He definitely was, Coleman said. We dont know why, but we do know that we will see him again. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. After walking on, Burlsworth became an All-American and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts to help protect Peyton Manning. The offensive guard had been named an All-American and a two-time All-SEC First Team player. The game was essentially over, as were Tennessees national championship hopes. It was all inner-him -- all inner-drive. Q: When did you realize Brandons story was going to be something that could resonate with people far beyond just Razorback fans? Tragically, that never happened. Administration enforces faculty reductions to rightsize Larger than life: Family, friends, co-workers Student Health Services offers nurse practitioner, Bison basketball teams drive season further, Police investigate apartment shootings in Searcy, New shopping opportunities come to Searcy. Among the past recipients: Cleveland Browns star and former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and Hunter Renfrow, a recent Clemson standout receiver now in his rookie year with the Oakland Raiders. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth (September 20, 1976 - April 28, 1999) was an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1995 to 1998. Cast [ edit] Wed, 09/08/2021 - 15:05. I kept thinking Someone needs to make a movie about this guy,' Reindl said. "I liked him so much that I used him as the barometer for the rest of the players I evaluated that year. 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 . While he received some offers from smaller schools, Burlsworth wanted to go to the University of Arkansas and play for the Razorbacks. We reviewed several different scripts over the years, and we also reviewed any revisions that were made of significance. UT took over at the Hogs 43-yard line with just 1:43 left. He was the first pick in the third round, the 63rd overall selection. With a chance to be Harrison's first full-time resident to make a professional sport, brother and agent Marty remembers draft day. After college he became a third-round pick of the Colts. When the 1999 NFL draft rolled around, the Indianapolis Colts made the linemans dreams a reality and selected him with the 63rd-overall pick. For fans of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Burlsworth has been a household name for years. The storys been told a lot but it probably hasnt reached as many people as you think, he said. He was drafted in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft to protect oddly enough former Vol quarterback Peyton Manning. You can see through the movie that the way he lived his life and how his family reacted answers the question of what to do when these things happen.. The accident came less than two weeks after the Colts selected him and shortly after he had participated in the team's minicamp where coaches tabbed him as a potential starter at guard. If that offends you, then you probably wouldn't like this movie. When (Greater producer and co-screenwriter) Brian Reindl came to us, we instantly felt a comfort level with him and his desire to tell Brandons story. I love that, whether its as (a former) lineman or just a person that likes sports. Brian Reindl, writer and producer of "Greater," said he loved the opportunity to tell such an incredible story in his first-ever production. That says it all. Brandon Burlsworth is growning from an unwanted accident of a child, to an abnormally large teenager, to a high school football . His name was Brandon Burlsworth, and a new movie in theaters this weekend - Greater (PG) - tells the incredible story of the chubby kid who wasn't recruited by any big-name colleges out of high school but proceeded to walk on with the home-state Arkansas Razorbacks, earn a scholarship, and become an All-American offensive lineman. check will go to Burlsworth's former high school for its scholarship fund and the other was presented to Arkansas, his alma mater. In The Walk-on, which airs Saturday, College GameDay celebrates the annual ceremony of a walk-on player being rewarded with a scholarship by looking back at Burlsworths impact at Arkansas 25 years ago. That has to be the bittersweet part for Ratliff. The Vols finished the regular season by blasting Kentucky 59-21 and Vanderbilt 41-0. Justin Herbert set an NFL rookie record with 31 passing touchdowns in 2020, when Shane Steichen was his offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Chargers. When relatively healthy, Ratliff showed he had elite talent. That defined the Tennessee offense that year, Cutcliffe said. His heart weighed a good part of that. 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. Burlsworth was killed in a car accident in 1999 after being drafted . Former Arkansas football player and Indianapolis Colts third-round draft pick Brandon Burlsworth died Wednesday in a car crash near Carrolton, Ark., while travelling to his home, state police said . On Friday, Aug. 26, the movie "GREATER" will be released in theaters. Coleman had seen the suffering Ratliff had been through. After minicamp, he was projected by his coaches to start as a rookie. The football fraternity had great expectations from the talented young man but fate had other plans and he was killed in an accident. That was a caused fumble. I think about that all the time.. The magazine did an extensive eight-page piece on him. However, he was killedin an automobile accident 11 days after the draft. The Vols won eight consecutive games to start the 1998 season before they hosted Arkansas. Though Burlsworths story is not new, Budman felt that he should approach the story, with reporter Tom Rinaldi, as if every viewer was learning about it for the first time. So I read up on his story and the first thing that came to mind is hes Rudy [Ruettiger, the famed former Notre Dame football walk-on], only better. It was tough. Ratliff and Burlsworth will always be linked by the Arkansas fumble. Foreign Language Department brings back after-school Harding employees bring families to swim Searcy Police and Public Safety investigate Reframing chapel: administration introduces changes, Student Association celebrates Earth Week. ET on ESPN from Sundance Square in Fort Worth, Texas. Weve got to throw it. I said No, were going to run it every down and we ran the football right down their throat.. Said Martin, It was really good for us as a team to win in the fashion we won. That was one of those plays that had to happen. As spelled out in an ESPN college football video, Burlsworth was never the most athletic guy; during high school, he was slow, soft, and didnt see significant playing time until his junior year. Fulmer was a former offensive lineman who loved running the football. The Good Lord doesnt make things happen without a reason. For people unfamiliar with Brandons story, walk us through his development from your perspective. Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. The program provides free exams and glasses for up to 1,000 preschool-through-12th grade students in Arkansas, and there are plans to take it nationwide. Oh well, it was a great run. All Martin had to do was hand the ball off to running back Travis Henry. You sow a habit, you reap a character. He died in a car crash on April 28, 1999, shortly after he was drafted by the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. Brandon the officer told us had collided head on with a semi. Brandon Burlsworth was the former All-American offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks. When his brother Marty sees how much he meant to the people of his hometown and how many have shown up for his funeral, he rebuffs The Farmer, deciding to celebrate Brandon's life and move on with his own. After all, UT needed a pass interference penalty to beat Syracuse and were outgained by Florida but still beat the Gators. Billy Ratliff was right next to me, Wilson said. 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. He made himself into a player by just working harder than everyone else. Tennessee is only one of a handful of SEC football states with legalized sports betting. To be of the offensive line Brandon took a risk and walked on 1994! Please enjoy the peak of my journalistic career. The story of Brandon Burlsworth, possibly the greatest walk-on in the history of college football. We dont have to understand it -- BUT we do have the choice of how we react to it. The Colts also announced all members of the team will have a special decal on their helmets in a tribute to Burlsworth. Brandon Burlsworth death scene What was Brandon Burlsworth's death scene like? But that same night, April 28, Mudd received a phone call from a newspaper reporter, asking him, "Have you heard about Brandon Burlsworth?" Burlsworth had been killed in a car accident. Mens cross-country places 11th at regional Christmas Market features student-owned businesses. Q: Brandons life seemed to have incredible highs and lows. Safety Fred White didnt see it that way. 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. He hosts an SEC radio show out of Chattanooga and covers the SEC for Saturday Down South. https://t.co/Ny448gVZWB, A really cool story by @ADavidHaleJoint on @GeorgiaTechFBs @pharvin27 and his role as a groundbreaker and an inspiration to other young punters. Its hard not to imagine what might have been had Burlsworth not passed away when he was 22. He made close friends with Ed Robinson, who was a bit older. Brandon vaughn burlsworth 1976 1999 find a grave memorial. He went after it without caution.". He inspires people. by Clay Henry | August 27, 2016 at 1:00 a.m. Arkansas' Brandon Burlsworth tells a story to teammates before the beginning of practice at Thunder Field on Dec. 30, 1998 . Yet Ratliff kept fighting through his injuries to help his teammates. "The common . He didnt just lay the ball on the ground. After walking on, Burlsworth became an All-American and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts to help protect Peyton Manning. Greater misses key fact. I dont want to tell them what to walk away with I want to inspire them through this story.. #HistoricHog pic.twitter.com/xBCanCzixz. 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. Burlsworth's Arkansas jersey number 77 was retired by the Colts for Hall-of-Famer Jim Parker, but Burlsworth's memorial picture ran on page 77 of the Indianapolis media guide. A "BB" sticker inside the club logo was worn on the rear of helmets that season. One By what name was Greater (2016) officially released in India in English? Among UT fans, his name is synonymous with the Arkansas fumble and what it meant to UTs 1998 season. 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 11000. The family picked Brandon up at the airport after the rookie camp. He was sore from the work, but expressed comfort with his teammates and the size of Indianapolis. After the Arkansas game, we knew that was our moment, former UT cornerback Dwayne Goodrich said. Today, The University of Arkansas has created an endowment in Brandon's name. Ratliff continued playing football for the love of the game. The foundation, established in 1999, has several programs that serve children in Arkansas and around the country. At Arkansas, the former Harrison High School player became a three-year starter and finished as an All-Southeastern Conference pick and on the Associated Press All-America second team. Another trait that set Brandon apart was his respectful devotion to doing whatever authority figures asked of him. Hes in college at Georgia Southern. Just days after the draft, tragedy struck. MB: After we started receiving calls from Hollywood producers, we knew that if the story were told, we wanted it to be told in the most accurate way possible, understanding that its difficult to squeeze 15 years into two hours. "When Brandon showed up at the rookie camp, he was even better than I thought he'd be," said Mudd. Your IP: On the practice field, a dedicated and fully-focused Burlsworth did not remove his helmet or unbutton his chin strap. Billy Ratliff hit the lineman and he stepped back on his foot. Until that point in the game, he had his way with the Vols, including Ratliff. Ratliff saw both luck and destiny in the play that would make him a Tennessee football folk hero. ESPN NHL Production Coordinator Camille Bova Does it All for the 2023 NHL Stadium Series in Raleigh, N.C. Steichen called plays for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Why did he have to die when he had everything to live for? During his UT career, Ratliff suffered a severe neck injury, two torn knee ligaments and serious shin splints. "Then I turned around and the next player I faced was Brandon. We support responsible gambling. #OvercomingTheOddsParalympian Scout Bassett embraces her story of scars, survival ESPN https://t.co/HHMSCULYIU, Lillian Jackson (@diamondlil1016) August 29, 2019, Friends, I spent the day with Arsenals Gunnersaurus Rex. The movie really addressed the question of why bad things happen to good people, Hansen 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. There is a much deeper message here. Burlsworth was killed 15 miles from home on a road he had traveled for years when his car drifted into the on-coming lane. Two collisions followed, and the life of a wonderful human with vast talents was over. Sad to see the pain still inside him. MB: Brandon was revered pretty quickly for the obstacles that he overcame. After his time at the University of Arkansas ended, Brandon Burlsworth seemed poised to realize his NFL dreams. He didnt do it on his own, White said of Stoerners fumble. (NWA Media). ", "He literally kept his goal focused right behind his nose through his college career.". 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. Im not sure what coach Nutt was thinking about, Ratliff said. It was the type of impression Burlsworth provided with everyone over the three-day camp before heading home. "He'd be completely blown away by all this attention focused on him. However, every time he thinks of the fumble, its hard not to think of Burlsworth. (Zac Budman/ESPN), Marty Burlsworth, brother of the late Brandon Burlsworth, is interviewed. Now, you can't control who your mom and daddy is, but you can control how hard you work. Candidates compete for Searcy mayor as Volleyball finishes record-breaking season at NCAA Thundering Herd welcomes high school guest Megias leads womens cross country team Basketball teams start seasons with high Community organization holds sixth annual Thankfulness Students take advantage of nearby concerts. "I thought it would soften the blow because there was going to be a ceremony on opening day where our family would get a framed jersey," said Marty. "Brandon hadn't been around the NFL so as a close family, we were going to live it with him. Said Burlsworth's position coach and lineman on the 1964 national champion Razorback team Mike Bender, "(He's) the best to play the offensive line in Arkansas history. There has never been one like Brandon, and there never will be again.". Email him at [emailprotected], Copyright 2023, Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. They were winning the whole game, really. "It would have been great to see Brandon play, but it wasn't God's plan. That wasn't the way it's supposed to be, and that's what you accept.". HARRISON For one more Saturday, Brandon Burlsworth was with his Arkansas football teammates and coaches and surrounded by family and friends. "I just wished I'd had the opportunity to have been part of his development. Suddenly, the Vols had the ball in Arkansas territory with time to mount a more conventional drive. Coach Tice: You know, football's a rough game; it's unpredictable. "GREATER" tells the story of Burlsworth, a former college walk-on, who would go on to earn All-America honors at the . The fundraising event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. He had absolutely no quit in him. All rights reserved. Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at the University of Arkansas in 1994. He declined both, insisting instead on joining the Razorbacks as a walk-on. I never lost my faith and that first night, after everyone had gone home, I grabbed my wife and my moms hand and we prayed. Q: What message do you want fans to take from this movie? 1. Brandon Burlsworth died from a car accident just eleven days after being drafted. Said Fulmer, Anybody that loves football would love that. However, the player some consider the best walk-on in college football history was tragically killed in a car accident just 11 days later. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. "As time goes on, you deal with the hurt. That 'what ifs' never really go away," said Marty. "We're life-long Colts fans, always will be. https://t.co/UV3TEAGddV, Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) August 29, 2019, @espn Amazing photo and article. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We didnt really get a chance until the end of the game.. Brian Reindl, writer and producer of Greater, said he loved the opportunity to tell such an incredible story in his first-ever production.
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