via variety

Blow by Blow review of The Express

-The first few cliches were really tough to watch. I almost switched it off.

-Then it got interesting. Real interesting. Interesting enough to look over the errors and flaws.

-Then something ridonkulous happened. In one of the craziest things I’ve seen in a serious sports film, there was a crazy over long obnoxious brawl in the middle of the Cotton Bowl.

-So I decided to look it up. No way this happened.

“After the game, Texas fans returned home, a little disappointed but nevertheless proud of the ’ Horns. The next day, however, Texas tempers flared as the head- lines of Texas newspapers screamed with Syracuse accusations. The Syracuse players, after taking a bruising from the ’ Horns, had little use for Longhorn sportsmanship. A brawl had broken out on the field just before the end of the first half of the game and Syracuse players blamed the Longhorn team. The Longhorns denied the accusations but the papers and magazines over the country took up the issue for weeks with all but the Texas papers giving only Syracuse accusations. President Wilson asked for NCAA investigation of the game. The issue died after the NCAA hearing was dropped.”

via MMbolding

In Reel Life: Throughout his college career, Davis is pummeled by racist players and baited by racist fans. Long after he’s tackled, opposing players pile on and are never called for infractions. This reaches its worst point during the 1960 Cotton Bowl, during which there is race-baiting and an enormous halftime brawl. In Real Life: Sad but true. After the Orangemen beat Texas in the Cotton Bowl, tackle Al Gerlick told the Associated Press, “They were really dirty. We’ve never met a bunch like this before.” Syracuse’s black fullback, Art Baker, was more descriptive. “Oh, they were bad. Talk about high standards and scholarship. One of them spit in my face as I carried the ball through the line.” The Times also reported that Schwartzwalder was “visibly shaken” but wouldn’t comment “on the Negro angle.” … By 1961, Schwartzwalder had had enough, and was commenting bluntly. “I want my boy to survive,” he said. “[The officials] do not stop the opposition from piling up on Davis after the whistle blows.” Davis, said Schwartzwalder, was now wearing lineman’s pads as a result of the punishment. “They’re the biggest pair of pads I’ve been able to locate,” he said.

via ESPN

-I guess the moral of the story is sometimes truth is stranger then fiction.