Join the discussion or start a new one on the Forums. So I started calling coaches and seeing where he could play. It breaks my heart that millions of readers will get to know an individual of Brandon Burlsworth's character not during his life but after his death. A pro team trainer's day typically startsat 5:30 a.m. and stretches into the evening. Burlsworth, 22, died 10 days after his selection on April 28, 1999, in a car crash in Arkansas. But almost every boy growing up in the state wants to be a Razorback. She called me just before six oclock, with panic and worry in her voice. Rest in peace, Brandon.DAVE SISTARO, Staten Island, N.Y. 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. Time and the Lord take care of those things, but the immediate aftermath is very tough to deal with.''. There are about 11,000 people in town and one unspoken rule: If its Friday night, youre going to the Harrison High football game. The Christian organization's mission is to support the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those children who have limited opportunities. He was Arkansas's first All-American player since 1993 and their first player selected to a first-team squad since 1989. We want Brandon here, but if he cant handle it I can see what I can do to get him to a smaller school, he said. A college-studenttrainer has it even tougher. [6], Shortly after his death, Burlsworth's jersey number, 77, was permanently retired in a ceremony at Arkansas's first home game of the 1999 season. As I look at the first photo in thearticle, I can only hope the "free-spirited" Brister is smartenough to start wearing a helmet when he's driving hisall-terrain vehicle.MARK ROWAN, Pittston, Pa. Emanuel Yarbrough's agent has it figured all wrong (SCORECARD,June 28). Before I leave the remarkable legacy of Harrison's Brandon Burlsworth and the film of his life called , now showing in nearly 400 theaters across America, I want to share a few back-story notes. I'm now asking myself why we acceptviolence as a part of sports. 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 . I never used to worry before Brandon died. To givethe Stars the Cup on a clearly illegal goal is atrocious. Not like my younger brother Brandon. But the mostimportant thing that Brandon would want everyone to know is thaton the day of his death, he was prepared. Itll be real cool.. We went together every time. Outside candidates. With that, Felker put on a tape. If it was green label, Brandon could eat it. "Others will play guard for us, but we won't replace Burlsworth.". Brandon was selected in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Again, that's a coach hitting it right on the head of the nail. I thought, 'Man, this guy is giving effort still.' He joined the team as a walk-on and eventually became an All-American . Boy, did he have the size and did he have the skills. He's a heckuva player and he might be an All-American before he's done.. At the point when he hadn't shown up by 4, Brandon's brother, Marty got a concerned call from his mother and went to her home. I did chuckle when I got a release from a public relations man in Los Angeles touting the movie with a bad fact. Brandon Burlsworth, a former Arkansas football player, is best known for his time with the Razorbacks from 1995 to 1998. He was in the prime of his football career. The press release stated that the change was due to "[o]verwhelming positive response from screening audiences and the desire of a national theater chain to show it in more locations". Then, just a few months later, Brandon was killed in a car accident. 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. Tommy Tice, Brandon's high school coach at Harrison, said most people couldn't know that Brandon had etched the noseband of his trademark black-rim glasses with the words "All-American. The students are selected by the University of Arkansas Scholarship Committee and are recognized in a ceremony in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I was high as a kite. All season I watched as goal after goal was disallowed when anoffensive player had so much as a toenail in the crease. Is Greater a true story? "There wasn't a better person than Brandon Burlsworth," Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said. Brandon was selected in the third round, 63rd overall, by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft. All Rights Reserved. He died instantly. Exploring Factors To Consider. This was the dream. In the end, Brandon got invited to be a walk-on. 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. We don't own video games, and all of our computergames are either sports related or educational. I'm not sure where Reilly thinksthese kids grew up, but I'd sure like his seats the next timeWebber's Kings go against Spree's Knicks if he's too scared towatch.ERIC M. JAFFE, Potomac, Md. The day of Brandon's funeral was the day Brandon and I hadplanned to pick out our engagement rings. He walked in and it was the Pillsbury Doughboy. Tice said Burlsworth got to the weight room early -- often arriving before the coaches - and stayed late. I must have been taking my nap when the rule was published thatathletes were supposed to be saints. He ran it inside in a hallway I think. The coach said he managed to get back to his feet, still surrounded by the team. But as good as he was, Brandon was also a late bloomer he was only 17 his senior year and he was still a little undersized for college ball. We played against each other our senior years and I know we beat them. Those were true words.. #inline-recirc-item--id-b47cc06a-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { "I sent one of those shirts to the funeral home and Brandon was buried in it," said Barbara. On April 28, 1999, he died in a car accident. If not, he couldn't. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. [citation needed], The Brandon Burlsworth Championship Award is presented at the Arkansas state football championship games to one player from each team for conduct above and beyond expectations. It was at an October practice that first fall. The note arrived on the day Brandon died. ", Tammy and Danny Roth of Harrison were friends of the Burlsworths. Brandon Burlsworth was 22 years old when he died in a car accident. --MATT KARIS, Brooklyn, The dilemma of Milwaukee Brewers catcher David Nilsson--whetherto play for Australia at the Sydney Olympics--made me wonder whybaseball isn't a Winter Olympics sport (Another Home Run? He had just finished his rookie season with the Indianapolis Colts, and had recently signed a 3-year, $1.8 million contract extension. Brandon Burlsworth, NFL player. Every high school football coach in Arkansas has the opportunity to nominate one player from his team. Facebook gives people the power. I remember all of it pretty well, Knight said. And the only thing bigger than high school football in Harrison or anywhere else in Arkansas is Razorback football. Brown is going. I could not believe what Isaw on the June 28 issue. [31], The movie was originally scheduled for a release date of January 29, 2016. He never even got to wear his Citrus Bowl ring. 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 children are given an official "Burls Kid" T-shirt and replica glasses similar to those Brandon wore on the field. 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. I let out a little sigh of relief. Heather's classes are empowering like nothing you will ever encounter. Although he never played a down in the NFL, he had impressed Mudd enough during mini-camp that the. He said he was, too, as a walk-on. On stage near the casket was Burlsworth's No. Interestingly, Garrett and Brown didn't see it as soon as their coaches. 1999 The Associated Press. By that point he was about six-foot-two, over 200 pounds and still growing. Maybe they knew by the time Felker knew, but they don't even remember Burslworth in the freshman locker room. The production designer was Lucio Seixas, and the costume designer was Keri Lee Doris. The Brandon Burlsworth Award is given out yearly to one male and one female athlete at Harrison High School and the University of Arkansas who best exemplify the strength of character and work ethic known as "The Burls Way". Arlis Thrasher, said the couple was to have spent Saturday picking out wedding rings. 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. He couldn't go anywhere without signing autographs, which never bothered him. And boy, was he soaking it in. You can cancel at any time. Opposing teams made game plans just to handle Brandon. 12 Tennessee imposed its will against Arkansas on Tuesday night in , Hear from Eric Musselman and Ricky Council after the Razorbacks' loss at , ( In reality he also had one from Henderson State University. Football career [ edit] He was preparing to marry Heather Nichols. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. If its difficult to describe the love for a brother, its impossible to explain the loss of a brother. I was high as a kite. [12] He was buried on May 2, 1999, in Gass Cemetery in Omaha, Arkansas. Livestock. You find yourself squinting to see . Of course, we didn'tknow it would happen, but Brandon knew all his life that God hadplaced His hand upon him and that he would be nowhere withoutGod. Win the World Series? Thielemann. The book was re-released in August 2016 as a tie-in with the movie, renamed Greater: The Brandon Burlsworth Story. 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 Burlsworth was a talented American football player who played as an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1995 to 1998. Tice also told of a time when he'd become agitated with another lineman during practice and told the team to watch. One was center Jay Leeuwenberg. ``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. Hell show up and everything will be fine.. Vice President, Business Development. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth. He graduated last December, in just 4-1/2 years, with a master's degree in business administration. Tice said the school will go ahead with plans it made before Burlsworth's death to hold a day in his honor next week. Of course, he was my brother and you do anything for family, but things were a little tougher for him. The book contains a foreword by former University of Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles and was the inspiration for a movie (see below). And would you believe, all these NFL agents started flying into Harrison wanting to sign Brandon. It's just hard to believe this happened. I asked Barbara about what her son's faith meant to him. I opened the door to Moms house and she was in a state. He said he wanted to hold football camps and bring kids to his NFL games. Bang, what a great assessment that turned out to be. [3], After his career with the Razorbacks, Burlsworth was invited to the NFL combine. If it meant going over to Moms house to help him with homework, I wanted to be there. Russ and I have talked about one thing that they got wrong.. He'd worked to find some linemen. He didnt take one summer off the entire time he was at Arkansas. Remember, this was really Danny's first full recruiting class. display: none; In 2001, the book Through the Eyes of a Champion: The Brandon Burlsworth Story, written by Jeff Kinley, was released. I look forward every Thursday to opening my mailbox and seeingwhom you have chosen for the cover. The Burlsworth family has also started a foundation in Brandons memory, which provides scholarships to young athletes. He was my brother and I just wanted everything for him. Win the Super Bowl? "They knew Alabama was coming to town. Burlsworth ran a 40-yard touchdown in 4.88 seconds during the combine, more than any other player. Filming began on Monday, May 6, 2013, in Fayetteville, Little Rock, and Farmington, Arkansas, with a six week production shoot. [34][35] Northwest Arkansas television station Fox 24 (KFTA) ran a story with details about an advance screening which was held on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, at Malco Razorback 16 theater in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with a question and answer session after the movie.[36]. Please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance. Now, you don't know if he is going to make it, but you knew then that he had a chance because it's a sure indicator of athletic ability.. That is something that needs to be set straight. Heather Nichols lives in Springdale, AR; previous city include Lawrence KS. I was on that trip, he said. He just never sought the limelight. He's been struggling, but we hope he can make it. He can really run. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at the gymnasium at Harrison High School. The story of Brandon Burlsworth, possibly the greatest walk-on in the history of college football. 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. At 63, Burlsworth was not the biggest player on the team, but he quickly earned the respect of his teammates with his hard work and dedication. A film about Brandon's existence with the working title "Greater" was shot in 2013 and was released as a feature movie on August 26, 2016. Whether Im driving around town, past the baseball park where we used to play catch, past the Razorbacks signs on front lawns, I feel his presence. Brandon Burlsworth played for Arkansas from 1995-1998. I fear our support of the Kingsand excitement over their advancement to the playoffs cloudedour better judgment. Yet Ford agreed to let Brandon show up as a "preferred walk-on.". With Neal McDonough, Leslie Easterbrook, Christopher Severio, Michael Parks. -- Saturday was the day Brandon Burlsworth and his fiancee were going to shop for wedding rings. As we walked by one of the pro shops, we joked to each other. Dang, Marty, what have you been feedin that boy?. Brandon did not get married before he passed away when he was only twenty-two years old. Burlsworth, 22, was a third-round draft choice (63rd overall) of the Indianapolis Colts just two weeks ago and he and his brother and agent, Marty Burlsworth, were negotiating a contract. And whatabout Joe Nieuwendyk's winning the Conn Smythe Trophy afterhaving ACL replacement surgery on both knees only a year earlier?JOHN ANDERSON, Austin. Yeah, lets go buy some Colts stuff.. Now, if you find yourself at that Colts shop, I told him, You make sure and get us some gear this time.. He liked doing it.''. He was coveted by UA coaches. After he redshirted his first year (1994), he transformed his pudgy 300lb (140kg) frame into a svelte 260lb (120kg), and, over the next two years, built himself back up to a muscular 300lb (140kg) offensive guard. So a few months after his death, we started the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, where we do all of that and more. [9], Eleven days after being drafted, Burlsworth was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas, on April 28, 1999, on his way back to his hometown of Harrison after a workout in Fayetteville. But as it got later in the evening and Mom got more and more worked up, I hopped into my own car to head over and see if we could find out what had happened. But that heart and desire is what separated him from the others," Tice said. I couldn't believe the quotes from J.D. Then cast your vote, Bruce Springsteen adds to mythology with three-hour show at Tulsa's BOK Center, State board approves new academic standards with Ryan Walters' last-minute revisions, More than 800 Oklahoma medical marijuana farms linked to organized crime, drug agency says, Bill Haisten: A massive event NCAA wrestling in downtown Tulsa, OU athletics director Joe Castiglione on SEC transition; OU-Texas afternoon kickoff; Kyler Murray statue and more. "Brandon was such a humble person who cared about and respected others," she continued. It started with a phone call from Henderson State head coach Ronnie Kerr. [28] The book was praised for its authentic and inspirational portrayal of Brandon's story. He was also named to the All-SEC Academic Honor Roll every year from 19951998. Brown did n't see it heather nichols brandon burlsworth soon as their coaches player selected a. Buried on may 2, 1999, in a ceremony in Fayetteville, Arkansas he! 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