A legendary football talent and civil rights pioneer, Ernie Davis’ story has long been a part of Syracuse lore.

Now, Universal Pictures and Syracuse University have struck a deal to make sure the movie chronicling Davis life will premiere in Syracuse.

‘The Express’ will premiere at the Landmark Theater on Salina Street in downtown Syracuse on Friday, Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The announcement was made Wednesday at a press conference at the Landmark.

The movie will debut nationwide on Oct. 3.

The ‘orange carpet’ premiere will be the highlight of a weekend of festivities, including a gala theme party following the film and a ceremony commemorating Davis at halftime of the Syracuse-Penn State football game the next day.

‘We’re elated the studio has chosen Syracuse to host the premiere,’ Syracuse Director of Athletics Daryl Gross said. ‘We intend to embrace this extraordinary moment to honor the legacy of Ernie Davis and provide a unique, star-studded showcase to launch this extraordinary film. Ernie is the most endearing icon we have in a storied football program so rich in talent and tradition. It’s truly fitting that his life story will be immortalized on film.’

Davis, nicknamed ‘The Elmira Express,’ was a tailback at Syracuse from 1958-1961. He led the Orange to its only national title in 1959, and two years later became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.

Davis was selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Draft that year. But before he played an NFL game, he was diagnosed with Leukemia, and passed away on May 18, 1963, at the age of 23.

‘Ernie Davis is a true American hero,’ Chancellor Nancy Cantor said in a press release. ‘While his legacy is not as well known, he played an important role in shaping the American conscience, just as Jackie Robinson did. Thanks to ‘The Express,’ Ernie’s legacy and inspirational life story will find the audience and appreciation it deserves.’

All the principle stars of the film – including Rob Brown (‘Finding Forrester’), who plays Davis, and Dennis Quaid (‘The Rookie’), who plays legendary SU coach Ben Schwartzwalder – will attend the screening. The stars of the film will arrive at the Landmark in classic automobiles, while bleachers will be set up on Salina Street for the public to watch.

‘I’m overjoyed that ‘The Express’ will have its premiere in Syracuse, where Ernie Davis was admired and revered,’ the film’s director, Gary Fleder, said in the release. ‘Our last day of filming took place on the SU campus, and I can say – without a doubt – that it was the most emotional of our schedule.’

Following the premiere, guests will attend a gala at the Onondaga County War Memorial.

A press conference will take place on the quad prior to the premiere on Sept. 12. Brown and Quaid will speak, as well as legendary SU running backs Jim Brown and Floyd Little – who, like Davis, wore the retired No. 44 during their days at Syracuse.

The weekend’s festivities will conclude Saturday, when Syracuse hosts Penn State at the Carrier Dome. At halftime, there will be a special ceremony to honor Davis, during which a statue of the former running back will be unveiled.

Tickets for the premiere will be priced at $1,000, and include admission to the movie and the post-screening gala. Proceeds will benefit Syracuse University’s Ernie Davis Fund, which helps sustain academic and personal development programming for football players at SU.

A limited number of reduced-price tickets will be available through a lottery and promotional contests. Tickets will go on sale to the public in early August.

jsclayto@syr.edu

Published on August 15, 2008 at 12:00 pm