Brandon was killed in a car accident after 11 days of training. Vice President, Business Development. The life of former Arkansas offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth (center), here competing in a 1997 game against Louisiana-Mon- roe, was the subject of the movie . But Brandon would stay on campus, working painting the stadium, setting up dorms, things like that and taking classes. display: none; There will be plenty of coverage of Greater, now in theaters. Every high school football coach in Arkansas has the opportunity to nominate one player from his team. Facebook gives people the power. But Arkansas was the dream. You can cancel at any time. The book, Eyes of a Champion, the Brandon Burlsworth Story, was delivered in 2001. We planned to move out to Indianapolis with him. The team broke into laughter. It's the sophomore from Harrison, Burlsworth.. It was a thrill to see the picture of Marion Motley in your July5th issue (SCORECARD). The accident occurred near Alpena, Arkansas, while returning to his old neighborhood. He was covered in sweat, like he'd come out of the pool. And would you believe it, it was the Indianapolis Colts who took him. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Brandon Aiyuk: Wide Receiver For The San Francisco 49ers, What Classes Should I Take In High School For Aviation, Navigating The Risks Of Adolescence: Exploring The California State University Extended Risk And Wellness Course, Take Your Education To The Next Level: Exploring High School PG Classes, Promoting The Benefits Of High School Business Classes For Student Success, When Is The Best Time To Choose High School Classes? Burlsworth was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the first overall pick of the 1999 NFL Draft. I didnt mean to dismiss Moms concerns, but I just figured there was some sort of reason or explanation. So I did whatever I could to be there for Brandon. It's our right guard, Felker said. Tice said Burlsworth got to the weight room early -- often arriving before the coaches - and stayed late. "They knew Alabama was coming to town. "We attended the First Assembly in Harrison and Brandon was always there, starting at about 10 years old. Less than two weeks before, I had watched as Brandon stood on the front lawn of Moms house and gave interviews to local TV crews about getting picked in the NFL draft. But I wanted to uncover the real story of Brandon's arrival at Arkansas and the first year. 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. I think Brandon would be proud of the work were doing in his name. On April 28, 1999, he died in a car accident. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. He was the middle child of three boys. Garrett, Brown and Burlsworth lettered four straight years, 1995-98. One of my sons, who was in my car with me, started asking what was wrong, what had happened. Then, just a few months later, Brandon was killed in a car accident. That was our first year to start, Brown said. Who is Brandon Burlsworth? He was a two-time state wrestling champion and was also named All-State in football. He became very active in the youth group. Brandon came up to me and asked me if he still had to eat from the green label line. I asked him about the young players, still not with the varsity. That is something that needs to be set straight. Tickets numbering 800 were offered and sold out quickly, and another 200 were quickly sold as well. Garrison Stadium in Harrison, Arkansas, and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. He lost from 309 that first day we weighed him to 252 when we sent them home at Christmas. I tried bringing it up to him again. Coach Ford asks someone would he please do something. It was composed and produced by Brian Reindl and David Hunt. "Others will play guard for us, but we won't replace Burlsworth.". Drew probably prefers Motel 8 because there's more moneyleft in his wallet the next morning. He's in paradise now.''. Burlsworth's hometown preacher, the Rev. Others there included Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles, Razorbacks coach Houston Nutt, former Arkansas coach Danny Ford and Baltimore Colts president Bill Polian. }, First published on April 29, 1999 / 3:58 PM. Morgan Casting Company was hired to cast the film and began holding open casting calls in March 2013 in Fayetteville, Arkansas; Little Rock, Arkansas; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Canton, Mississippi. The Burlsworth family has also started a foundation in Brandons memory, which provides scholarships to young athletes. Brett Hull had about as much control over that puck as I haveover the weather. In the end, Brandon got invited to be a walk-on. ``He was so good and so perfect,'' said Nutt, who met with the team Thursday afternoon. Brandon Burlsworth played for Arkansas from 1995-1998. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. He tragically died in a car accident 11 days after being drafted. After the draft, he spoke to me a lot about helping other kids in Harrison. "I took the player's helmet and put it on," said Tice. Applications must be submitted by school nurses or counselors and are available in English, French, and Spanish. His jersey was retired by the Arkansas Razorbacks in his honor and his locker was displayed in glass for public viewing. I don't know for sure, but I figure that being in the movie came from me. 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. [30] The casting director was Stephanie Holbrook, C.S.A. Greater, a film depicting the life and tragic death of Brandon Burlsworth will be released in theaters on August 26th. So we had guys like Grant Garrett and Russ Brown.. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth (September 20, 1976 - April 28, 1999) was an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1995 to 1998. Greater is a 2016 American biographical sports film directed by David Hunt and starring Christopher Severio as American football player Brandon Burlsworth, a walk-on college player who became an All-American, dying in a car crash 11 days after being drafted high in the 3rd round to the National Football League. He or she works long hours, isexpected to get positive results rehabilitating injuries andmust maintain a solid average in courses like anatomy,physiology and neurological-muscular development.JIM REYNOLDS, Boise, Idaho. Itll be real cool.. [32] However, on January 21, 2016, Hammond Entertainment, LLC announced that the release of Greater would be moved to summer 2016. We put Brandon on a diet, just mainly vegetables, Knight said. ``I used to kid him about being the only guy on campus who wore his car on his back,'' said Russ Brown, who played on the Arkansas Razorback offensive line with Burlsworth for four years. Youll have all your coursework done and can graduate at the end of the year anyway., Yeah, he said with a smile. He started as a walk-on and grew to the anchor of the offensive line. Brandon Burlsworth, a former Arkansas football player, is best known for his time with the Razorbacks from 1995 to 1998. Theres never a day where I dont think about Brandon. I will never forget when Brandon came to school, Knight said. Burlsworth was selected to be of the team captains by his junior season in 1997 for the University of Arkansas. The foundation's logo prominently features Burlsworth's signature black-framed glasses. He was preparing to marry Heather Nichols. We don't own video games, and all of our computergames are either sports related or educational. If it meant bringing a basket of baseballs to the park so he could work on his hitting and pitching, I wanted to be there. Every NFL offensive linemen I've ever had, they ran like that, Horton said. was a wake-up call to thismarried stay-at-home mother of three boys (THE LIFE OF REILLY,June 21). Some things are fuzzy from 20 or 30 years ago, but I remember that pretty well. Is Greater a true story? Boy, did he have the size and did he have the skills. Hes not going down.. Hull's goal was legal. ``There's going to be an award named after him,'' Nutt said, ``but I don't know if anybody could live up to it. His father, Archie, was a truck driver and his mother, Olivia, was a homemaker. Virgil sat down beside me about midway through the workout. Brandon, the officer told us, had collided head-on with a semi. By that point he was about six-foot-two, over 200 pounds and still growing. FAYETTEVILLE There is a great comfort level that Hollywood came close enough on Brandon Burslworth's story in the movie Greater. 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. More than 100 members of Burlsworth's family were present and players from Harrison's football team wore their blue and yellow jerseys. renato's palm beach happy hour Uncovering hot babes since 1919. Recruited walk-on is correct in every sense of that phrase, Horton said. Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt, who coached Burlsworth for just one season, said ``several things'' are being discussed to memorialize Burlsworth. He can really run. with the gold medal on the line!JESSE BERKOWITZ, Fairfield, Iowa. Again, that's a coach hitting it right on the head of the nail. His bench weight was 225 pounds 28 times, his weight was 308 pounds, and he had a slight notch under 6 feet. HEATHER NICHOLS, Everton, Ark. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. A third-round draft choice last month, he was supposed to be getting ready to play for the Indianapolis Colts, blocking for Peyton Manning and opening holes for running backs. A state police report said that, "for unknown reasons," Burlsworth's car drove left of the center line and hit the left front fender of a tractor trailer. Our line coach, Mike Bender, loves the way he moves his feet. They were going to play quickly. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Brandon was home. Get a cover. But Id do anything for that kid. Brown said the movie got it right when they showed Brandon late at night throwing a medicine ball around in the indoor workout area of the Broyles Athletic Center. As an actor, he had several roles and was an All-American in college. He was the first Razorback football player to complete a master's degree before playing in his final game, the 1999 Citrus Bowl. My father didnot let go, but he later said that he would have felt morecomfortable tackling a freight train than Motley.ELIZABETH GREGORY, Arroyo Grande, Calif. You left off one of the most exciting baseball winning streaksof all time: the New York Giants' 16-game streak in 1951, whichstarted when the Giants were 13 1/2 behind the league-leadingBrooklyn Dodgers in early August (Inside Baseball, July 12).Sparked by rookie Willie Mays (stealing third base, above) andled by manager Leo Durocher (2), the Giants caught the Dodgersand forced a playoff series, which the Giants won, thanks toBobby Thomson's three-run homer in the bottom of the ninthinning of the third game.NORMAN GLICKMAN, Lafayette, Calif. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Brandons memory, which provides scholarships to young athletes asks someone would please... Just figured there was some sort of reason or explanation the pool and asked me if he had! Met with the varsity present and players from Harrison 's football team their! In theaters under 6 feet neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a except... 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