Ben Schwartzwalder (June 2, 1909 — April 28, 1993) was a Hall of Fame football coach at Syracuse University. Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks Year 1909 ( MCMIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 1192 - Assassination of Conrad of Montferrat (Conrad I King of Jerusalem, in Tyre, two days after his title Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) A hall of fame (sometimes HOF) is a type of Museum established for any a field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field College football is American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, Colleges and military academies Coach (baseball|Coach (basketball|Coach (ice hockeyIn Sports a coach or manager is an individual involved in the direction instruction and training of the operations Syracuse University (SU is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York. He played center at West Virginia, despite weighing only 146 pounds, and was also an all-campus wrestler in 1930 in the 155 pound weight class. Center ( C) is a position in American football and Canadian football ( spelled centre in Canadian English) West Virginia University is a Coeducational public Research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. He was captain of the football team in 1933. He coached high school football for 6 years in West Virginia and Ohio and won two state championships. High school football is one of most popular interscholastic sports at High schools in the United States and the second most popular in Canada. West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads He was coach of Canton McKinley High School in Ohio when, even though he was in his thirties, he decided to join the Army and fight in World War II in 1941. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
As a Captain in the famed 82nd Airborne (CO of Company G of the 507th), Schwartzwalder earned historical distinction during the invasion of Normandy and battles that followed in the last days of the war. Normandy (Normandie Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. He played key roles in the capture of the La Fiere Causeway and Sainte-Mere-Eglise, crucial points of entry into France during the D-Day invasion. Sainte-Mère-Église is a small town and commune of the Manche département, in the Cotentin Peninsula near the coast of Normandy By the time the 507th reached the battle for Hill 95, they had suffered more than 65% casualties. Schwartzwalder continued his campaign all the way into Germany and acted as military governor of the town of Essen for a period of six months. Essen (ˈɛsən is a City in the center of the Ruhr Area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, four battle stars, Presidential Unit Citation and was promoted to the rank of Major for his actions during the invasion. The Silver Star is the third highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration which may be awarded for bravery acts of merit or meritorious service The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving When he was personally decorated by General Matthew Ridgway, the General said "Ben, I never expected to see you here to receive this award. Matthew Bunker Ridgway ( March 3, 1895 &ndash July 26, 1993) was a United States Army General. "
Even as a paratrooper, Schwartzwalder remained focused on his football career. Paratroopers are Soldiers trained in Parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force. He organized an athletic league from among the soldiers being assembled in England in preparation for D-Day in order to keep the troops motivated and fit. He coached the 507th PIR football team, leading them through a ten game season in which the 507th was never defeated and never even scored upon.
After returning home, he began his college coaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he went 25-5. Muhlenberg College is a private liberal arts college located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States. He coached at Syracuse from 1949 to 1973, compiling a 152-91-3 record, and winning one national championship in 1959 through an undefeated season. The 1959 team was an unprecedented powerhouse with both the toughest offense (313. 6 yards rushing, 451. 5 yard total and 39 points per game on average) and the toughest defense (giving only 19. 3 yards rushing, 96. 2 yards total per game on average) in the country. This remains Syracuse's only football National Championship to date. His teams went to seven bowl games, and won four Lambert Trophies. In the United States, a bowl game is traditionally a post-season College football game however the term "bowl" has become synonymous with a major American The Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy is an annual award given to the best team in the East in Division I-A College football. In 1959, he also won the national coach of the year award. During his 25 years as Head Coach Syracuse teams outrushed their opponents by more than 22,000 yards. In 1967, he was elected president of the American Football Coaches Association. The American Football Coaches Association is an association of football coaches on all levels and is responsible for the Coaches Poll that determines the national champion each He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. The College Football Hall of Fame, located in South Bend Indiana, USA is a hall of fame and museum devoted to College football.
The coach is also remembered through the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy which, goes to the winner of each game between West Virginia University (where he played) and Syracuse University. The Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy is a College football Trophy that annually goes to the winner of the West Virginia University and Syracuse University West Virginia University is a Coeducational public Research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Syracuse University (SU is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York. The trophy was established in 1993, the year Schwartzwalder passed away and was sculpted by Syracuse sports hall-of-famer Jim Ridlon.
Schwartzwalder will be portrayed by actor Dennis Quaid in the upcoming film The Express, a biopic about Syracuse University Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis. Dennis William Quaid (born April 9, 1954) is an American Actor. For the British tabloid newspaper see Daily Express. The Express is an American Sports film directed A biographical motion picture &mdash often shortened to biopic &mdash is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people Ernie Davis (December 14 1939 &ndash May 18 1963 was an American football Running back and the first African-American athlete to win the Heisman Schwatzwalder had a knack for developing excellent running backs. In addition to Ernie Davis, he coached Jim Brown, Floyd Little, Jim Nance and Larry Csonka through their college careers. Ernie Davis (December 14 1939 &ndash May 18 1963 was an American football Running back and the first African-American athlete to win the Heisman James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown (born February 17, 1936) is an American former professional football player who has also made Floyd Douglas Little (born July 4, 1942 in New Haven Connecticut) was a three-time American football All-American Running back James Solomon "Jim" Nance ( December 30 1942 - June 16 1992) was a fullback with the Boston Patriots during their days Lawrence Richard Csonka (born December 25, 1946) is an American former collegiate and professional Running back in American football
Ben Schwartzwalder was born in Point Pleasant West Virginia and is survived today by his wife Ruth "Reggie" Schwartzwalder who turned 94 in 2007 and his daughters Susan Walker and Mary Scofield.
External links
- An account of the battle for the La Fiere Causeway
- [http://www.ww2-airborne.us/units/507/507.html The 507th PIR During World War II
- An account of the Airborne assault on Normandy
- College Football Hall of Fame page
- Syracuse Hall of Fame
- West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
- Remembering the '59 Orange
- The Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy
| Preceded by Reaves H. Baysinger |
Syracuse Head Football Coach 1949–1973 |
Succeeded by Frank Maloney |
| Preceded by Paul Dietzel |
Paul "Bear" Bryant Award 1959 |
Succeeded by Murray Warmath |
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