Webfor 45 years, nearly twice as long as davis lived, his legend held strong among friends, acquaintances, fans and family members. The stories have grown more. Davis might seem an odd. Webfearing that davis would reinjure the hamstring, schwartzwalder ran after him, screaming, slow down, ernie! Don't pull it! davis limped into the end zone,. Webthen one day last week, he noticed new glandular swelling and quietly checked into cleveland’s lakeside hospital. Just 36 hours later, ernie davis, 23, was dead.