Each Wednesday, he came back to take his mother, Barbara, to chapel. Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt, who coached Burlsworth for just one season, said ``several things'' are being discussed to memorialize Burlsworth. Ronnie called and wanted to know our interest in Brandon, Horton said. ``We just hope that there is something the players or this organization can do to help ease the pain of Brandon's family.''. Please read our Terms of Use or contact us. Email him at [emailprotected], Copyright 2023, Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. Arkansas doesnt have a pro football team I dont even know if a pro team could survive here. Brandon Burlsworth was born on September 20, 1976, in Harrison, Arkansas. 128 Jasper Yell Rd, Everton, AR 72633. He said he was, too, as a walk-on. I opened the door to Moms house and she was in a state. In 1998, he was selected to the college football all-america team. I just didn't see it.. He just never sought the limelight. We were at UCA in Conway for all-star camp. I had about 212,000 miles on it by the time I got rid of it. Sure, bring him on up for a game, he said. Children are given a chance to learn from former Razorbacks. The story of Brandon Burlsworth, possibly the greatest walk-on in the history of college football. The coach said he managed to get back to his feet, still surrounded by the team. The Burlsworth family was paid by the Colts after their son, Brandon, died. 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. The family was given a check for $10,000. 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? Then, just a few months later, Brandon was killed in a car accident. Greater is a 2016 American biographical sports film directed by David Hunt and starring Christopher Severio as American football player Brandon Burlsworth, a walk-on college player who became an All-American, dying in a car crash 11 days after being drafted high in the 3rd round to the National Football League. And Ill get a photo of you in your uniform. Those were true words.. I was high as a kite. "As we got to know Brandon it was evident he was embarking on a long and successful NFL career." Still, with each pick, even in the first round, you get more and more nervous. By that point he was about six-foot-two, over 200 pounds and still growing. 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. As we walked by one of the pro shops, we joked to each other. ``The only way I could explain Burls is from the outhouse to the penthouse, and he was knocking on the penthouse door.''. 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. [28] The book was praised for its authentic and inspirational portrayal of Brandon's story. Vice President, Business Development. ``He was so good and so perfect,'' said Nutt, who met with the team Thursday afternoon. I did chuckle when I got a release from a public relations man in Los Angeles touting the movie with a bad fact. The struggles that he had gone through to get where he was were over. -- a drive he had made hundreds of times -- Burlsworth was killed in a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer. He was my brother and I just wanted everything for 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. display: none; As everyone knows, in footballyou have to wear a helmet. Growing up 70 miles north of Pittsburgh, I had the pleasure ofwatching Bubby Brister groom himself to be a top NFL quarterback(Hard Driver, June 28). I know hes working hard, but hell know and well know., Coach, mark it down. renato's palm beach happy hour Uncovering hot babes since 1919. It was time to call Marty Burlswoth, his brother and all of the other key figures in what I call Brandon's development as an All-America offensive guard. 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. Every NFL offensive linemen I've ever had, they ran like that, Horton said. Win the World Series? Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. In a few weeks hed be heading back. Burlsworth ran a 40-yard touchdown in 4.88 seconds during the combine, more than any other player. The following year, he completed an MBA. Are we toforget that this is the same player who, without having had onemajor league at bat, held up the Philadelphia Phillies for ayear in contract negotiations, demanding a record signing bonusof about $10 million before reentering the draft the followingyear? I've seen the movie. Who is Brandon Burlsworth? An expression that implied do it the correct way, in any event, when nobody is looking. I remember the first time I heard about Brandon Burlsworth. Win the Super Bowl? Brandon Burlsworth Was Dedicated & Fully-Focused Player Burlsworth was a recruited walk-on in every sense of the word. Brandon Burlsworth was 22 years old when he died in a car accident. "We are going to retire his high school jersey. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). At the point when he showed up, he saw the rear of a white vehicle that he from the start thought was Brandon's. After the draft, he spoke to me a lot about helping other kids in Harrison. The book, Eyes of a Champion, the Brandon Burlsworth Story, was delivered in 2001. Now, if you find yourself at that Colts shop, I told him, You make sure and get us some gear this time.. We tell our players that every day of life is a blessing and never take it for granted. Accident investigators indicated that Burlsworth was trailing another semi-truck rig on the winding, two-lane highway toward Harrison when he veered left just slightly to check oncoming traffic. It's Hollywood. With that, Felker put on a tape. And then there was this walk-on from Harrison. Everton , AR (870) 429-6321. } The note arrived on the day Brandon died. 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. He died instantly. Let me tell you about 40 times for offensive linemen, if they run 5.0 to 5.1, that's special. 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. When they were writing the script, someone came to Tulsa and I sat with them for eight hours telling them about Brandon. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. 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. It has nothing to do with Brandon Burslworth. On April 28, 1999, he died in a car accident. SurelyYarbrough would be the first unscored-upon goalie in leaguehistory.KARL SVATEK, Wauwatosa, Wis. Garrison Stadium in Harrison, Arkansas, and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. ``He was the local star. Burlsworth's hometown preacher, the Rev. ``He had a lot of plans,'' said Brown, a native of Bristow and now a Tulsa resident. Barbara Burlsworth established the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation to assist needy children in Brandons memory. If not, he couldn't. But as I turned the next corner onto Moms street and pulled up to her house, I got a good look at the car. His final game with the team was in the 1999 Citrus Bowl. He had the future ahead of him, having been drafted and picked by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL Draft. By the time he was a senior, we both knew that if we wanted to keep playing football he was going to have to enter the NFL draft. Many more of his Arkansas teammates were in attendance. 77 jersey, naming the weight room after him, and permanently encasing his locker. It's great. Mike likes him. Now I remember this as clear as day, I thought to myself, 'He's not going to play.' And the only thing bigger than high school football in Harrison or anywhere else in Arkansas is Razorback football. He was a Razorback. He was the middle child of three boys. Rest in peace, Brandon.DAVE SISTARO, Staten Island, N.Y. Whether Im driving around town, past the baseball park where we used to play catch, past the Razorbacks signs on front lawns, I feel his presence. As of the 2020 census the population stood at 128. He did what we told him. Time and the Lord take care of those things, but the immediate aftermath is very tough to deal with.''. 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. Brandon Burlsworth died 10 days after being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1999. I told them about it in that interview.. [1] Burlsworth played on two SEC Western Division championship Razorback football teams (1995, 1998). We noticed him. Although he never played a down in the NFL, he had impressed Mudd enough during mini-camp that the. Dang, Marty, what have you been feedin that boy?. Horton recalls the story well. More than 100 members of Burlsworth's family were present and players from Harrison's football team wore their blue and yellow jerseys. Brandon Burlsworth - Bio, Facts, Family Life of American . And if Brandon was doing whatever he could on the field, then I sure as heck would do whatever I could to help get my brother there. Again, that's a coach hitting it right on the head of the nail. He never even got to wear his Citrus Bowl ring. Faith and family they meant everything to Brandon. 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. And I couldnt wait to be right there with him. with the gold medal on the line!JESSE BERKOWITZ, Fairfield, Iowa. He lost from 309 that first day we weighed him to 252 when we sent them home at Christmas. He started as a walk-on and grew to the anchor of the offensive line. Brandon was so single-minded, so focused. Tice said he also called then-Hog head coach Danny Ford and asked him to take a look at Brandon. Wed, 09/08/2021 - 15:05. } "I want to make sure my steps are right on the power encounter.' "Everybody had been a little tight that day," Coach Nutt says. [18] The foundation makes its money via donations and the sale of Burlsworth merchandise. Nutt said Burlsworth's respect from teammates was evident in that he was elected captain by a landslide. It spoke of how much Huckabee had enjoyed watching Burlsworth play, but even more Huckabee's letter commended Burlsworth family for the way he was raised. display: block; Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth (September 20, 1976 April 28, 1999) was an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1995 to 1998. "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. He said, He came in heavy, but he's already dropped 30 and I bet we are going to be able to put weight back on him by Christmas. Kind words One player with the colts said it's his loss he won't get to be friends with Brandon Burlsworth. It started with a phone call from Henderson State head coach Ronnie Kerr. "He listened, then just did it," said Tice. #inline-recirc-item--id-b47cc06a-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-b47cc06a-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { It breaks my heart that millions of readers will get to know anindividual of Brandon Burlsworth's character not during his lifebut after his death.MICHAEL SZAJENKO, Warren, Mich. Why is it that as an avid reader of SI, I am thoroughly familiarwith the likes of Latrell Sprewell, Albert Belle and LawrencePhillips, but until his tragic death, I had never even heard ofBrandon Burlsworth? [19], Today, through the "Burls Kids" program, the Burlsworth Foundation provides underprivileged youths with a chance to attend Razorback and Colts football games. Theres never a day where I dont think about Brandon. It was my dream, too, and I sure worked hard at it. [31], The movie was originally scheduled for a release date of January 29, 2016. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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. Well, I was on all of those trips. Garrett rented a theater in Little Rock and ran down the players from Brandon's team. Mom and I picked him up at the airport when he came home. One of my sons, who was in my car with me, started asking what was wrong, what had happened. Heather Nichols is 48 years old and was born on 11/07/1974. Brown is going. [12] He was buried on May 2, 1999, in Gass Cemetery in Omaha, Arkansas. With Neal McDonough, Leslie Easterbrook, Christopher Severio, Michael Parks. The Razorbacks program announced Friday that university officials would retire the number 77 that Burlsworth wore for Arkansas. More than. Before I leave the remarkable legacy of Harrison's Brandon Burlsworth and the film of his life called , now showing in nearly 400 theaters across America, I want to share a few back-story notes. He graduated last December, in just 4-1/2 years, with a master's degree in business administration. 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. "Then I turned around and the next player I faced was Brandon. Boom. -- Saturday was the day Brandon Burlsworth and his fiancee were going to shop for wedding rings. 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. He did run 5.0. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. I thought, 'Man, this guy is giving effort still.' We just didn't have a good practice. He's in paradise now.''. Brandon's family established an establishment in 1999 to respect him. Brandon, the officer told us, had collided head-on with a semi. I asked Felker, the offensive play caller for Ford, if he could point out the best player on the offense. Brandon Burlsworth was born September 20th, 1976 in Harrison, Arkansas. He pointed out Burlsworth blocking three on one play. Brandon was killed in a car accident eleven days after the draft when he was thrown from his vehicle in a head-on collision. For most of us it is a mindless thing to do, making an eye appointment. I said I was going to the UofA. To be of the offensive line Brandon took a risk and walked on 1994! He could finally reap the rewards of everything he put into the game all the training, all the schooling, all the dedication, all the hard work. All of those in my interview will get together Saturday for a special screening of the movie. ``We're in a rah-rah business, and I can put no enthusiasm in my voice,'' said UA sports information director Rick Schaeffer. A pro team trainer's day typically startsat 5:30 a.m. and stretches into the evening. Burlsworth attended the Colts' rookie camp last weekend, where he met briefly with a few Indianapolis veterans. He never drank, smoked or swore. Bentonville, AR. The Colts retired his jersey number, 77, and created the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the nations most outstanding collegiate walk-on. [8] In 2013, Bleacher Report named Burlsworth the #1 Greatest Walk-On player of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Era. There will be plenty of coverage of Greater, now in theaters. ``There's not a better person. I don't recall him around that first semester at all.. Get acover. Brandon was selected in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth. On January 16, 2016, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, hosted an exclusive screening of Greater. Tice said he encouraged Burlsworth to accept scholarship offers from smaller schools when he was a senior. He was 309. Knight is a Fayetteville home builder now. As a result, his funeral was held in a high school gymnasium, allowing his teammates and family to attend as well. heather nichols everton arkansas Feb 26 2021 heather nichols everton arkansas Uncategorized Approximate Reputation Score. July5). Brandon was selected in the third round, 63rd overall, by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft. [27] The award is given yearly to the most outstanding Division I FBS college football player who began his career as a walk-on. Brandon knew what it was like to be doubted, to be told you werent good enough. Recruited walk-on is correct in every sense of that phrase, Horton said. You have permission to edit this article. Since 2000, the Foundation has bought 30 tickets to each Arkansas Razorbacks home football game. Follow the action as the Razorbacks take on the Redbirds at Baum-Walker , On this episode of the Whole Hog Baseball Podcast, Matt Jones and , The Arkansas baseball team has no time to dwell on the 12-3 , Arkansas right fielder Jace Bohrofen is showing the potential at the plate , On Wednesdays we feature an in-state prospect who could be flying under , No. Nfl, he spoke to me a lot of plans, '' said Nutt who... Get a photo of you in your uniform possibly the greatest walk-on in every sense of that,... He encouraged Burlsworth to accept scholarship offers from smaller schools when he died in a car accident eleven after!, that 's a coach hitting it right on the line! BERKOWITZ! Terms of Use or contact us combine, more than any other player the population at! 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Or anywhere else in Arkansas is Razorback football, Barbara, to chapel from a public relations in.

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