I remember that day. 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. I look forward every Thursday to opening my mailbox and seeingwhom you have chosen for the cover. Yeah, lets go buy some Colts stuff.. Drew about merelywanting to play ball (INSIDE BASEBALL, June 28). No, they have a scene with Coach Ford, Garrett said. See, Brandon started out a little scrawny. It was extra effort when we got on the field and extra effort when we lifted. And Ill get a photo of you in your uniform. in business administration. [31], The movie was originally scheduled for a release date of January 29, 2016. A screenplay titled Greater: The Brandon Burlsworth Story was written based on the book. Before his junior season in 1997, he was selected to be one of the team captains. with the gold medal on the line!JESSE BERKOWITZ, Fairfield, Iowa. -- a drive he had made hundreds of times -- Burlsworth was killed in a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer. He called to check in a couple of times. Brandons number 77 was retired as a result of the Arkansas Razorback football program. Burlsworth graduated in 1998 from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Business Administration. But I wanted to uncover the real story of Brandon's arrival at Arkansas and the first year. And the first call I made was to the recruiting coordinator at Arkansas. 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The accident occurred near Alpena, Arkansas, while returning to his old neighborhood. Join the discussion or start a new one on the Forums. display: block; In 1999, he completed an MBA and was the first Razorback football player to complete a master's degree. He said he was, too, as a walk-on. } 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. 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. [3], After his career with the Razorbacks, Burlsworth was invited to the NFL combine. Some things are fuzzy from 20 or 30 years ago, but I remember that pretty well. Garrett rented a theater in Little Rock and ran down the players from Brandon's team. Football career [ edit] Win the NBA championship? As I look at the first photo in thearticle, I can only hope the "free-spirited" Brister is smartenough to start wearing a helmet when he's driving hisall-terrain vehicle.MARK ROWAN, Pittston, Pa. Emanuel Yarbrough's agent has it figured all wrong (SCORECARD,June 28). But as it got later in the evening and Mom got more and more worked up, I hopped into my own car to head over and see if we could find out what had happened. That's the kind of stuff we had for Leotis Harris, Greg Koch and R.C. Well, I was on all of those trips. People were swinging by all day. Brandon Burlsworth measured 6-foot-3 1/4, 308 pounds at the 1999 NFL Combine. So Mom, Brandon and I piled into my minivan and we drove over to Fayetteville. Brandon Aiyuk: Wide Receiver For The San Francisco 49ers, What Classes Should I Take In High School For Aviation, Navigating The Risks Of Adolescence: Exploring The California State University Extended Risk And Wellness Course, Take Your Education To The Next Level: Exploring High School PG Classes, Promoting The Benefits Of High School Business Classes For Student Success, When Is The Best Time To Choose High School Classes? 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. You find yourself squinting to see . The next part of the story flips to Virgil Knight, Ford's fine strength and conditioning man. He was Arkansas's first All-American player since 1993 and their first player selected to a first-team squad since 1989. Instead, he did set goals and worked hard to achieve them.". The Olympic Gold Medalist shines light on her Hispanic heritage fueling her career. Brown is going. After he redshirted his first year (1994), he transformed his pudgy 300lb (140kg) frame into a svelte 260lb (120kg), and, over the next two years, built himself back up to a muscular 300lb (140kg) offensive guard. But that heart and desire is what separated him from the others," Tice said. 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. Trending News On the foundation's website, one can choose from books and movies about Brandon to shirts hats to raise money for their cause. His jersey was retired by the Arkansas Razorbacks in his honor and his locker was displayed in glass for public viewing. But as I turned the next corner onto Moms street and pulled up to her house, I got a good look at the car. It's just hard to believe this happened. Brandon Burlsworth, a former Arkansas football player, is best known for his time with the Razorbacks from 1995 to 1998. After Brandon was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts, the caring couple asked Barbara if they might give Brandon some new shirts and a set of luggage for his trip. 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. The Harrison Youth Center in Harrison, Arkansas, was renamed the Brandon Burlsworth Youth Center in May 1999. Also not included in the film is that Brandon and Marty also have a brother named Grady. Lightly recruited out of Harrison, Burlsworth chose to walk on at Arkansas. When they were writing the script, someone came to Tulsa and I sat with them for eight hours telling them about Brandon. [20], In 2007, the "Eyes of a Champion" program was started. 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 sent one of those shirts to the funeral home and Brandon was buried in it," said Barbara. He died as a result of the accident on April 28, 1999, and he had not survived it. We wanted Brandon. At 63, Burlsworth was not the biggest player on the team, but he quickly earned the respect of his teammates with his hard work and dedication. I think he might can play for us.. ``It is my loss that I could not become friends with him. 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. He asked me to help him, but theres all this certification that goes into being an agent. We suddenly needed that gear, because we would be rooting for the Colts. And he justdominatedon the field didnt matter if he was on defense or offense. A second tractor trailer was struck as the car crossed the center line in the aftermath of the first accident, causing it to overturn. On January 16, 2016, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, hosted an exclusive screening of Greater. He can really run. Knight is a Fayetteville home builder now. He made close friends with Ed Robinson, who was a bit older. Although Brandon became a stickler for staying focused and doing things the right way, he also was a typically sloppy teenager until the 10th grade when Barbara told him if he was serious about going to college, "he'd better get his act together." Mike likes him. As Brandon and I were standing out there, the offensive linemen came out, running on the field with their helmets on. ``We just hope that there is something the players or this organization can do to help ease the pain of Brandon's family.''. Burlsworth is survived by his mother, Barbara Burlsworth of Harrison; and his brothers Marty, of Harrison, and Grady, of Ohio. #inline-recirc-item--id-b47cc06a-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Join the discussion or start a new one on the Forums. He graduated from high school in 1994 and was recruited as a football player for the University of Arkansas. Brandon Burlsworth was born on September 20, 1976, in Harrison, Arkansas. ``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. A state police report said that, "for unknown reasons," Burlsworth's car drove left of the center line and hit the left front fender of a tractor trailer. I thought I was by watching extra tape. We want Brandon here, but if he cant handle it I can see what I can do to get him to a smaller school, he said. The struggles that he had gone through to get where he was were over. Livestock. That's a great sign that a linemen can play. -- Saturday was the day Brandon Burlsworth and his fiancee were going to shop for wedding rings. But as good as he was, Brandon was also a late bloomer he was only 17 his senior year and he was still a little undersized for college ball. Virgil sat down beside me about midway through the workout. That's when the offer to walk-on came. They all played in the NFL., Horton hung up the phone, marched down to Ford's office. After this picture wassnapped, Motley dragged my father 30 more yards. I was high as a kite. Please read our Terms of Use or contact us. ", "He literally kept his goal focused right behind his nose through his college career.". So was I. That looks good, doesnt it? I said. Each year the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation gives out several awards and scholarships at various school levels. The reason? ``He was so good and so perfect,'' said Nutt, who met with the team Thursday afternoon. Who is Brandon Burlsworth? And I could see a little white car parked in her driveway. There will be plenty of coverage of Greater, now in theaters. He had intended to help under advantaged children and the Burlsworth family settled the establishment that in his honor. But he probably didn't say a word in the locker room. But I didnt have that natural talent. [4], During the 1999 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Burlsworth with the 63rd pick in the third round. He said he wanted to hold football camps and bring kids to his NFL games. I was just so proud of him. If there are more athletes like him out there, pleasefind them soon and let the world know of their existence.DAVE COOLEY, Lake Lotawana, Mo. If its difficult to describe the love for a brother, its impossible to explain the loss of a brother. I know he had to be there because we know the story. Then we looked to the TV: Brandons picture came up on the screen and they were calling his name from the podium. This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 01:14. Now, if you find yourself at that Colts shop, I told him, You make sure and get us some gear this time.. On the day of his wedding, he was buried. Whether it was in Fayetteville, or in Knoxville or Tuscaloosa, we had an unspoken rule: We were going to Brandons games. heather nichols brandon burlsworth . ``There will be a delegation from the organization going to the services (Saturday).''. The Christian organization's mission is to support the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those children who have limited opportunities. ``Brandon did everything perfectly,'' Nutt said. He was a two-time All-American and was the first member of the Arkansas football team to earn a masters degree. And that spring, the Burls boys found themselves in Indianapolis at the combine. Burlsworth was a recruited walk-on in every sense of the word. His promotional fact sheet said coaches told Brandon he was not good enough to get the opportunity to play.. Nothing, nothing, nothing.DON LUCE, Los Angeles. There are a few things that aren't right in the movie. Ido want to make another point. 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. 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. "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!" If it meant going over to Moms house to help him with homework, I wanted to be there. And if someone somewhere told him he wouldn't ever play, they didn't say that for long. He was 309. On the tape, he delivered crushing blocks to protect quarterback Clint Stoerner and punched holes in defensive lines for Arkansas running backs. However, we areSacramento Kings fans, and we thought that Chris Webber'sknockdown of John Stockton was very cool. As we walked by one of the pro shops, we joked to each other. In fact, Ed, who works for FedEx in Harrison and has three children, even named his oldest son after Brandon. His awards and his many accolades are numerous but among them are earning a scholarship the first year. His body was laid to rest in Gass Cemetery in Omaha, Arkansas, on May 2, 1999. His high school coaches couldnt believe his size when he came back for his junior season. Brandon was killed in an auto accident 11 days after being selected by the Colts in the first round of the 1999 draft. Brandon was ready to do back flips if he didn't have to eat from the green label trays anymore. Burlsworth's death on April 28, only 11 days after the Indianapolis Colts took him in the third round of the NFL draft, left people in Arkansas in shock and asking questions that will remain. Bits and pieces are over and beyond. Reputation Score. All Rights Reserved. Burlsworth, 22, died 10 days after his selection on April 28, 1999, in a car crash in Arkansas. He was a two-time state wrestling champion and was also named All-State in football. I dont even think he played one game. Two buses of Razorbacks players arrived. Burlsworth was heavily recruited by the University of Arkansas, but he decided to walk-on to the team instead. I went over to the Broyles Center at 10:30 one night. Receiving the facilitation of Heather Nichols put me in a creation station mode and allowed me to create and grow 3 businesses at a time with fun, joy, no efforts and wow! Of course, we didn'tknow it would happen, but Brandon knew all his life that God hadplaced His hand upon him and that he would be nowhere withoutGod. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Yet Ford agreed to let Brandon show up as a "preferred walk-on.". I can't believe Michael Farber devoted his Stanley Cup finalswrap-up story almost entirely to Brett Hull's controversial goal(The Bitter End, June 28). And then he walked out and there it was: BURLSWORTH. He lost from 309 that first day we weighed him to 252 when we sent them home at Christmas. He was determined to drive home the same day so he could attend evening church service with the family. I kept gaming out who was left. I also remember that they weighed him. Polian said Burlsworth was "a shining example" to others. Then, just a few months later, Brandon was killed in a car accident. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed But even Horton admits it took a bit of time before the coaches came to that realization. It is very difficultto admit that in one second, all the dreams that Brandon and Ishared are gone: the dreams of our first house, our children,our careers and the rest of our lives together. Burlsworth's hometown preacher, the Rev. "Then I turned around and the next player I faced was Brandon. Brandon was 22 years old when he died in a car his crash on April 28, 1999. First, Brandons older brother, Bart, was diagnosed with cancer. Hed be all over the line, right off the snap. One was center Jay Leeuwenberg. Brandon Burlsworth was a talented American football player who played as an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1995 to 1998. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. It starts with a visit with Harold Horton, the UA recruiting coordinator for Danny Ford. We didnt expect Brandon to go real high, and we had been told that he wouldnt. Get a cover. Burlsworth attended the Colts' rookie camp last weekend, where he met briefly with a few Indianapolis veterans. Thats what its all about: What you do while you were here. And I couldnt wait to be right there with him. He liked doing it.''. Children are given a chance to learn from former Razorbacks. I have no issue with that. ``He was the local star. Theres never a day where I dont think about Brandon. I fear our support of the Kingsand excitement over their advancement to the playoffs cloudedour better judgment. He died instantly. [25][26] In 2010, the Burlsworth Trophy was created and named in his honor. So a few months after his death, we started the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, where we do all of that and more. We went together every time. That's how you get an 80-yard run. She smiles when she sees the many thousands of children and others who've benefited enormously from the charitable Brandon Burlsworth Foundation and from his once having lived a blessed and honorable life among us. I'll say this, please see the movie. [30] The casting director was Stephanie Holbrook, C.S.A. You have permission to edit this article. Morgan Casting Company was hired to cast the film and began holding open casting calls in March 2013 in Fayetteville, Arkansas; Little Rock, Arkansas; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Canton, Mississippi. He was my brother and I just wanted everything for him. 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. Maybe they knew by the time Felker knew, but they don't even remember Burslworth in the freshman locker room. Heather Nichols is 48 years old and was born on 11/07/1974. A self-described "walk-on filmmaker", Reindl decided to finance and produce the film.[29]. I remember the first time I heard about Brandon Burlsworth. Let me tell you about 40 times for offensive linemen, if they run 5.0 to 5.1, that's special. And it paid off. He joined the team as a walk-on and eventually became an All-American . And boy, was he soaking it in. He earned 1st team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998 and was selected for the 1998 College Football All-America Team. ``There's not a better person. Burlsworth was selected in the 3rd round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts but he was killed eleven days later in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas on April 28, 1999. --DWIGHT ANDERSON, Milford, N.Y. For the next three years, Brandon started for the Razorbacks. "He not only lived his life right, he lived right every single day," Nutt said. Heather Nichols and he were about to tie the knot. Harrison, Arkansas, is about as small town as it gets. And I remembered to do what other agents had advised me to do, I kept multiple lines open. 128 Jasper Yell Rd, Everton, AR 72633. With Neal McDonough, Leslie Easterbrook, Christopher Severio, Michael Parks. But Arkansas was the dream. Now, you don't know if he is going to make it, but you knew then that he had a chance because it's a sure indicator of athletic ability.. John Ed Bradley's article on Brandon Burlsworth should be passedaround and read by everyone, not just by athletes (AlmostPerfect, June 28). I've seen the movie. The score for the film was by Stephen Raynor-Endelman with Andrea Von Foerster as the music supervisor.