Cincinnati Takes On Historic Foe in Syracuse

The Syracuse Orangemen have had an important impact on professional football in Ohio.

Jim Brown, the Hall of Fame running back for the Cleveland Browns, played for the Orangemen.  Brown excelled in the Syracuse backfield and starred in Lacrosse as well.  Ernie Davis followed Brown at Syracuse.  He was drafted by the Browns with the first selection in the 1962 draft.  Cleveland traded for the right to pick first in the draft.  Unfortunately, Davis contracted leukemia and never played a down in Cleveland.  He died of the disease on May 18, 1963.

Davis was the first black player to win the Heisman Trophy.

Brown led Cleveland to its last NFL Championship in 1964.  Brown retired after nine seasons as the NFL's all-time leading rusher.  He became an actor and is in both the College and Pro Halls of Fame.

Both Cincinnati Bengals broadcasters, Dan Hoard and former Bengal lineman, Dave Lapham, graduated from Syracuse.

Other notable Syracuse alumni include former Miami Dolphins fullback, Larry Csonka, Oakland Raider owner, Al Davis and current vice president of the United States, Joe Biden.

Professionally edited by ML Schirmer
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