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. Told he wasn't good enough to play Division I football, Brandon Burlsworth took a risk and walked on in 1994, and he became the most respected player in the history of the program. 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. We dont know why, but we do know that we will see him again. Oh well, it was a great run. 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. ESPN College GameDay 8-31-19 #WeTrust pic.twitter.com/x3UCtOjLLf, Burlsworth Trophy (@BurlsworthTrust) August 29, 2019. Brandon's family established an establishment in 1999 to respect him. "He listened, then just did it," said Tice. He just never sought the limelight. 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. This is an inspirational film, and I believe its a film you will want to see over and over again. We dont have to understand it -- BUT we do have the choice of how we react to it. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. The story of a small town walk-on freshman named Brandon Burlsworth transforming into a first team All-American has been inspiring to football fans of all ages, but there is much more to his legacy than most people know. We're going to be fine.' 'Burls Kids' is a program where youngsters attend Colts and Razorbacks games, and the foundation conducts camps and prep football awards. Its namesake was an Arkansas offensive lineman from 1995 to 1998. "I remember it being exciting and extremely stressful. We knew he wouldn't be picked in the upper first round, but it took a toll on us," said Burlsworth. "Getting picked by the Colts was a blessing. It couldn't have been a better fit for Brandon.". He said his familys personal contribution to Brandons legacy was the Burlworth Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping underprivileged kids enjoy Arkansas Razorback and Indianapolis Colts games. 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). Draft but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. His story is the subject of movie that debuts Friday called. The press conference will be streamed live. Greater misses key fact. Under the organizations umbrella, there are multiple programs. Some called the Vols lucky after the Arkansas game. You want to just tell the story as if no one had ever heard it before. Tice said he also called then-Hog head coach Danny Ford and asked him to take a look at Brandon. The team broke into laughter. The accident occurred near Alpena, Arkansas, while returning to his old neighborhood. Brandon was elected to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and the UA Letterman's Association Hall of Honor in 2004. Scanlon will be the 14 th recipient of the award, the first being awarded in 2010 to Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt.. A 2-year letterman for the Razorbacks, Kevin . He was able to focus and achieve his primary goals that included earning a master's degree, making All-American and being drafted by an NFL team. He had absolutely no quit in him. The foundation, established in 1999, has several programs that serve children in Arkansas and around the country. The fundraising event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. Its hard not to imagine what might have been had Burlsworth not passed away when he was 22. 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 to his family's home. 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. Im not sure what coach Nutt was thinking about, Ratliff said. After college he became a third-round pick of the Colts. Brandon burlsworth car accident details. He was freak athlete. After his two weeks in Indianapolis, Brandon flew home on April 18, 1999, a Sunday. Our opponents are set! #HistoricHog pic.twitter.com/xBCanCzixz. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. 1. Brandon doesn't start out with all . Inspiring to watch his football and his story change others around him and his journey towards wholeness. I struggled with the same things I think everybody does. Click to reveal 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. All-American ( 1998) 2 First-team All-SEC ( 1997, 1998) Arkansas Razorbacks No. Accordingly, I was thrilled to get him.". Q: When did you realize Brandons story was going to be something that could resonate with people far beyond just Razorback fans? When the 1999 NFL draft rolled around, the Indianapolis Colts made the linemans dreams a reality and selected him with the 63rd-overall pick. All Martin had to do was hand the ball off to running back Travis Henry. Every place starts with a cadence and ends with a whistle. Burlsworth was killed 15 miles from home on a road he had traveled for years when his car drifted into the on coming lane. We reviewed several different scripts over the years, and we also reviewed any revisions that were made of significance. For fans of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Burlsworth has been a household name for years. Cutcliffe decided to do just that. 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 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. Freshmen bring people together with Bison El Puente celebrates National Hispanic Heritage University executes new check-in procedures for Harding students from Florida react to Harding students to participate in business ASI kicks off distinguished lecture series University centers Lectureship around Christ and Q&A with Lisa Williams, ambassador for University celebrates Williams inauguration, Songwriting contest ends in recording workshop. While he received some offers from smaller schools, Burlsworth wanted to go to the University of Arkansas and play for the Razorbacks. Burlsworth was killed in a car accident in 1999 after being drafted . Today, The University of Arkansas has created an endowment in Brandon's name. The NFL Combine begins next week in Indianapolis and will begin to bring more clarity to how teams around the league rate this year's group of draft-eligible quarterbacks. Brandon's Arkansas coach Houston Nutt told Sports Illustrated, "He always did everything exactly right, and I've never known anyone to work as hard.". Stoerner lost his grip as he seemingly laid the ball on the ground. He was already something special, but it would have been something else had he not gone through the injuries he did.. Burlsworth was so much about the right stuff that his dorm bed never was unmade. With a 3.4 grade point average, he earned bachelor's (marketing management) and master's (business administration) degrees at Arkansas before playing his final game. His truck collided with an approaching 18-wheeler causing him to veer into his lane then he crashed with another tractor-trailer head-on. The film shows Brandon receiving a scholarship offer from Arkansas Tech University. The boy was almost 6-foot-4 and tipped the scales at more than 300 pounds. However, he was killedin an automobile accident 11 days after the draft. Dave Hooker started covering Tennessee in 1998. Brandon's vehicle collided with an oncoming 18-wheeler, forcing him to re-enter his lane. "The common . BURLSWORTH, 22, a third-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts on April 17, was driving on U.S. 412 when he became involved in . 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 dies on arkansas highway after head on collision with tractor trailer. Powered by ThinkWeb, THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION'S STUDENT MEDIA NETWORK AT HARDING UNIVERSITY, Faith, Trust and Character: The Life and Legacy of Brandon Burlsworth, Three players lead softball team to terrific start, Track construction nearly complete, ready to host, 22 teams compete in annual pickle ball tournament, Womens and mens tennis teams push through season, Bison baseball kicks off season with five straight wins, Harding softball begins season in Louisiana, Ambassador discusses efforts against human trafficking. MB: Shortly after the accident, we got a call from a national magazine. Known throughout Arkansas, Indianapolis was only getting to know Burlsworth. 1976 April 28, 1999) was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas, on . Brian Reindl, writer and producer of "Greater," said he loved the opportunity to tell such an incredible story in his first-ever production. Brandon Burlsworth was killed in a car accident on April 28th, 1999 while driving back to his hometown when he was near Alpena, Arkansas he got involved in the accident and died on the spot. Brandon Burlsworth rose from a walk-on to a legitimate player at Arkansas University announces student survey results, new Track construction nearly complete, ready to Whataburger celebrates beginning construction on Searcy Harding hosts Arkansas National History Day Students visit historic Little Rock Central Students plan to attend upcoming mission ASI continues distinguished lecture series with Harding to host annual womens conference, Breaking out: University introduces breakout chapels, Construction on Berryhill Park courts continues. What else could I do? There is a much deeper message here. ", "He literally kept his goal focused right behind his nose through his college career.". The lineman had returned from the Colts' weekend minicamp. brandon burlsworth foundation to honor stephens inc. kevin scanlon with legends award You cant control it, Ratliff said. The play was unpredictable, right? During the Razorbacks football history, plenty of great players have hit the gridiron. We certainly didnt write the script, but we felt our opinions were always welcome. We support responsible gambling. Burlsworth was killed 15 miles from home on a road he had traveled for years when his car drifted into the on coming lane. 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. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. 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. If Billy Ratliff is still out here playing, whatever injury I have, it cant be that bad, Coleman said. There were times when he was almost late to games because he would never turn a kid down for an autograph or anything.. 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. However, he was killed in an automobile accident 11 days after the draft. 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. Named an All-American in 1998, he was drafted in 1999 by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round 11 days before being killed in a vehicular accident. Burlsworth died in a car accident on April 28, 1999, and his story of faith and conviction has been gaining recognition in recent years due to various programs and a new biopic called "Greater.". Burlsworth, whose heavy frame and thick, black-rimmed . College GameDay Built by the Home Depot airs Saturday at 9 a.m. That was a caused fumble. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2d144239416bbd Offensive lineman brandon burlsworth went from walk on to all american during his career at arkansas before dying in a car crash just after the 1999 nfl draft. Brandon Burlsworth was the former All-American offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Burlsworth never got to join the Colts, though. Q: What was the relationship like between your brother and folks from Arkansas? Its just amazing to see the impact on these kids lives and the smiles on their faces by introducing them to things that we take for granted.. He was on his way back to Harrison, his hometown, following a workout in Fayetteville. 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. Brandon Burlsworth was in a car accident and was announced dead at the scene on April 28, 1999. I dont want to tell them what to walk away with I want to inspire them through this story.. Brandon and Ed played football together and became very close friends over the years. In the world of sports, there are plenty of iconic underdog stories. UT took over at the Hogs 43-yard line with just 1:43 left. 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. 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. Q: What was your involvement with the movie process from the beginning until now? INDIANAPOLIS By now, Brandon Burlsworth likely would be retired, probably a world champion and former Pro Bowler and, possibly, according to his brother, Marty, headed to Canton, Ohio. Mens cross-country places 11th at regional Christmas Market features student-owned businesses. Once his chance, though, Burlsworth seized his opportunity. After minicamp, he was projected by his coaches to start as a rookie. That Burlsworth was in the accident was completely like the unselfish person who established a cult following while a Razorback. Throughout his football career, Brandon Burlsworth never let adversity stop him from achieving his goals. 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. "When Brandon showed up at the rookie camp, he was even better than I thought he'd be," said Mudd. 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. Brandon vaughn burlsworth 1976 1999 find a grave memorial. Theyd risen to No. 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.. Hes in college at Georgia Southern. Ratliff continued playing football for the love of the game. Not exactly. MB: After Brandons death, it was rough at first and I certainly struggled. "He stayed around the house and left for Fayetteville on Tuesday," Vickie says. Brian Reindl is a real estate developer by trade, but a filmmaker by passion. John E. Hoover can be . 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. We were involved from start to finish in a sort of advisory role. For people unfamiliar with Brandons story, walk us through his development from your perspective. Ratliff pounced on the ball. As of the 2020 census the population stood at 128. At halftime of the team's season-opener against Buffalo, Colts owners Jim and Meg Irsay presented Burlsworth's family and Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles with checks for $5,000 each. (Zac Budman/ESPN), Marty Burlsworth, brother of the late Brandon Burlsworth, is interviewed. 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 . 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. He joined the team as a walk-on and eventually became an All-American . He whipped my butt that whole game, Ratliff said. While his tragic death may have ended his football career, it didnt stop the linemans ability to change the world. Brandon burlsworths first act as a wealthy nfl offensive tackle was going to be to buy himself a bigger. 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. He was killed in a car accident just days after the 1999 NFL Draft. He was made to do it. It was meant to be.. Brandon burlsworth was the former all american offensive lineman for the arkansas razorbacks. During his junior and senior years, his work ethic and focus really kicked in. Burlsworth was killed in a car accident less than two weeks after he was drafted. Turns out, that conversation was all for naught thanks to Billy Ratliff. Burlsworth was killed in a car accident at age 22, 10 days after being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft. 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. After that ran, we began getting calls from Los Angeles about doing a movie. 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."
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