He pointed out Burlsworth blocking three on one play. 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. We tell our players that every day of life is a blessing and never take it for granted. At the annual college scouting combine last February, he ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any offensive lineman (4.88 seconds) and had the second-best vertical jump (31 inches). Brown said his skipping a ceremony of self-gratification to attend church was ``typi cal Burls. He was projected to compete for a starting job next season. Alumni and Classmates from Harrison high school indicated additional details about his wound and his demise Later, he drafted. I think I got the message Rick. "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. 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. Knight was on target. We had to have the funeral at the high school gym. 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. I thought I was by watching extra tape. It has nothing to do with Brandon Burslworth. Remember, this was really Danny's first full recruiting class. I'm telling you, I don't remember Brandon at all that first semester, Garrett said. [1] Burlsworth played on two SEC Western Division championship Razorback football teams (1995, 1998). He graduated from Harrison High School and was a recruited walk-on football player at the University of Arkansas. Greater: Directed by David L. Hunt. I go straight to the sports and see if any scholarships were offered. ``(Colts owner) Jim Irsay made it clear to me last night when I delivered the sad news, that Brandon was a Colt and we are going to honor his memory in the appropriate fashion,'' Indianapolis general manager Bill Polian said at a press conference Wednesday. It is the second retired football jersey in school history. This was the dream. And I couldnt wait to be right there with him. FAYETTEVILLE There is a great comfort level that Hollywood came close enough on Brandon Burslworth's story in the movie Greater. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But I wanted to uncover the real story of Brandon's arrival at Arkansas and the first year. Marcus Camby? Nutt said Burlsworth's respect from teammates was evident in that he was elected captain by a landslide. He was a two-time All-American and was the first member of the Arkansas football team to earn a masters degree. He is most famous for his college football career at the University of Arkansas. He said he was, too, as a walk-on. I went over to the Broyles Center at 10:30 one night. Brandon was 22 years old when he died in a car his crash on April 28, 1999. 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. His bench weight was 225 pounds 28 times, his weight was 308 pounds, and he had a slight notch under 6 feet. ``We're in a rah-rah business, and I can put no enthusiasm in my voice,'' said UA sports information director Rick Schaeffer. Burlsworth was lauded by those who knew him as a tireless worker, a perfect gentleman and a strong Christian. You just had to tell him what to do and he'd do it.. Get a cover. MICHAEL. But even Horton admits it took a bit of time before the coaches came to that realization. More than 100 members of Burlsworth's family were present and players from Harrison's football team wore their blue and yellow jerseys. There are about 11,000 people in town and one unspoken rule: If its Friday night, youre going to the Harrison High football game. I remember all of it pretty well, Knight said. ``He had a lot of plans,'' said Brown, a native of Bristow and now a Tulsa resident. I look forward every Thursday to opening my mailbox and seeingwhom you have chosen for the cover. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. I don't think so. "He listened, then just did it," said Tice. Drew probably prefers Motel 8 because there's more moneyleft in his wallet the next morning. Yeah, lets go buy some Colts stuff.. Also not included in the film is that Brandon and Marty also have a brother named Grady. Brandon knew what it was like to be doubted, to be told you werent good enough. Heather Nichols is 48 years old and was born on 11/07/1974. Join the discussion or start a new one on the Forums. They all played in the NFL., Horton hung up the phone, marched down to Ford's office. And I could see a little white car parked in her driveway. We put Brandon on a diet, just mainly vegetables, Knight said. I'll say this, please see the movie. 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. Brandon was home. He said he wanted to hold football camps and bring kids to his NFL games. Please read our Terms of Use or contact us. The film shows Brandon receiving a scholarship offer from Arkansas Tech University. ``Brandon did everything perfectly,'' Nutt said. Tice said he encouraged Burlsworth to accept scholarship offers from smaller schools when he was a senior. Burlsworth was heavily recruited by the University of Arkansas, but he decided to walk-on to the team instead. So by his fourth year at Arkansas, he was already finishing his masters degree. Football career [ edit] Among the ideas: retiring his No. Brandon was selected in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. The 22-year-old Burlsworth, who had been drafted by the Colts 11 days earlier in the wake of gaining first-group All-America respects as a fifth-year senior, was involved with a head-on crash with a tractor-trailer around 15 miles outside Harrison and was killed. Ford immediately called and invited Burlsworth to come back for a visit. Filming began on Monday, May 6, 2013, in Fayetteville, Little Rock, and Farmington, Arkansas, with a six week production shoot. They all reported together in the fall of 1994, and all redshirted. The family was given a check for $10,000. [21], The Brandon Burlsworth Football Camps are for children going into third grade through ninth grade. Brandon Burlsworth was born on September 20, 1976, in Harrison, Arkansas. For most of us it is a mindless thing to do, making an eye appointment. Join the discussion or start a new one on the Forums. He started as a walk-on and grew to the anchor of the offensive line. But I knew we still needed a scholarship. As a faith antagonist, Nick Searcy plays a whittling farmer, who filmmakers believe must represent a message. 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. Brandon Burlsworth was a walk-on offensive tackle at the University of Arkansas when he joined the team. Greater's notice grows on Netflix. Those players receive a plaque and a copy of "Through the Eyes of A Champion, the Brandon Burlsworth Story," autographed by Brandon's mother, Barbara Burlsworth. There was a time not that long before when he was a 6-foot, 160-pound high school freshman, a "big, gangly kid" who . All season I watched as goal after goal was disallowed when anoffensive player had so much as a toenail in the crease. According to sources, he was focused on his professional progress and awaiting the right time to reveal his relationship. He joined the team as a walk-on and eventually became an All-American . The coaches would talk about him. Brandon Burlsworth went from freshman walk-on to an All-American at Arkansas before being the Colts' third-round pick in 1999. All of those in my interview will get together Saturday for a special screening of the movie. It's our right guard, Felker said. Now, if you find yourself at that Colts shop, I told him, You make sure and get us some gear this time.. He was in the prime of his football career. But almost every boy growing up in the state wants to be a Razorback. The day of Brandon's funeral was the day Brandon and I hadplanned to pick out our engagement rings. An incident like this brings that message home. ``He was the first in the weight room and the last off the field. Garrett, Brown and Burlsworth lettered four straight years, 1995-98. display: none; If it was green label, Brandon could eat it. Burlsworth was also Arkansas' first All-American player since 1993 and was also on the All-SEC Academic Honor Roll from 1995 to 1998. 1999 The Associated Press. The man trying to tackle himin the picture is my father, Gail Bruce. ", Nutt mixed amusing stories about Burlsworth in his emotional talk. Brandon belonged on that field, and he knew it. The team broke into laughter. 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! He was returning from a church trip with his mother and was about to tie the knot with Heather Nichols. Opposing teams made game plans just to handle Brandon. The book was re-released in August 2016 as a tie-in with the movie, renamed Greater: The Brandon Burlsworth Story. Virgil sat down beside me about midway through the workout. "They knew Alabama was coming to town. Interestingly, Garrett and Brown didn't see it as soon as their coaches. He wont be going down., Well, thats good, he said, sort of laughing. Thats what its all about: What you do while you were here. He was covered in sweat, like he'd come out of the pool. It is not the type ending to the story that I wanted," Tice said. He graduated from high school in 1994 and was recruited as a football player for the University of Arkansas. We wanted Brandon. He's a heckuva player and he might be an All-American before he's done.. John Ed Bradley's article on Brandon Burlsworth should be passedaround and read by everyone, not just by athletes (AlmostPerfect, June 28). Thats the dream. In reality he also had one from Henderson State University. 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. His promotional fact sheet said coaches told Brandon he was not good enough to get the opportunity to play.. He walked in and it was the Pillsbury Doughboy. Children are given a chance to learn from former Razorbacks. In a few weeks hed be heading back. He was Arkansas's first All-American player since 1993 and their first player selected to a first-team squad since 1989. Mike Huckabee sent a letter to the Burlsworth family. The Colts retired his jersey number, 77, and created the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the nations most outstanding collegiate walk-on. Boy, did he have the size and did he have the skills. Day of Brandon 's arrival at Arkansas before being the Colts & # x27 ; third-round pick in heather nichols brandon burlsworth. The right time to reveal his relationship as a walk-on and grew the. Movie Greater his NFL games, Garrett said this was really Danny first! He walked in and it was the Pillsbury Doughboy '' said Tice he walked and!, rewritten, or redistributed not good enough to get the opportunity to..... And Brown did n't see it as soon as their coaches Indianapolis Colts that I wanted to the! Discussion or start a new one on the All-SEC Academic Honor Roll from 1995 to 1998 wanted to hold camps... 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