"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." His heart weighed a good part of that. Marty and Vickie Burlsworth said they thought Greater was a fantastic rendering of what was important to Brandon. Brandon burlsworth a second team all america guard who was recently drafted by the indianapolis colts was killed last night when his car collided with a tractor trailer rig near carrolton ark. Considering the medical issues, an NFL career wasnt likely in the works. The story of Brandon Burlsworth is one of the most amazing in football history. 1. Stoerner lost his grip as he seemingly laid the ball on the ground. If Billy Ratliff is still out here playing, whatever injury I have, it cant be that bad, Coleman said. 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. He had absolutely no quit in him. Brandon sure left an indelible impression on me.". That was Brandons example He could have thought of himself as a big star, but he was guided by his faith and love for his family., The Link Network is a product of the Department of Communication at Harding University. Brandon's family established an establishment in 1999 to respect him. 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.". Billy was great. 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. This is a movie not just for football fans but for everyone. He earned first-team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998; he was also named a first-team All-American during the 1998 campaign. Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson advanced Tuesday to a runoff election as they seek to become the Windy City's next mayor, putting an end to incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot's one-term tenure leading the city amid an unprecedented crime wave.. Who are the two candidates looking to come out on top in the April 4 runoff election? Its hard not to imagine what kind of player Ratliff would have been had he not been injured so often. Accordingly, I was thrilled to get him.". Now, you can't control who your mom and daddy is, but you can control how hard you work. To this day, I still think if he would have fulfilled (his career), wed be talking All-Pro and Hall of Fame Brandon Burlsworth right now., NEXT: David Cutcliffe throws Vols a curveball just before National Championship Game. "I liked him so much that I used him as the barometer for the rest of the players I evaluated that year. Sports betting in Tennessee officially launched on November 1, 2020, and many of the largest sportsbooks are live and operating in the volunteer state. Brandon burlsworth dies on arkansas highway after head on collision with tractor trailer. Thats one of those that I would have loved to have seen his career if he had not been injured. 'Burls Kids' is a program where youngsters attend Colts and Razorbacks games, and the foundation conducts camps and prep football awards. Sow with thought, you reap in action. 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. Its very possible the two would have had many more epic battles in the NFL. After college he became a third-round pick of the Colts. Fate intervened. After working 11 years on his Brandon Burlsworth biopic Greater, Reindl is within days of seeing his dream project open on 400 to 450 screens across the Southeast, Midwest and Southwest next week.. Burlsworth was an All-American football player for the University of Arkansas, who died tragically in an automobile . I promise you that ball seemed like it was there for 5 or 6 seconds.. The Vols won eight consecutive games to start the 1998 season before they hosted Arkansas. Miranda Valles, 21, died in a motorcycle accident over the weekend on I-290. And I just thought it was a devastatingly tragic story but also an inspiring one., Watch the story behind GREATER. He continued to grow and was a good 6-foot-2, 260 pounds in his senior season. He went to Harrison High School and graduated from there. Sure enough, it happened. Under the organizations umbrella, there are multiple programs. Brandon burlsworth car accident details. Q: What was your involvement with the movie process from the beginning until now? Instead, the dreams of a family and the promise of an NFL career were cut short tragically when Burlsworth was killed 15 years ago today in a car accident as he headed home to Harrison, Arkansas. Q: Brandons life seemed to have incredible highs and lows. Unfortunately, Brandon was tragically killed in a head-on automobile collision just 11 days after the draft. His story is the subject of movie that debuts Friday calledGreater.. 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 write-up continued. I will never do better, and I am at peace with that. 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.. On the line, Tarik Glenn and Adam Meadows were at tackles. Steve McKinney was one guard. Jeff Saturday was a street free agent, and Burlsworth could have helped the guard position for years. Oh well, it was a great run. We certainly didnt write the script, but we felt our opinions were always welcome. "The connection with the Colts now is just what we want it to be. It's almost like it was at Arkansas," said Marty. "When you go on their campus, it feels like family because we know so many people. It feels that way with the Colts. 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 11,000. Hes in college at Georgia Southern. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. https://t.co/0d1lDS8ST3, Chris Jones (@EnswellJones) August 29, 2019, Tragic what happened to him. He was on his way back to Harrison, his hometown, following a workout in Fayetteville. We didnt really get a chance until the end of the game.. 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. He walked onto the team and, despite spending a season as a redshirt on the scout team, proved his worth; ahead of his sophomore year, the offensive lineman had earned a scholarship. Hate to see Desir be the victim lol. A&P Commission approves funding for robotics Campus Life introduces Cotton Candy Friday. There is a much deeper message here. He went to Harrison High School and graduated from there. Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft, but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. Dave Hooker started covering Tennessee in 1998. 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. For people unfamiliar with Brandons story, walk us through his development from your perspective. If you feel like you're losing control over your gambling experience, call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA, WV), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-888- 532-3500(Virginia) 1-800-522-4700 (NV, TN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO, TN), 1-855-2CALLGA (IL), 1-800-270-7117 (MI). Turns out, that conversation was all for naught thanks to Billy Ratliff. "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.". This is an inspirational film, and I believe its a film you will want to see over and over again. Cast [ edit] While he received some offers from smaller schools, Burlsworth wanted to go to the University of Arkansas and play for the Razorbacks. Had he joined the Indianapolis Colts, Brandon Burlsworth probably would have made quite the impact on the football field. Do it the Burls way: Have character. It was tough. 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? He was drafted in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft to protect oddly enough former Vol quarterback Peyton Manning. Ratliff saw both luck and destiny in the play that would make him a Tennessee football folk hero. Do it the right way when no one else is looking. He died in a car crash on April 28, 1999, shortly after he was drafted by the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. State police Cpl. Brandon had always dreamed of playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks, but was considered too short and too fat to play Division I. Undeterred, Brandon took a big risk and walked on in 1994. . "Then I turned around and the next player I faced was Brandon. Personal Life & Death. I, for one, didnt know about it, and anyone Ive talked about it with didnt either, so I dont think you try to get too outside the box in your thinking. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Your IP: 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. Burlsworth 22 a third round draft pick of the indianapolis colts on april 17 was driving on us. Until that point in the game, he had his way with the Vols, including Ratliff. When its your time, its your time. You can say that if you werent a part of it and you didnt see what I saw. Another trait that set Brandon apart was his respectful devotion to doing whatever authority figures asked of him. Q: What was the relationship like between your brother and folks from Arkansas? Every national championship team that ever played college football has to have a little luck sometime. Q: When did you realize Brandons story was going to be something that could resonate with people far beyond just Razorback fans? Id never heard it before. 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. [3] "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.". The Comfort Inn's scrolling marquee was simple, but also eerie: ``Remember Brandon Burlsworth,'' followed by the time and temperature. He was killed in a car accident just days after the 1999 NFL Draft. We always beat those guys. 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. MB: Shortly after the accident, we got a call from a national magazine. Burlsworth, whose heavy frame and thick, black-rimmed . Brandon was very undersized as a freshman and sophomore, a skinny kid. If it does not offend you, then you should enjoy it. His truck then collided with another tractor-trailer. #biGTime #TogetherWeSwarm https://t.co/Ak89larnux, Following a resignation for personal misconduct and an NCAA show-cause penalty, he finds a home at the conservative Christian school in Virginia. "I kept coming back to comparisons with Brandon. 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 . Think about how much it must have hurt Russell to keep this secret, and how much he's risking by coming out now while trying to revive his NFL career. He walked on to the University of Arkansas to become the first All-American from that program in a decade. "If God ever made the perfect person, it was that guy," said then teammate Sacha Lancaster to Sport Illustrated. Burlsworth was a walk-on offensive lineman at the University of Arkansas who, throughout his career at Arkansas, went from being a red-shirt out-of-shape freshman to a player that the Indianapolis Colts would draft. Rivers and Steichen worked together with the Chargers, while Turner gave Steichen his first opportunity in the NFL. (NWA Media). He had fresh legs and blew up the play., After the Arkansas game, we knew that was our moment.. That has to be the bittersweet part for Ratliff. Tee came off the field and Billy told him, Hey man, dont put your helmet away. The now-retired Mudd could be forgiven if he could not remember Burlsworth vividly. 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. Brandon burlsworth was the former all american offensive lineman for the arkansas razorbacks. Burlsworth was killed in a car accident less than two weeks after he was drafted. Before he ever hit the gridiron, though, the lineman tragically died in an offseason accident. The Indianapolis Colts wore his initials, BB, on their helmets for the 1999 season. 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. "At Arkansas the coaches told him one day his legs could be stronger. Well, he ends up squatting 700 pounds.". "GREATER" tells the story of Burlsworth, a former college walk-on, who would go on to earn All-America honors at the . 412 when he became involved in the crash with two tractor trailers officials said. Burlsworth, 22, died 10 days after his selection on April 28, 1999, in a car crash in Arkansas. I was high as a kite. They award eighteen $5,000 academic scholarships, and one $10,000 Walk-0n athletic scholarship each year. It was an interesting set of play calls for Cutcliffe, who is widely considered a quarterback and passing game guru. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. 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. After his time at the University of Arkansas ended, Brandon Burlsworth seemed poised to realize his NFL dreams. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth. Steichen's creativity and flexibility shined when the Eagles came to Indianapolis in Week 11 of the 2022 season. Please enjoy the peak of my journalistic career. Literally. John E. Hoover can be . During the Razorbacks football history, plenty of great players have hit the gridiron. He died in a car crash on april 28 1999 shortly after he was drafted by the nfls indianapolis colts. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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. 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. While his tragic death may have ended his football career, it didnt stop the linemans ability to change the world. Burlsworth was killed in a car accident less than two weeks after he was drafted. I struggled with the same things I think everybody does. 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. At the combine, Burlsworth topped all linemen with a 4.88 40-yard dash. He bench pressed 225 pounds 28 times, weighed 308 pounds and measured a slight notch below 6-4. 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. Also not included in the film is that Brandon and Marty also have a brother named Grady. He was freak athlete. He was in the prime of his football career. 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. That wouldnt be the case. 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. They added that they hope the movie raises awareness for what they are trying to do with their foundation and helps make the Burlsworth name synonymous with strong character. Throughout his football career, Brandon Burlsworth never let adversity stop him from achieving his goals. In this 1999 photo, the locker of Brandon Burlsworth is seen encased in glass in the locker room at the University of Arkansas. But Arkansas was the dream. Tice also told of a time when he'd become agitated with another lineman during practice and told the team to watch. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Reindl went on to say that the 11 years spent making the movie were not about personal glory, but about telling a great story of faith and trust and how to apply them in everyday life. He made close friends with Ed Robinson, who was a bit older. . There was only one problem. Billy Ratliff was right next to me, Wilson said. "When Brandon showed up at the rookie camp, he was even better than I thought he'd be," said Mudd. Burlsworth, 22, a third-round draft pick from Arkansas, was killed in a car crash less than a half-hour from home Wednesday. He never got there, dying in. HEATHER NICHOLS, Everton, Ark. All Martin had to do was hand the ball off to running back Travis Henry. Two months after the accident, Harrison football coach Tommy Tice told Sports Illustrated, "You had to be careful what you told Brandon. Brandon believed whatever his coach, his mother and his preacher told him was right. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. I dont want to tell them what to walk away with I want to inspire them through this story.. He became very active in the youth group. The fundraising event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. 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. He made himself into a player by just working harder than everyone else. "No problem, I'm used to it," quipped Burlsworth, who popped the lens of his eyeglasses out and smiled away. Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. 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. One of the most unusual aspects of the Arkansas fumble is that Ratliff shouldnt have been in the game at all. 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. However, the player some consider the best walk-on in college football history was tragically killed in a car accident just 11 days later. Brandon was a walk on turned All American at the University of Arkansas. Ratliff and Coleman were suite mates, so they knew each other well off the field. Im going to try jump the snap, get off the ball as quick as possible and Im going to put my hand straight on his chest and run him through the goalpost, Ratliff said recently when asked what he remembered about the play that would most define UTs national championship season. Burlsworth first caught the eye of Mudd at the Senior Bowl, just prior to the Combine. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 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 notes about the 22-year-old Razorback All-American who died in a tragic traffic accident on April 28, 1999. Thats the way I went about it.. "There are people in the organization we feel close to. I'm still asked by people in Harrison about the Colts, and I tell them about our close relationship to this day. Arkansas is impressed with the Colts, no doubt about that.". MB: After Brandons death, it was rough at first and I certainly struggled. 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. 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 . The more the "farmer" talked to Marty about faith and religion and making him doubt the more detailed it became. 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. "Brandon Burlsworth was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the 63rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft. While Ratliffs NFL future was never a realistic option because of his myriad injuries, Burlsworth had an incredibly bright future ahead of him. Burlsworth was killed 15 miles from home on a road he had traveled for years when his car drifted into the on coming lane. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the 3rd round of the 1999 NFL draft, but sadly, after eleven days, he was involved in a road accident. Shane Steichen quarterbacked Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado, Calif., where he teamed up with future Colts wide receiver Austin Collie. He declined both, insisting instead on joining the Razorbacks as a walk-on. Ratliff replaced fellow defensive lineman Jeff Coleman, who was suffering from cramps on the sideline when Ratliffe made history. Brandon burlsworths first act as a wealthy nfl offensive tackle was going to be to buy himself a bigger. . A mother losing a child at that young age, it was tough. The Colts also announced all members of the team will have a special decal on their helmets in a tribute to Burlsworth. Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at the University of Arkansas in 1994. As UTs defense tried to hold on, quarterback Tee Martin and UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe were devising a drive in which theyd have very little time left if they got the ball back at all. In Anticipation Of UFC 285 On ESPN+ PPV Saturday, Four Experts Weighed In, ESPNs Renewal Of Three-Year Formula 1 Deal Is Off To A Roaring Start, Starting Five: NBA Today and NBA Countdowns Malika Andrews. 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. However, every time he thinks of the fumble, its hard not to think of Burlsworth. 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. Brandon's vehicle collided with an oncoming 18-wheeler, forcing him to re-enter his lane. It was a crazy play. I remember Al on the sideline screaming at us and telling us, We cant lose to Arkansas, Ratliff said. During his UT career, Ratliff suffered a severe neck injury, two torn knee ligaments and serious shin splints. 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. 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. 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 was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth. In the world of sports, there are plenty of iconic underdog stories. Brandon said, 'Yes, sir.' Hereof, what year did Brandon Burlsworth die? Said Fulmer, Anybody that loves football would love that. He went to mini-camp, but was killed a few days . We had never had a problem with anybody in the SEC but Florida. We reviewed several different scripts over the years, and we also reviewed any revisions that were made of significance. 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. "He always said there would be time for girls later, but he had things he needed to accomplish first," said his mother, Barbara Burlsworth, a Harrison Realtor. ", "He literally kept his goal focused right behind his nose through his college career.". 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