orange and their next conference tilt. So pack your hard hat, lunch pail and body armor. Big East play resumes January 3rd at Rutgers.
Tastes from the Road: I'd be remiss not to put the final tasty touches on the trip to Hawaii. On the north shore of Oahu there's a stretch of road where the aptly named shrimp trucks operate. Large fields filled with giant rectangular trenches are used for shrimp farming. Spread out along the roadside are six or seven trucks/shacks/tiny restaurants cooking up some of the freshest shrimp you can find.
Sadly there wasn't the time, nor stomach capacity, to try more than one. But boy did Tita's Grill pass the test. Ordering anything other than what I had would be criminal, so next time you're in the area here's what you get. Shrimp plate and a slice of bread. That's it. That's all you need. The shrimp is sautéed in a garlic butter, heavy emphasis on the garlic, and served with rice and macaroni salad in a Styrofoam box. You will be a garlicky buttery mess since the shrimp don't come peeled, but it's worth it.
And shame on you if you don't get a slice of the Polynesian bread. When it comes recommended from the bus driver and is being purchased a loaf at a time by the locals in line, you know it's good. In fact if it weren't 5,500 miles away I'd be on the way for another plate right now.
Upcoming Broadcasts: The women are back out of conference Saturday against Coppin State at 1:00. Here's a bonus if you're coming to the game. Buying a ticket will also get you into the men's basketball game Saturday at 7:00 vs. George Washington for free. If you can't make it the game can be heard locally on ESPN 97.7 and seen on Orange All Access.
Think of it this way. Saturday night the front row of the Best Buy Theater in New York will be filled with this year's five finalists: Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Trent Richardson, Montee Ball, and Tyrann Mathieu. In 1960 it was a foregone conclusion that from that standout group Luck would bring the Heisman back to Stanford.
Let's rewind not 50 but 55 years. In 1956 Jim Brown was the first Syracuse 44 to have a chance at the Heisman, but he finished fifth. A number that today sounds inconceivable but, “As great as Jim Brown was and they talked about Jim Brown, he didn't win it,” said Ernie's aunt Marion Summers. “So you just put that in the back of your mind that it's never going to happen.”
“I don't necessarily feel that I deserved the top award in school,” Jim Brown recalled. “I don't think that it was that clear cut. So I had no problems not winning it. But I did have problems knowing that I couldn't win it.”
That changed in 1961 with Ernie. “He certainly deserved it,” Brown said. “He was very unique and inspirational, but I don't think just to African Americans. I think to many athletes who followed in his tracks, because it was the game that counted and the commonality was not the color. So he represented great things to all people.”
Friday night at the New York Historical Society Museum Ernie's now 50 year old achievement will again be honored. The evening will begin with Syracuse grad and MC Marv Albert introducing a Syracuse law school grad who just happens to be the Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, for remarks. That's followed by a panel discussion moderated by another Syracuse grad Len Berman that will address the evolution of diversity and equal rights in athletics. And how about this for the panel? It includes Floyd Little, Art Monk, Dave Bing, and director of the NBA Players Association Billy Hunter, Syracuse graduates all. On top of that the second African American to win the Heisman, USC's Mike Garrett, and distinguished sportswriter Frank Deford will also participate.
Fret not Cuse fans. Next week on Orange All Access the whole event will be available to watch from start to finish.
This Week: A Big East street fight. There is never any easing into the Big East women's basketball season. The teams generally greet each other with all the warmth of a dump truck and a brontosaurus colliding at high speed. Usually the 16 squads have the good sense to avoid each other until the new year. Not this season.
14 of the league's 16 teams had conference games scheduled this month, including 5 matchups Wednesday night. Syracuse's opponent? West Virginia. With the Mountaineers pushing hard to join the Big 12 next season and the Orange destined eventually for the ACC, Wednesday was possibly the last meeting between the old rivals.
This is how you know you're watching Big East basketball. After a particularly punishing stretch of the game late in the first half where nary a whistle was heard Quentin Hillsman yelled out, “Tougher team will win tonight!”
His remarks were directed at the Orange five on the floor at the time, but anyone who heard them knew it was true. Syracuse fell behind by as many as 16 with 9:05 to go, but roared back twice pulling within two. Unfortunately the hole proved too deep to fully dig out of.
“We played tough for about 30 minutes and you have to play tough for 40 of them,” Q said afterward. “You can't give a team like this a little edge on you physically.”
Consider this week a dip of the toe into Big East waters. Six games stand between the Orange and their next conference tilt. So pack your hard hat, lunch pail and body armor. Big East play resumes January 3rd at Rutgers.
Tastes from the Road: I'd be remiss not to put the final tasty touches on the trip to Hawaii. On the north shore of Oahu there's a stretch of road where the aptly named shrimp trucks operate. Large fields filled with giant rectangular trenches are used for shrimp farming. Spread out along the roadside are six or seven trucks/shacks/tiny restaurants cooking up some of the freshest shrimp you can find.
Sadly there wasn't the time, nor stomach capacity, to try more than one. But boy did Tita's Grill pass the test. Ordering anything other than what I had would be criminal, so next time you're in the area here's what you get. Shrimp plate and a slice of bread. That's it. That's all you need. The shrimp is sautéed in a garlic butter, heavy emphasis on the garlic, and served with rice and macaroni salad in a Styrofoam box. You will be a garlicky buttery mess since the shrimp don't come peeled, but it's worth it.
And shame on you if you don't get a slice of the Polynesian bread. When it comes recommended from the bus driver and is being purchased a loaf at a time by the locals in line, you know it's good. In fact if it weren't 5,500 miles away I'd be on the way for another plate right now.
Upcoming Broadcasts: The women are back out of conference Saturday against Coppin State at 1:00. Here's a bonus if you're coming to the game. Buying a ticket will also get you into the men's basketball game Saturday at 7:00 vs. George Washington for free. If you can't make it the game can be heard locally on ESPN 97.7 and seen on Orange All Access.
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