We do not target any individuals under the age of 21. Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. The game was essentially over, as were Tennessees national championship hopes. John E. Hoover can be . State police Cpl. That Burlsworth was in the accident was completely like the unselfish person who established a cult following while a Razorback. "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.". Until that point in the game, he had his way with the Vols, including Ratliff. A&P Commission approves funding for robotics Campus Life introduces Cotton Candy Friday. "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. We dont have to understand it -- BUT we do have the choice of how we react to it. I really felt like that game built character in our team because for the first time, we felt the feeling of defeat and that was a feeling we didnt want to have anymore.. 2 Alabama, SEC Women's Basketball Tournament action suspended due to weather delay, 2 SEC players named to late-season watch list for Oscar Robertson Player of the Year Trophy, Overrated? This book is the inspiring biography of a local boy who makes good. Burlsworth was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas, on April 28, 1999, on . Mudd was among the club's personnel who knew Burlsworth the best. A week after the draft, others got a glimpse of the player who drew visible comparisons to TV's Drew Carey. Surely, UT head coach Phillip Fulmer called the shots given his background. Ill never understand, but I know that thousands of kids have been helped through Brandons foundation and so many great things have come from our tragedy. 1976 April 28, 1999) was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas, on . . Eyes of a Champion, for example, helps provide free vision exams and glasses to low to moderate income, uninsured children. Burls Kids, which operates in both Arkansas and Indianapolis, brings children to football games and provides them with an unforgettable experience. 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. Id never heard it before. "When Brandon showed up at the rookie camp, he was even better than I thought he'd be," said Mudd. He went to Harrison High School and graduated from there. ", Tammy and Danny Roth of Harrison were friends of the Burlsworths. He made himself into a player by just working harder than everyone else. It was meant to be.. 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. However, the player some consider the best walk-on in college football history was tragically killed in a car accident just 11 days later. "If God ever made the perfect person, it was that guy," said then teammate Sacha Lancaster to Sport Illustrated. He loved the kids, Marty Burlsworth said. Our opponents are set! 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. As a part of the program, the Colts will hire a Dungy Fellow for the offense and the defense. Draft but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. Rivers and Steichen worked together with the Chargers, while Turner gave Steichen his first opportunity in the NFL. MB: Brandon was revered pretty quickly for the obstacles that he overcame. "We were in need of finding a guard to shore up the line. We were impressed with the "guy with the horned-rimmed glasses that looked like Drew Carey." Safety Fred White didnt see it that way. This is an inspirational film, and I believe its a film you will want to see over and over again. The coach said he managed to get back to his feet, still surrounded by the team. Tragically, at the age of 22, 10 days after the draft, he was killed in a car accident on April 28th, 1999 while on his way home from the University of Arkansas to attend church with his mom. However, he was killedin an automobile accident 11 days after the draft. 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. College GameDay Built by the Home Depot airs Saturday at 9 a.m. The other producers couldnt guarantee just how accurate the depiction would be. Hollywood keeps making movies about superheroes and people who arent heroes at all, but here is a real life hero that my kids can look up to.. We always beat those guys. He was the first pick in the third round, the 63rd overall selection. Our family chose to turn our grief into something that would make a difference and honor Brandon for the things he felt so strongly about. The movie tells how Burlsworth, against all odds, went to Arkansas without an athletic scholarship and became an All-American football player and National Football League third-round draft choice. Brandon the officer told us had collided head on with a semi. The book, Eyes of a Champion, the Brandon Burlsworth Story, was delivered in 2001. . Brandon was a walk on turned All American at the University of Arkansas. Certainly, football was immensely important to Brandon, but it was his character and the relationship he had with God that defined who Brandon Burlsworth really was. 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. Its very possible the two would have had many more epic battles in the NFL. Another trait that set Brandon apart was his respectful devotion to doing whatever authority figures asked of him. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2d144239416bbd I will never do better, and I am at peace with that. Less than two weeks after he was chosen in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, Brandon was driving home to go to church with his mother. After his rise to prominence at Arkansas, Brandon Burlsworth seemed poised to make the leap to the NFL. 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. The boy was almost 6-foot-4 and tipped the scales at more than 300 pounds. . #HistoricHog pic.twitter.com/xBCanCzixz. The walk-on who became an All-American, a person who responded, 'Yes sir,' or 'No sir,' to every question, decided to bypass a ring ceremony honoring the school's SEC Western Division title. He wanted to head home, have dinner with his mother, Barbara, and attend a Wednesday night church service. They came to town to interview everyone and get photographs for the magazine. Tennessee is only one of a handful of SEC football states with legalized sports betting. "Brandon was such a humble person who cared about and respected others," she continued. Were going to get the ball back., "I tell people all the time that if I was still in the game when that happened, we probably would have lost because I just didnt have it in the tank right then. I promise you that ball seemed like it was there for 5 or 6 seconds.. The Indianapolis Colts wore his initials, BB, on their helmets for the 1999 season. For fans of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Burlsworth has been a household name for years. During their time of struggle, they came up with the idea for the foundation. 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. 'Burls Kids' is a program where youngsters attend Colts and Razorbacks games, and the foundation conducts camps and prep football awards. The youth center in Harrison, Arkansas . It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The Burlsworth Trophy has been awarded every year since 2010. He went to Harrison High School and graduated from there. Once his chance, though, Burlsworth seized his opportunity. The foundation also runs football camps and presents several awards and scholarships. "Through the years, we have stayed close. We're very appreciative of Mr. Irsay and the bond his organization has with us. My mother always has gotten a Colts Christmas card. We've kept a feeling of being a part of Brandon's team.". 77 retired. Said Fulmer, Anybody that loves football would love that. Every place starts with a cadence and ends with a whistle. Former Arkansas football player and Indianapolis Colts draft pick Brandon Burlsworth died Wednesday in a car crash while travelling to his home, state police said. ( Marty Burlsworth ) From left to right, Brandon Burlsworth, Grant Garrett and Russ Brown pose for a picture in 1997. Good fortune was certainly on the Vols side against Arkansas. Marty Burlsworth remembers the day Brian Reindl came to Harrison to pitch his idea of making a movie about the life of Burlsworth's late brother, Brandon. 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. After Burslworths death, those close to him created the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation; according to the foundations website, the Christian organizations mission is to support the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those who have limited opportunities. As a player, "Brandon promised to be one of those players we point to and say, 'This is how it's done,' " said a top Colts official. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth. I tell people all the time that if I was still in the game when that happened, we probably would have lost because I just didnt have it in the tank right then, Coleman said. Q: What was your involvement with the movie process from the beginning until now? That wouldnt be the case. "No problem, I'm used to it," quipped Burlsworth, who popped the lens of his eyeglasses out and smiled away. Organizations and businesses prepare for Valentines Gov. Weve got to throw it. I said No, were going to run it every down and we ran the football right down their throat.. Brandon Burlsworth (as Chris Severio) Michael Parks Leo Burlsworth Nick Searcy The Farmer Peter Gray Lewis Coach Tice (as Peter Lewis) Fredric Lehne Coach Bender Texas Battle Anthony Lucas M.C. There is a much deeper message here. 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. Sad to see the pain still inside him. Midnight Madness kicks off basketball season, Social clubs prepare for Homecoming Parade, James Huff receives another research grant. 1. I was high as a kite. Wed, 09/08/2021 - 15:05. History happened, he said. "He stayed around the house and left for Fayetteville on Tuesday," Vickie says. Mom and I picked him up at the airport when he came home. Philip Straub said the call came in at 4:17 p.m. that there was a crash involving a car and a tractor-trailer on U.S. 412 near Carrolton. 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. She agreed, and the night. Billy was great. After walking on, Burlsworth became an All-American and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts to help protect Peyton Manning. "That first year was tough. Every year, it was a little easier," said Burlsworth. "That first year when Brandon was supposed to be on the field was hard, and I think anyone could understand that. You always wanted the best for your team, but you wanted your family member to be out there. 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. He died in a car crash on april 28 1999 shortly after he was drafted by the nfls indianapolis colts. [3] Burlsworth was killed 15 miles from home on a road he had traveled for years when his car drifted into the on coming lane. After his death, Burlsworth's #77 became only the second retired number in Razorback football history. "I took the player's helmet and put it on," said Tice. 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. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Arkansas needed 12 yards for the first down, but that wasnt even necessary. Tee came off the field and Billy told him, Hey man, dont put your helmet away. Brandon burlsworths first act as a wealthy nfl offensive tackle was going to be to buy himself a bigger. Especially knowing the kid was getting ready to go on to the next chapter of his life and getting to the point where he was trying to help his family. This is a movie not just for football fans but for everyone. The Good Lord doesnt make things happen without a reason. Ratliff replaced fellow defensive lineman Jeff Coleman, who was suffering from cramps on the sideline when Ratliffe made history. This is the life story of Brandon Burlsworth who is probably best known as a former offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1995 - 1999 (which is also the same time I went to the University of Arkansas). It was the type of impression Burlsworth provided with everyone over the three-day camp before heading home. We were involved from start to finish in a sort of advisory role. FIFA World Cup - Best Goals from Every Angle, Draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, FOX SPORTS, SPEED, SPEED.COM & 2023 Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All-American ( 1998) 2 First-team All-SEC ( 1997, 1998) Arkansas Razorbacks No. The foundation, established in 1999, has several programs that serve children in Arkansas and around the country. It was apparently a shocker to a few of the reviewers here, but Greater includes some Christian themes in it. Burlsworth, who began his college career as a pudgy walk-on and became a standout offensive lineman for the Razorbacks, was killed in a traffic accident April 28 while driving from the campus. His truck collided with an approaching 18-wheeler causing him to veer into his lane then he crashed with another tractor-trailer head-on. He declined both, insisting instead on joining the Razorbacks as a walk-on. 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. Burlsworth tragically lost his life in a car accident April 28, 1999, going from Fayetteville to a Wednesday night church service in his hometown of Harrison. Brandon was Brandon Burlsworth, an All-American offensive guard who began his career at Arkansas as a walk-on and was known for his thick, black glasses. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these. Burlsworth ran a 40-yard touchdown in 4.88 seconds during the combine, more than any other player. After that ran, we began getting calls from Los Angeles about doing a movie. "He's in heaven now. Sow with thought, you reap in action. The press conference will be streamed live. When the 1999 NFL draft rolled around, the Indianapolis Colts made the linemans dreams a reality and selected him with the 63rd-overall pick. See production, box office & company info, Well-done and inspiring faith-based movie, Mike & Mike: Episode dated 23 August 2016. He was in the prime of his football career. Both press conferences will be streamed live on Colts.com, the Colts mobile app, @Colts on Twitter and the Colts Facebook page. "I kept coming back to comparisons with Brandon. Instead, the accident happened four days later, tearing holes in the hearts of everyone who knew Brandon. You sow a character, you reap a destiny. Mock Draft Monday, our weekly roundup of experts' predictions for who the Colts will take in the NFL Draft, is back with the NFL Combine getting underway in Indianapolis this week. brandon burlsworth foundation to honor stephens inc. kevin scanlon with legends award 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. In reality he also had one from Henderson State University. We got the ball back. 412 when he became involved in the crash with two tractor trailers officials said. The Vols won eight consecutive games to start the 1998 season before they hosted Arkansas. He went to mini-camp, but was killed a few days . HARRISON For one more Saturday, Brandon Burlsworth was with his Arkansas football teammates and coaches and surrounded by family and friends. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts and 11 days later was tragically killed in. Not exactly. One of the most unusual aspects of the Arkansas fumble is that Ratliff shouldnt have been in the game at all. The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation will be honoring Kevin Scanlon of Stephens Inc. with the 2023 Legends Award. He was selected in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. It was an interesting set of play calls for Cutcliffe, who is widely considered a quarterback and passing game guru. Burlsworth, 22, a third-round draft pick from Arkansas, was killed in a car crash less than a half-hour from home Wednesday. LSU's 3 permanent rivals for 9-game SEC schedule have been set, per report, Quinten Dormady, former Tennessee QB, under playbook investigation in XFL, Alabama basketball adds commitment from 4-star forward, Texas A&M punctuates impressive SEC season with upset of No. INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts on Sunday remembered Brandon Burlsworth, the team's third-round draft pick who died in a traffic crash before he could take his place in their offensive line. After his death at a young age, the football community came together to pay tribute to his achievements and his family and friends built a foundation in his name. Casting Directors are now casting for the upcoming SAG feature film "Greater" filming in Arkansas. We are very happy with the way it turned out. MB: Our agreement was that the family could object if we felt something was not portrayed in the right manner. 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. Please read our Terms of Use or contact us. Mudd went on to scale heights with Indianapolis that included the NFL's all-time winningest regular-season record over a decade (115-45, 2000-09), multiple division titles, two AFC crowns and a World Championship.