It’s hardly news, of course that a movie that’s “based on a true story” would fudge some facts, much less a historical sports movie (Sure, the Titans won a playoff game on a last-second, 80-yard reverse. Sure they did). And hey, why not, right? If we already know that the protagonist will succeed, why not have him do so in the face of as much adversity as our sick minds can imagine?
Such was apparently the mindset of the producers of The Express, the story of Heisman winner Ernie Davis and Syracuse’s magical championship season in 1959. In the “uplifting” movie, Davis and his teammates endure untold amounts of harassment from opposing fans, perhaps nowhere more so than in Syracuse’s trip to Morgantown to face West Virginia.
There, the Orangemen encountered nasty, brutal, racist fans who showered the team in garbage, threats, and epithets. In a true testament to the team’s countenance, they struggled through the hostility and kept their championship dreams alive. There is, of course, one teensy little problem with that storyline.
It never happened. At all.
First of all, Syracuse played in Morgantown in 1960, not 1959; Davis had already won his Heisman and the Orangemen their title. 1960’s campaign was still successful — 8-2 — but hardly as charged with drama. And as the CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL explains, that’s the least of the falsehoods, as not even Syracuse players who were there that day are going to bother defending the mischaracterization:
“I apologize to the people West Virginia because that did not happen,” (former Syracuse QB Dick) Easterly said. “I don’t blame people in West Virginia for being disturbed. The scene is completely fictitious.”
[…]
(Patrick) Whelan, 71, of Safety Harbor, Fla., played center for the Orangemen.“It’s not important to the people who weren’t there,” Easterly told the St. Petersburg Times. “But we’re sitting watching this thing, saying, ‘Jeez, where did they get that from?”’
Why, from the depths of white guilt, that’s where!
Look, aside from their visit to the Cotton Bowl to face Texas (and we’re sure that was pleasant), Syracuse didn’t go anywhere threatening in 1959. Like UCLA was going to step to them? Navy? And sure, if you’re going to tell a story about a black athlete overcoming the very real racism that permeated society in that era, it helps–in a dramatic sense, anyway–to provide some concrete examples.
But at the same time, those West Virginia fans are going to see the movie, too. It’s not exactly right to talk about them like they’re not in the room or something. And intentionally misrepresenting a giant group of people based on their skin color and their predilection toward unruliness, stupidity, and violence? That … there’s a word for that … oh, yeah - hey, racism!
[terrorist fist jab: TNIAAM]
1:46 pm on October 8th, 2008
A Hollywood film not historically accurate? Now, there's a shock!
1:52 pm on October 8th, 2008
Yeah, who would ever believe West Virginians could ever act so racist & uncooth? Next thing you'll tell me, they burn couches after football games.
1:56 pm on October 8th, 2008
So I guess that means Robert Byrd wasn't at the game (hood alteration that day).
1:57 pm on October 8th, 2008
BBB: Couches, not black people. Critical distinction here.
1:58 pm on October 8th, 2008
Has anyone asked Ernie about all this brouhaha?
(Sorry)
2:00 pm on October 8th, 2008
At least they had the good sense to not charter Marshall's team plane (Braniiiiiifffffffffaggggghhhhh!)
2:20 pm on October 8th, 2008
Bringing up the Marshall plane crash? That's cold.
2:45 pm on October 8th, 2008
to Larry King Slapfighter
ernie died. cant ask him.
3:24 pm on October 8th, 2008
Is this movie going to be any good? Or just another sappy Remember The Titans ripoff?
3:38 pm on October 8th, 2008
bones: what? really?
3:52 pm on October 8th, 2008
Bet Pittsburgh fans appreciate the West Virginia caricatures.
6:14 pm on October 8th, 2008
I hear the movie theaters in West Virginia are still having trouble playing the new-fangled "talkies".
6:30 pm on October 8th, 2008
what davis did in his short life would make a great movie. what hollywood does to many movies is inexcusable. i have seen many movies where the 'facts' were changed, and then people really believe the crap. if the writers and producers are called on it they say 'poetic license'.
6:32 pm on October 8th, 2008
Despite the "made-up" racism at West Virginia, I'm sure Ernie Davis had to put up with a lot worse during his playing days. I understand he couldn't even stay with his team in the same hotels during road trips.
6:47 pm on October 8th, 2008
In "The Hurricane" Rubin Carter was seen driving near Jacksonville FL, the night of the murders,
BBB I think you missed the point
9:22 pm on October 8th, 2008
Friendly reminder peeps… the same caricatures and stereotypes of WV people is the same thing that Ernie had to overcome. Are you any better than those who you trash?
11:57 pm on October 8th, 2008
Davis was actually born and grew up in Pennsylvania coal country in the area around Pittsburgh, close to the West Virginia border.A quote from the San Jose Mercury News (http://www.mercurynews.com/movies/ci_10668237): "At a lopsided victory played in West Virginia, for example, Davis was instructed not to run the ball into the end zone for a touchdown, lest it would set off a riot in the stands." Wrong. Davis ran for ran for 141 yards on nine carries, setting a school record for per-carry average, 15.7, and scoring twice.
1:20 pm on October 9th, 2008
West Virginians are still racists, even if the film isn't historically accurate.
8:32 pm on October 9th, 2008
Some of the comments here illustrate the problem with the poetic liberty taken in this film. WV has a hard enough time with its reputation on the national stage, without some hack, Hollywood cons creating falsehoods. I find it difficult to believe that there weren't enough racial problems in 1959, that the producers had to fabricate their own.
You want to see racism? Look around you. There's no more racism in WV than anywhere else. Try south Florida (specifically urban Miami). Try South Central or East LA. Try urban Philly, Chicago or NY. Try any rural part of the deep South. Try Suburbia. Generalizing the population of an entire state as racist is no better than being racist yourself. Rural WV is not a diverse population, and it has never been so. There was no sizeable slave population there before the Civil War, and honestly there's not much to draw anyone to move to rural WV (namely jobs) minority or otherwise, so there will never be a large minority population.
There is racism in WV, but no more than anywhere else. You only have to look around you.
11:20 pm on October 9th, 2008
Wow, this issue's hotter than a couch set ablaze in the middle of Morgantown!
11:04 am on October 10th, 2008
Oh, that's rich someone from the "old south" accusing people of my state, who fought for the North during the Civil War of being racist?
I think you jackasses better check your facts. Read what the Syracuse players said above that were present at the game. Even they claim it never happened. I fail to see the reason to continue propogating this sterotype, this racism by Hollywood if you will. We did nothing to deserve this.
I was interested in the movie, but definitely won't see it now and I will petition the local theaters to not show it.
Simply another reason that liberals are off their rockers.
8:11 pm on October 10th, 2008
WV kicks ass! you guys who talk shit have never been here to see the beauty. I would much rather live simple in WV than live with crack heads in the city.