During Ernie Davis' Cleveland Browns physical, the doctor feels Davis' neck and asks if has been feeling well. Swollen lymph glands in the neck are a symptom of leukemia, they also can mean the body is just fighting infection.
In this film, Nicole Beharie plays the girlfriend of the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. In 42 (2013), she plays the wife of the first African American to play Major League Baseball.
Rob Brown and Geoff Stults both played football in college. Brown played at Amherst College and Stults played at Whittier College.
Ernie Davis' girlfriend was portrayed by Nicole Beharie. Floyd Little was portrayed by Chadwick Boseman. Five years later Chadwick Boseman portrayed Major League Baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson in 42 (2013). His wife was portrayed by Nicole Beharie.