The story of Syracuse University football legend Ernie Davis is the stuff movies are made of.

‘The Express’ tells Davis’ tragic, yet inspirational story without becoming cheesy or overly dramatic – two common traps sports movies often fall into. While monologues at the film’s beginning and ending are a bit much, most of the movie manages to stay out of cliché sports movie territory.

The film is based on a 1983 Davis biography, ‘The Elmira Express: The Story of a Heisman Trophy Winner’ by Robert Gallagher. The story fits so well on the silver screen that it’s surprising that it wasn’t made into a movie earlier.

Davis, who donned the legendary number 44 after his hero, Jim Brown, helped Syracuse win the national championship in the 1959 Cotton Bowl. Two years later, he became the first black player to win the Heisman Trophy.

After his collegiate career, Davis followed in his predecessor Brown’s footsteps when he signed with the Cleveland Browns. But he was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after. In 1963, Davis died at the age of 23, never having played a professional game.

‘The Express’ tells Davis’s story to a new generation. It takes audiences back to a different time: a time when Syracuse ruled the college football world, a time when black athletes faced racism and discrimination regardless of their talent.

Rob Brown (‘Finding Forrester’) gives a very believable performance as the football legend. At some points, you forget it’s not Ernie Davis you are watching up on the screen.

After several less-than-stellar movies (‘The Rookie’ comes to mind), Dennis Quaid delivers a powerful performance as Davis’ SU football coach, Ben Schwartzwalder. Though it’s a drama, ‘The Express’ manages to draw laughs, especially when Schwartzwalder quips with Davis and Brown, played by Darrin Henson.

It’s unclear how non-Syracuse related audiences will react to the movie, since the Syracuse connection definitely adds to the film’s effect.

But the film will resonate especially with SU students, faculty and fans. Many of the shots were filmed on campus and Syracuse students and community members were extras throughout the movie.

At a time when the university’s football team is floundering, ‘The Express’ reminds the campus of a time to be proud of.

mghicken@syr.edu

Published on September 14, 2008 at 12:00 pm