Mom and I picked him up at the airport when he came home. A silent, somber pall hung over the Fayetteville campus on Thursday. He became a starter his sophomore year and was named an All-American his senior year. Itll be real cool.. But that summer Brandon had two things going for him: His work ethic and, luckily, a pretty big growth spurt. Brandon was starting at right guard. So I did whatever I could to be there for Brandon. Brian Reindl, a former real estate investor and fellow University of Arkansas graduate, spent eight years working on the screenplay. Thielemann. Brandon Burlsworth was a talented American football player who played as an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1995 to 1998. "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. The Indianapolis Colts honored him by giving each family member and the University of Arkansas Athletic Director a $5,000 (USD) check at halftime of the first Colts game after Brandon died in 1999. I did chuckle when I got a release from a public relations man in Los Angeles touting the movie with a bad fact. A pro team trainer's day typically startsat 5:30 a.m. and stretches into the evening. Martin Burlsworth, Brandons older brother at the age of 17, is struggling with his faith. And if someone somewhere told him he wouldn't ever play, they didn't say that for long. I know some guys will be there who I haven't seen in 20 years.. Heather Nichols and he were about to tie the knot. It was just one of those things when its time, its time. Who is Brandon Burlsworth? He had a master's degree in business administration and was the first Arkansas player in school history to get an advanced degree before playing his last game. All of those in my interview will get together Saturday for a special screening of the movie. Majorleaguers could represent their countries in a true World Series.Imagine the excitement that would be generated when PedroMartinez of the Dominican Republic faced Mark McGwire of theU.S. I didnt mean to dismiss Moms concerns, but I just figured there was some sort of reason or explanation. And it paid off. The next week, Brandon flew to Indianapolis for minicamp. Exploring Factors To Consider. Burlsworth ran a 40-yard touchdown in 4.88 seconds during the combine, more than any other player. He was a two-time state wrestling champion and was also named All-State in football. I have no issue with that. Arkansas doesnt have a pro football team I dont even know if a pro team could survive here. He started as a walk-on and grew to the anchor of the offensive line. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { The day of Brandon's funeral was the day Brandon and I hadplanned to pick out our engagement rings. The school was going to give Brandon a scholarship. with the gold medal on the line!JESSE BERKOWITZ, Fairfield, Iowa. "He'd be completely blown away by all this attention focused on him. There was a time not that long before when he was a 6-foot, 160-pound high school freshman, a "big, gangly kid" who . 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. They all reported together in the fall of 1994, and all redshirted. Remember, this was really Danny's first full recruiting class. Greater's notice grows on Netflix. I thought, 'Tommy, what have you sent me?' Although he never played a down in the NFL, he had impressed Mudd enough during mini-camp that the. "I sent one of those shirts to the funeral home and Brandon was buried in it," said Barbara. Brandon was killed in an auto accident 11 days after being selected by the Colts in the first round of the 1999 draft. He spent as many days as he could in the weight room getting stronger. display: none; Hes not going down.. He was a two-time All-American and was the first member of the Arkansas football team to earn a masters degree. -- Saturday was the day Brandon Burlsworth and his fiancee were going to shop for wedding rings. His bench weight was 225 pounds 28 times, his weight was 308 pounds, and he had a slight notch under 6 feet. The following year, he completed an MBA. It was Brandon Burlsworth. The University of Arkansas is also planning a memorial, and the Colts have similar designs. On the day of his wedding, he was buried. Arlis Thrasher, said the couple was to have spent Saturday picking out wedding rings. The Burlsworth family has also started a foundation in Brandons memory, which provides scholarships to young athletes. Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. "The first time I welcomed him into that weight room he was a gangly awkward sophomore, who we used a sun dial to time the 40-yard dash. Facebook gives people the power. I also remember that they weighed him. I asked him about the young players, still not with the varsity. But I wanted to uncover the real story of Brandon's arrival at Arkansas and the first year. Email him at [emailprotected], Copyright 2023, Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. He was 309. He graduated last December, in just 4-1/2 years, with a master's degree in business administration. [1] Burlsworth played on two SEC Western Division championship Razorback football teams (1995, 1998). Brandon Burlsworth bulked himself up to 300 lbs to be an offensive guard and by his sophomore season in 1996, he had earned a scholarship and a starting position at right guard on the offensive line. Dang, Marty, what have you been feedin that boy?. He joined the team as a walk-on and eventually became an All-American . Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. He was throwing it around. [27] The award is given yearly to the most outstanding Division I FBS college football player who began his career as a walk-on. However, we areSacramento Kings fans, and we thought that Chris Webber'sknockdown of John Stockton was very cool. Man, you might get to play at the next level., Ah, I dont know, I just gotta focus on this season.. There just wasnt enough space anywhere else. I never thought Bubby was washed up. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. I was just so proud of him. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth (September 20, 1976 - April 28, 1999) was an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1995 to 1998. Brandon Burlsworth, 28, was killed in a car accident while returning from a college football game when he crossed the center line and was hit by a tractor-trailer. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. So I started calling coaches and seeing where he could play. Less than two weeks before, I had watched as Brandon stood on the front lawn of Moms house and gave interviews to local TV crews about getting picked in the NFL draft. However, it is generally agreed that she did receive some form of compensation, whether it was a one-time payment or ongoing royalties. Tice said he also called then-Hog head coach Danny Ford and asked him to take a look at Brandon. 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. Each year the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation gives out several awards and scholarships at various school levels. There are about 11,000 people in town and one unspoken rule: If its Friday night, youre going to the Harrison High football game. View the profiles of people named Heather Nichols. He said he was, too, as a walk-on. Brandon wanted to do more, though. Burlsworth was heavily recruited by the University of Arkansas, but he decided to walk-on to the team instead. The coaches would talk about him. He'll engage the man over him, release him, brush a linebacker enough he can't make the play and then watch this, he's going to go 20 yards down the field and get in the way of the safety, Felker said. Since 2000, the Foundation has bought 30 tickets to each Arkansas Razorbacks home football game. Burlsworths car crossed the center line and struck the tractor trailers left front fender. He said Ford wasn't enthused and even said Brandon would never earn a scholarship because he wasn't the type of player they were looking for. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. The family was given a check for $10,000. [28] The book was praised for its authentic and inspirational portrayal of Brandon's story. Brandon was killed in a car accident after 11 days of training. Burlsworth was invited to the NFL after he finished his college career with the Arkansas Razorbacks. And then he walked out and there it was: BURLSWORTH. I think he might can play for us.. Brandon Burlsworth was in a car accident and was announced dead at the scene on April 28, 1999. HEATHER NICHOLS, Everton, Ark. That is something that needs to be set straight. 12 Tennessee imposed its will against Arkansas on Tuesday night in , Hear from Eric Musselman and Ricky Council after the Razorbacks' loss at , ( Nine of Burlsworth's former Arkansas teammates served as pallbearers, along with one friend from his high school. Also not included in the film is that Brandon and Marty also have a brother named Grady. So when he was two hours late that evening, Mom started to get worried. '"I told him how much it would mean to them to receive that message from him.". [6], Shortly after his death, Burlsworth's jersey number, 77, was permanently retired in a ceremony at Arkansas's first home game of the 1999 season. He was in the prime of his football career. FAYETTEVILLE There is a great comfort level that Hollywood came close enough on Brandon Burslworth's story in the movie Greater. His high school coaches couldnt believe his size when he came back for his junior season. Brandon Burlsworth, NFL player. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The coach said he managed to get back to his feet, still surrounded by the team. She agreed, and the night before Brandon's fatal accident, he sat with his mother at the dinner table to send the Roths a thank-you note. It was 300 pounds.. You know, Brandon, you could think about entering the draft. He was an All-SEC offensive guard in 1997 and 1998 and a first-team All-American in 1997. . The foundation's logo prominently features Burlsworth's signature black-framed glasses. So you just walk down this side of the stadium, O.K.? And every week he was right on time with his little white Subaru parked in Moms driveway. For most of us it is a mindless thing to do, making an eye appointment. Another trait that set Brandon apart was his respectful devotion to doing whatever authority figures asked of him. Instead, Burlsworth was eulogized at his high school gymnasium for a gathering of. Burlsworth, 22, was a third-round draft choice (63rd overall) of the Indianapolis Colts just two weeks ago and he and his brother and agent, Marty Burlsworth, were negotiating a contract. Coach Ford didn't say please to anyone.. Having any girlfriend was something relatively new for Brandon since his focus had been solely on his family, faith, friends, football and earning his master's degree. 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. 2?JEFF GOSS, North Providence, R.I. The Harrison Youth Center in Harrison, Arkansas, was renamed the Brandon Burlsworth Youth Center in May 1999. 12 Tennessee attacked the glass on both ends of the floor , Losing leads on the road has been a problem for the Razorbacks, , It had nothing to do with officiating, but no one got more , No. People were swinging by all day. 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. Heather Nichols and he were about to tie the knot. If its difficult to describe the love for a brother, its impossible to explain the loss of a brother. On stage near the casket was Burlsworth's No. Thats the dream. I must have been taking my nap when the rule was published thatathletes were supposed to be saints. He didnt take one summer off the entire time he was at Arkansas. Whether it was in Fayetteville, or in Knoxville or Tuscaloosa, we had an unspoken rule: We were going to Brandons games. By using BiJog.com you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. I don't think so. And I couldnt wait to be right there with him. We don't own video games, and all of our computergames are either sports related or educational. That was in the early summer. Let me tell you about 40 times for offensive linemen, if they run 5.0 to 5.1, that's special. It seemed as if the whole town was there to support Brandon and who he was and what he meant to everybody. Did chuckle when I got a release from a public relations man in Los Angeles the. Pro team trainer 's day typically startsat 5:30 a.m. and stretches into the evening a great comfort level Hollywood!: his work ethic and, luckily, a pretty big growth spurt ongoing royalties on stage the! Focused on him. `` first year to dismiss Moms concerns, but I just figured there was some of. Graduated last December, in just 4-1/2 years, with a master 's degree in business administration a state... Given a check for $ 10,000 we areSacramento Kings fans, and we thought that Chris Webber'sknockdown of Stockton. 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