Syracuse will team up with Universal Pictures to host the premiere of a movie about the first African-American Heisman Trophy winner, Ernie Davis.

The premiere of “The Express,” starring Rob Brown (“Finding Forrester”) as Davis, a two-time all-American for the Orange and the 1961 Heisman winner, is set for September 12 at the Landmark Theatre in downtown Syracuse. Dennis Quaid (“The Rookie”) also stars as head coach Ben Schwartzwalder in the film directed by Gary Fleder, who also directed Runaway Jury.

Davis, the only Syracuse student-athlete to win college football’s highest honor, followed Jim Brown to the university in 1958 and helped the Orange capture the 1959 national championship.

“The Express” opens nationwide October 3.

Following the screening, Brown, Quaid, other cast members and celebrities will attend a gala theme party with 1950s entertainment at the Onondaga County War Memorial.

Tickets for the event are $1,000, and include passes to the premiere and the post-screening gala. Proceeds will benefit Syracuse University’s Ernie Davis Fund, which helps sustain academic and personal development programming for football student-athletes and their involvement in the ‘Cuse Cares Community Service Program. A limited number of reduced-priced tickets will be available through a lottery and promotional contests. Public sale of tickets for the premiere will begin in August. In addition, plans are underway for a community event on the same date the movie is released nationally.

“Ernie Davis is a true American hero. While his legacy is not as well known, he played an important role in shaping the American conscience, just as Jackie Robinson did. Thanks to ‘The Express,’ Ernie’s legacy and inspirational life story will find the audience and appreciation it deserves,” said Nancy Cantor, chancellor and president at Syracuse. “We are delighted that ‘The Express’ will be premiering in Syracuse and so grateful for the support of the studio for this remarkable event for our community.”

Also on September 12, Fleder, Ron Meyer, Universal Pictures’ president and chief operating officer, and others will conduct master class workshops at the school. Fleder and Meyer also will join Quaid, Brown, former Syracuse greats Jim Brown and Floyd Little, and members of the 1959 national championship team in a press conference that same day. A specially commissioned statue of Davis will be unveiled in a halftime tribute during the September 13 Syracuse-Penn State football game, which will be televised on ABC.

Members of Davis’ family are scheduled to be in attendance during the weekend along with Schwartzwalder’s wife, Ronnie, and their daughters.

For more information about Davis and the movie and to view a trailer of the upcoming film, visit http://erniedavis.syr.edu.