-- Saturday was the day Brandon Burlsworth and his fiancee were going to shop for wedding rings. Before I leave the remarkable legacy of Harrison's Brandon Burlsworth and the film of his life called Greater, now showing in nearly 400 theaters across America, I want to share a few back-story notes about the 22-year-old Razorback All-American who died in a tragic traffic accident on April 28, 1999. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. Tommy Tice, Brandon's high school coach at Harrison, said most people couldn't know that Brandon had etched the noseband of his trademark black-rim glasses with the words "All-American. Nine of Burlsworth's former Arkansas teammates served as pallbearers, along with one friend from his high school. However, it is generally agreed that she did receive some form of compensation, whether it was a one-time payment or ongoing royalties. On the day he was supposed to be picking out wedding rings with his fiancee, Brandon Burlsworth was buried. I could not believe what Isaw on the June 28 issue. Brandon Burlsworth was a talented American football player who played as an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1995 to 1998. Script writers are always going to take some liberties. Brandon was ready to do back flips if he didn't have to eat from the green label trays anymore. Time and the Lord take care of those things, but the immediate aftermath is very tough to deal with.''. Hull's goal was legal. Tice said the school will go ahead with plans it made before Burlsworth's death to hold a day in his honor next week. Each year the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation gives out several awards and scholarships at various school levels. Instead, he did set goals and worked hard to achieve them.". The book was re-released in August 2016 as a tie-in with the movie, renamed Greater: The Brandon Burlsworth Story. More than. Ford immediately called and invited Burlsworth to come back for a visit. He was a walk-on who became an All-American and was drafted in the 3rd round of the NFL draft by the Colts. Brandon Burlsworth was born September 20th, 1976 in Harrison, Arkansas. The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation is working tirelessly to make sure that doesn't happen. In the book about Brandon's life, retired businessman Bud Walsh of Harrison is credited with advising Brandon's older brother Marty to contact Razorback Assistant Coach Harold Horton to hopefully become a walk-on. Every NFL offensive linemen I've ever had, they ran like that, Horton said. So do I.. Burlsworth was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the 63rd pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, but he tragically died in a car accident just 11 days later. Who was Brandon Burlsworth fiance? It had this outdoor patio that you could stand on and look down on the field. ``He was the type of person that you didn't get to know, but you knew you wanted to get to know him,'' Leeuwenberg said. See, Brandon started out a little scrawny. "Others will play guard for us, but we won't replace Burlsworth.". Greater originally had a U.S. theatrical release date scheduled for January 2016, which was later moved to summer 2016, starring Neal McDonough, Leslie Easterbrook, Michael Parks, Nick Searcy, Quinton Aaron, M. C. Gainey, Fredric Lehne, Texas Battle, Wayne Duvall, and Christopher Severio as Brandon, as well as cameos by author Jeff Kinley and Brandon's brother, Marty Burlsworth. Recruited walk-on is correct in every sense of that phrase, Horton said. Drew probably prefers Motel 8 because there's more moneyleft in his wallet the next morning. After the season, over the holidays, we got a call. Lightly recruited out of Harrison, Burlsworth chose to walk on at Arkansas. I do know that Brandon and I met at the high school all-star game, Garrett said. He can really run. He was coveted by UA coaches. [12] He was buried on May 2, 1999, in Gass Cemetery in Omaha, Arkansas. With his remarkable skill and outstandingattitude, Burlsworth deserved to have been a media favorite foryears. I know hes working hard, but hell know and well know., Coach, mark it down. All Rights Reserved. There was a time not that long before when he was a 6-foot, 160-pound high school freshman, a "big, gangly kid" who . He was able to focus and achieve his primary goals that included earning a master's degree, making All-American and being drafted by an NFL team. The struggles that he had gone through to get where he was were over. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. He made close friends with Ed Robinson, who was a bit older. Burlsworth, a guard who earned second-team All-America honors as a senior last season, was remembered warmly Saturday at a funeral ceremony attended by an estimated 2,000 people at Harrison High. was a wake-up call to thismarried stay-at-home mother of three boys (THE LIFE OF REILLY,June 21). He earned 1st team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998 and was selected for the 1998 College Football All-America Team. It goes beyond words. I dont think anyone was at fault. Horton recalls the story well. But Arkansas was the dream. Awardees are announced in late spring following the fall football season.[24]. "I took the player's helmet and put it on," said Tice. And for the next three years, every Friday at 5:30 p.m., Id close up the photography studio I owned in Harrison, pick up my mom, and my wife and kids, and drive to Brandons football games. ``When he got in, he'd get in sideways. Our parents divorced when Brandon was just two years old. Certainly, football was immensely important to Brandon, butit was his character and the relationship he had with God thatdefined who Brandon Burlsworth really was.HEATHER NICHOLS, Everton, Ark. #inline-recirc-item--id-b47cc06a-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-b47cc06a-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { "I remember handing the helmet back to the other player, then shouting: "Well, by gosh, that will be the last time I teach you that lesson!" Even after his career was cut short due to death, the athlete continues to pay homage to his accomplishments and accomplishments. Brandon Burlsworth went from freshman walk-on to an All-American at Arkansas before being the Colts' third-round pick in 1999. Brandon was so single-minded, so focused. The students are selected by the University of Arkansas Scholarship Committee and are recognized in a ceremony in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We were going to Fayetteville for the game and I called him early in the week to tell him where our seats would be. Tragedy Strikes For The Burlsworth Family Nutt said Burlsworth's respect from teammates was evident in that he was elected captain by a landslide. His unrelenting efforts in the weight room were legendary, and he shaped himself into an All-American and consensus All-Southeastern Conference guard, starting each of his last three seasons. He tragically died in a car accident 11 days after being drafted. I told them about it in that interview.. Since basketball is included in the summer games, why can'tbaseball be featured indoors during its off-season? Marcus Camby? Learn how and when to remove these template messages, promotes the subject in a subjective manner, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Inductees: Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame", "BURLSWORTH TROPHY A WORTHY GOAL FOR BEDFORD", "Twenty-one years later, Brandon Burlsworth's legacy endures for retired Indianapolis Colts Coach Mudd", "Retired jerseys a rare sight for Razorbacks", "Burlsworth killed in crash an 18 wheeler crossed the midline and the cars collided", "ESPN.com - NFL - Colts pay tribute to Burlsworth", "Through the Eyes of a Champion: The Brandon Burlsworth Story", "NWA: 'Greater: The Brandon Burlsworth Story', "Extras wanted for filming of Brandon Burlsworth movie at War Memorial Stadium", "EXCLUSIVE SCREENING OF MOTION PICTURE "GREATER" TO TAKE PLACE AT HALL ON SATURDAY", "AUDIENCE ACCLAIM, EXHIBITOR DEMAND REQUIRE GREATER TO DELAY RELEASE UNTIL SUMMER", "On August 26th, experience a story that will change the way you see the world. All rights reserved. Brandon Burlsworth, a running back from Lincoln High School, was selected by the Arkansas Razorbacks as an official selection eleven days after his high school graduation. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. You find yourself squinting to see . HEATHER NICHOLS, Everton, Ark. Then cast your vote, Bruce Springsteen adds to mythology with three-hour show at Tulsa's BOK Center, State board approves new academic standards with Ryan Walters' last-minute revisions, More than 800 Oklahoma medical marijuana farms linked to organized crime, drug agency says, Bill Haisten: A massive event NCAA wrestling in downtown Tulsa, OU athletics director Joe Castiglione on SEC transition; OU-Texas afternoon kickoff; Kyler Murray statue and more. There is no definitive answer to this question, as the amount of money that Brandon Burlsworths mom may have received for her sons story varies depending on the source. Mourners viewed a highlight tape of Burlsworth's play. Meanwhile,Farber missed the compelling themes in the Stars' championshiprun, including Ed Belfour's besting Patrick Roy and DominikHasek, and Hull's embracing a defensive philosophy. The Colts retired his jersey number, 77, and created the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the nations most outstanding collegiate walk-on. Theres no explanation for it. On January 16, 2016, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, hosted an exclusive screening of Greater. I looked out there and Brandon had that medicine ball. While the pain of losing Brandon always will be with her and the Burlsworth family, Barbara said she's also come to recognize a larger and mysterious divine plan in all that Brandon's indomitable spirit achieved during his brief lifetime. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth (September 20, 1976 April 28, 1999) was an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1995 to 1998. His awards and his many accolades are numerous but among them are earning a scholarship the first year. He never even got to wear his Citrus Bowl ring. After returning to its lane briefly, the car crossed the center line again and hit a second tractor trailer. The next part of the story flips to Virgil Knight, Ford's fine strength and conditioning man. FAYETTEVILLE There is a great comfort level that Hollywood came close enough on Brandon Burslworth's story in the movie Greater. Hed be all over the line, right off the snap. The foundation's logo prominently features Burlsworth's signature black-framed glasses. In 2001, "Eyes of a Champion, the Brandon Burlsworth Story" by Jeff Kinley was released. Burlsworth was invited to the NFL after he finished his college career with the Arkansas Razorbacks. The book, Eyes of a Champion, the Brandon Burlsworth Story, was delivered in 2001. A film about Brandon's existence with the working title "Greater" was shot in 2013 and was released as a feature movie on August 26, 2016. With Neal McDonough, Leslie Easterbrook, Christopher Severio, Michael Parks. The work ethic that young man displayed is anexample for us all. We watched the game from this conference room at the top of the stadium. Did you forget about agentleman named Payne Stewart and what he accomplished atPinehurst No. His locker is enclosed in a glass case in the Razorback locker room. It was disappointing, but Brandon wanted to go to Arkansas more than anything and, well, he didnt want any regrets. To givethe Stars the Cup on a clearly illegal goal is atrocious. CHARLES OVERTON, Fort Thomas, Ky. Failure to call obvious penalties after the second period allowedan exciting game to deteriorate into tedium.DON HUMAN, Lexington, Ky. In 1999, he completed an MBA and was the first Razorback football player to complete a master's degree. In 2001, the book Through the Eyes of a Champion: The Brandon Burlsworth Story, written by Jeff Kinley, was released. I was trying to do extra, watch as much tape as possible. He died as a result of the accident on April 28, 1999, and he had not survived it. I do remember this, when we came back that second semester ahead of spring drills, you knew him then because he was doing things in our workouts that showed extra effort, Brown said. As everyone knows, in footballyou have to wear a helmet. "He's in heaven now. ``There's going to be an award named after him,'' Nutt said, ``but I don't know if anybody could live up to it. July5). But now that my own boys are older, if theyre even ten minutes late, I get a little concerned and think that maybe theyre in trouble, maybe something went wrong. Bart and Brandons parents have been struggling to cope with their sons deaths, but they have found strength in their faith. We are raising oursons to respect all people and that violence is not the way tosolve life's problems. Another trait that set Brandon apart was his respectful devotion to doing whatever authority figures asked of him. I was 16 years older than Brandon, so I was already out of the house, married and raising my own boys by the time he was of any age. I left around midnight. Burlsworth graduated in 1994 from Harrison High School, where he was an All-State selection and volunteer walk-on football player to the University of Arkansas, despite having scholarship offers from smaller universities. Also not included in the film is that Brandon and Marty also have a brother named Grady. Our line coach, Mike Bender, loves the way he moves his feet. David Hunt, who also helped Brian write the screenplay, directed the movie, and Gabe Mayhan was director of photography. He was preparing to marry Heather Nichols. Wed been to a couple of Razorbacks games before, and Brandon had seen the stadium and sat in the stands. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth. Mike likes him. Win the NBA championship? The next week, Brandon flew to Indianapolis for minicamp. My next big memory of Brandon came from a visit with UA assistant coach Rockey Felker during the 1996 season. In the end, Brandon got invited to be a walk-on. The 22-year-old Burlsworth, who had been drafted by the Colts 11 days earlier in the wake of gaining first-group All-America respects as a fifth-year senior, was involved with a head-on crash with a tractor-trailer around 15 miles outside Harrison and was killed. [9], Eleven days after being drafted, Burlsworth was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas, on April 28, 1999, on his way back to his hometown of Harrison after a workout in Fayetteville. Past participants include Anthony Lucas, Clint Stoerner, Joe Dean Davenport, Madre Hill, Grant Garrett, Russ Brown, Barry Lunney Jr., Chad Abernathy, Jeremiah Washburn, Michael Smith, Lucas Miller, and others. Burlsworth was also Arkansas' first All-American player since 1993 and was also on the All-SEC Academic Honor Roll from 1995 to 1998. As indicated by the police report, Burlsworth's vehicle floated somewhat over the middle line on U.S. 412, cut the front bumper of a tractor-trailer, and afterward, while he was probably attempting to recover control, crossed the inside line again and hit another tractor-trailer. Greater's notice grows on Netflix. For the next three years, Brandon started for the Razorbacks. We probably put 30,000 miles on my minivan each season. As of the 2020 census the population stood at 128. display: block; "There wasn't a better person than Brandon Burlsworth," Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said. '', ``From everything we could see,'' said Polian, ``Brandon represented everything we want in a Colts uniform.''. He was the first Razorback football player to complete a master's degree before playing in his final game, the 1999 Citrus Bowl. "I didn't practice well today," he told his coach. Rick Reilly's Get the Message? Sep 2016 - Dec 20171 year 4 months. cyberchase quest 2; regions bank subpoena compliance address; la crucecita huatulco weather; vector between two points calculator; weather in orlando in january 2022. what describes the current cloud landscape for business accenture; the patriot golf club . The team broke into laughter. And I remembered to do what other agents had advised me to do, I kept multiple lines open. Burlsworth's efforts earned him first-team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998, and he was selected for the 1998 College Football All-America Team. I did chuckle when I got a release from a public relations man in Los Angeles touting the movie with a bad fact. Please subscribe to keep reading. Burlsworth attended the Colts' rookie camp last weekend, where he met briefly with a few Indianapolis veterans. Those were true words.. I said I was going to the UofA. I know he had to be there because we know the story. It's the sophomore from Harrison, Burlsworth.. Russ and I know that never happened. [3], After his career with the Razorbacks, Burlsworth was invited to the NFL combine. John Randle and Aeneas Williams, both members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, participated in an interactive roundtable discussion following the screening. Brandon came up to me and asked me if he still had to eat from the green label line. He graduated from high school in 1994 and was recruited as a football player for the University of Arkansas. Brandon's jersey #77 is retired at the University of Arkansas. The children are given an official "Burls Kid" T-shirt and replica glasses similar to those Brandon wore on the field. One thing about the Division II schools in Arkansas, they all knew it was a waste of time to recruit someone that Arkansas planned to offer. As Brandon and I were standing out there, the offensive linemen came out, running on the field with their helmets on. Brandon Burlsworth was only 22 years old when he died. "He always said there would be time for girls later, but he had things he needed to accomplish first," said his mother, Barbara Burlsworth, a Harrison Realtor. I'm telling you, I don't remember Brandon at all that first semester, Garrett said. Have a comment on this story? It was composed and produced by Brian Reindl and David Hunt. On April 28, 1999, he died in a car accident. p. 1226. For instance, the film didn't disclose that, shortly before his death, Brandon had formed a budding relationship with a college co-ed, also from Harrison. One weekend when I was driving with Brandon to campus I think maybe it was his junior year a thought crossed my mind. And Ill get a photo of you in your uniform. LIVE UPDATES: Arkansas-Illinois State midweek matchup, Whole Hog Baseball Podcast: Early takeaways from Eastern Illinois series win, Bohrofen hitting his stride in middle of Arkansas order, UNDER THE RADAR: Bryants David Paglianite, Vols dominate Arkansas from start to finish, Analyzing Arkansas' 75-57 loss at Tennessee, VIDEO: Musselman, Council recap Arkansas' loss at Tennessee. "I sent one of those shirts to the funeral home and Brandon was buried in it," said Barbara. So when he was two hours late that evening, Mom started to get worried. Again, that's a coach hitting it right on the head of the nail. Facebook gives people the power. [13], After his death, family and friends established the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation in honor of his work ethic and Christian values. The former Arkansas hostile, Brandon Burlsworth was headed to his Harrison, Ark., home from Fayetteville, where he got a SEC West title ring alongside the remainder of the 1998 Razorbacks on April 28, 1999. ``He was the local star. Now, if you find yourself at that Colts shop, I told him, You make sure and get us some gear this time.. As it turned out, it was a squad car, with officials there to convey the bad news. ``The only way I could explain Burls is from the outhouse to the penthouse, and he was knocking on the penthouse door.''. I look forward every Thursday to opening my mailbox and seeingwhom you have chosen for the cover. "Then I turned around and the next player I faced was Brandon. A screenplay titled Greater: The Brandon Burlsworth Story was written based on the book. Well, I was on all of those trips. No, they have a scene with Coach Ford, Garrett said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. We just didn't have a good practice. The production designer was Lucio Seixas, and the costume designer was Keri Lee Doris. And he justdominatedon the field didnt matter if he was on defense or offense. It starts with a visit with Harold Horton, the UA recruiting coordinator for Danny Ford. But I wanted to uncover the real story of Brandon's arrival at Arkansas and the first year. It was extra effort when we got on the field and extra effort when we lifted. Polian said Burlsworth was "a shining example" to others. Brandon was home. We played against each other our senior years and I know we beat them. '', Said Schaeffer, ``He's in a lot better place than the rest of us. Burlsworth attended Harrison High School where he was an All-State selection. It was my dream, too, and I sure worked hard at it. When I told him to come at me full force to demonstrate my lesson about blocking, Brandon knocked me flat on my back, leaving me dazed for several seconds.". He was returning from a church trip with his mother and was about to tie the knot with Heather Nichols. He was Brandon's first coach at the UA. Kind words One player with the colts said it's his loss he won't get to be friends with Brandon Burlsworth. [7] Burlsworth's locker in the Razorback locker room is encased in glass, preserved for future players and fans in his honor. I opened the door to Moms house and she was in a state. We didnt expect Brandon to go real high, and we had been told that he wouldnt. People were swinging by all day. Barbara Burlsworth established the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation to assist needy children in Brandons memory. For most of us it is a mindless thing to do, making an eye appointment. [21], The Brandon Burlsworth Football Camps are for children going into third grade through ninth grade. Additionally, a Razorback football player who began his career as a walk-on but then earned a football scholarship is honored as the year's Burlsworth Athletic Scholar. We had to have the funeral at the high school gym. Burlsworth was killed in a traffic accident last Wednesday as he drove from working out at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville to his home in Harrison, a city of about 11,000. display: none; There are a few things that aren't right in the movie. Before his junior season in 1997, he was selected to be one of the team captains. [10][11] Burlsworth's vehicle clipped an oncoming 18-wheeler, swerved back into his lane, and then hit another tractor trailer head on. Locations and showtimes are available onwww.greaterthemovie.com. MICHAEL. Burlsworth, 22, died 10 days after his selection on April 28, 1999, in a car crash in Arkansas. The reason? Remember, this was really Danny's first full recruiting class. I thought, 'Man, this guy is giving effort still.' Dang, Marty, what have you been feedin that boy?. 77 jersey, naming the weight room after him, and permanently encasing his locker. #inline-recirc-item--id-b47cc06a-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { As a result, his funeral was held in a high school gymnasium, allowing his teammates and family to attend as well. On the foundation's website, one can choose from books and movies about Brandon to shirts hats to raise money for their cause. Burlsworths family and Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles were presented $5,000 checks by Colts owners Jim and Meg Irsay during the teams season opener against Buffalo. Tice also told of a time when he'd become agitated with another lineman during practice and told the team to watch. It is only the second number ever retired (the other is number 12, retired in honor of Clyde Scott) by the University of Arkansas. ``I used to kid him about being the only guy on campus who wore his car on his back,'' said Russ Brown, who played on the Arkansas Razorback offensive line with Burlsworth for four years. Burlsworth was selected to be of the team captains by his junior season in 1997 for the University of Arkansas. But Arkansas was the dream. But this was my brother. Burlsworth was a recruited walk-on in every sense of the word. The day of Brandon's funeral was the day Brandon and I hadplanned to pick out our engagement rings. On the tape, he delivered crushing blocks to protect quarterback Clint Stoerner and punched holes in defensive lines for Arkansas running backs. "He'd be completely blown away by all this attention focused on him. Eighteen students at the University of Arkansas who are primarily from smaller towns and who are characterized as academic overachievers receive $5,000 scholarships. It was a thrill to see the picture of Marion Motley in your July5th issue (SCORECARD). Join Facebook to connect with Heather Nichols and others you may know. Unfortunately, the star died in 1999, aged 22. Tice said Burlsworth got to the weight room early -- often arriving before the coaches - and stayed late. Burlsworth was elected to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, and the University of Arkansas Letterman's Association Hall of Honor in 2004. There are about 11,000 people in town and one unspoken rule: If its Friday night, youre going to the Harrison High football game. First, Brandons older brother, Bart, was diagnosed with cancer. 1999 The Associated Press. Brandon was selected in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Thielemann. Who is Brandon Burlsworth? Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. and Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, LLC (NWA Media). He said, 'Virgil, he's a good one and tell him right because he will do everything you tell him exactly right.' He graduated last December, in just 4-1/2 years, with a master's degree in business administration. Garrett rented a theater in Little Rock and ran down the players from Brandon's team. 12 Tennessee imposed its will against Arkansas on Tuesday night in , Hear from Eric Musselman and Ricky Council after the Razorbacks' loss at , (

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