Davis experienced racial tensions

Ernie Davis never talked much about the problems he faced as a black man, particularly when he played in the South. But an article about him in The Dallas Morning News last May, when he was inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame, recalled how race played a role in the Jan. 1, 1960 Cotton Bowl, in which Davis led Syracuse past Texas 23-14 for the national championship. An excerpt:

The week of the game was particularly difficult for Davis and the two other black Syracuse players. Syracuse stayed at the Melrose Hotel. The black players bunked in a suite behind the kitchen.

At game time, racial tensions and pregame trash talk peaked. And under those dark clouds of unrest, Davis was spectacular.

But the experience, because of the racial overtones, was bittersweet...

"It was a sign of the times, 40 years ago in the South," said Charlie Fiss, vice president of communications for the Cotton Bowl. "Times have, thankfully, changed."

A bench-clearing fight described by The News as "a gang-like rhubarb" erupted near the end of the first half after a Texas player allegedly used a racial slur toward Syracuse player John Brown. Syracuse players contended they were spat upon, and Texas players accused Syracuse players of similar verbiage directed at UT's Rene Ramirez.

"After the game, there was so much attention about somebody calling someone else a bad name," said UT's Jim Saxton. "Coach (Darrell) Royal called a meeting. He wanted to know if someone had said anything, but nobody raised a hand. I don't know if it did happen or it didn't, but there was enough talk about it for Coach to call a meeting."

Davis, then a sophomore, was named the MVP and was invited to the awards banquet. But when the other black players were not invited, and Davis was told he would have to leave after accepting his trophy, his whole team refused to attend.