} -- Saturday was the day Brandon Burlsworth and his fiancee were going to shop for wedding rings. Sure, bring him on up for a game, he said. [1] Burlsworth played on two SEC Western Division championship Razorback football teams (1995, 1998). He was covered in sweat, like he'd come out of the pool. He was a walk-on who became an All-American and was drafted in the 3rd round of the NFL draft by the Colts. There are a few things that aren't right in the movie. Burlsworth attended Harrison High School, where he played football and wrestled. That's when the offer to walk-on came. Brandon Burlsworth was only 22 years old when he died. Harrison High School football coach Tommy Tice recalled that Burlsworth started slow, but his character carried him through. 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. Brown doesn't remember Brandon that first semester, either. Coach Ford didn't say please to anyone.. 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. I think Brandon would be proud of the work were doing in his name. A pro team trainer's day typically startsat 5:30 a.m. and stretches into the evening. Is Greater a true story? It started with a phone call from Henderson State head coach Ronnie Kerr. Arkansas doesnt have a pro football team I dont even know if a pro team could survive here. 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. I told them about it in that interview.. [28] The book was praised for its authentic and inspirational portrayal of Brandon's story. Brandon was killed in a car accident after 11 days of training. Drew about merelywanting to play ball (INSIDE BASEBALL, June 28). #inline-recirc-item--id-b47cc06a-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { 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. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth (September 20, 1976 April 28, 1999) was an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1995 to 1998. Coach Bender, our O-line coach, thinks he can come, Garrett said. I can't wait, Brown said. I also remember that they weighed him. The Foundation aids in the meeting of childrens spiritual and physical needs by providing funds to those who are impoverished. [2], Burlsworth graduated in 1998 from the University of Arkansas with a B.A. I'll say this, please see the movie. We tell our players that every day of life is a blessing and never take it for granted. Burlsworth was selected to be of the team captains by his junior season in 1997 for the University of Arkansas. Maybe they knew by the time Felker knew, but they don't even remember Burslworth in the freshman locker room. ``He was the type of person that you didn't get to know, but you knew you wanted to get to know him,'' Leeuwenberg said. Arlis Thrasher, said the couple was to have spent Saturday picking out wedding rings. I was 16 years older than Brandon, so I was already out of the house, married and raising my own boys by the time he was of any age. We needed Brandon.. If not, he couldn't. p. 1226. He was preparing to marry Heather Nichols. If its difficult to describe the love for a brother, its impossible to explain the loss of a brother. The family was given a check for $10,000. Burlsworth attended Harrison High School where he was an All-State selection. '', Said Schaeffer, ``He's in a lot better place than the rest of us. But I wanted to uncover the real story of Brandon's arrival at Arkansas and the first year. It goes beyond words. There are about 11,000 people in town and one unspoken rule: If its Friday night, youre going to the Harrison High football game. Knight is a Fayetteville home builder now. By his senior year, Brandon was an all-conference and all-state player and played in the states All-Star Game. Harrison, Arkansas, is about as small town as it gets. It's great. Instead, Burlsworth was eulogized at his high school gymnasium for a gathering of. And he justdominatedon the field didnt matter if he was on defense or offense. MICHAEL. Burlsworths car crossed the center line and struck the tractor trailers left front fender. I came out of the cafeteria and he was sitting on a concrete wall. He ran it inside in a hallway I think. Brandon knew what it was like to be doubted, to be told you werent good enough. But Burlsworth had more to his life than football. 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. He joined the team as a walk-on and eventually became an All-American. I've seen the movie. He had a master's degree in business administration and was the first Arkansas player in school history to get an advanced degree before playing his last game. 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 body was laid to rest in Gass Cemetery in Omaha, Arkansas, on May 2, 1999. Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt, who coached Burlsworth for just one season, said ``several things'' are being discussed to memorialize Burlsworth. We didnt expect Brandon to go real high, and we had been told that he wouldnt. '', ``From everything we could see,'' said Polian, ``Brandon represented everything we want in a Colts uniform.''. To this day, people tell me where they were when they heard the news. I want him here, buthellknow andwellknow., Coach, dont worry about it. First, Brandons older brother, Bart, was diagnosed with cancer. Brandon was ready to do back flips if he didn't have to eat from the green label trays anymore. As of the 2020 census the population stood at 128. Just remember this, Brandon Burlsworth was wanted at Arkansas. Brandon Burlsworth bulked himself up to 300 lbs to be an offensive guard and by his sophomore season in 1996, he had earned a scholarship and a starting position at right guard on the offensive line. And I remembered to do what other agents had advised me to do, I kept multiple lines open. "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. He bench-pressed 225 pounds 28 times, weighed 308 pounds, and measured slightly below 6 feet 4 inches. We watched the game from this conference room at the top of the stadium. And it was Brandons time. Dang, Marty, what have you been feedin that boy?. Barbara Burlsworth established the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation to assist needy children in Brandons memory. Win the StanleyCup? That's a great sign that a linemen can play. Well, I was on all of those trips. Burlsworth's hometown preacher, the Rev. So I did whatever I could to be there for Brandon. Ive kind of been planning it that way.. He said he was, too, as a walk-on. The struggles that he had gone through to get where he was were over. Yet Ford agreed to let Brandon show up as a "preferred walk-on.". On the foundation's website, one can choose from books and movies about Brandon to shirts hats to raise money for their cause. Burlsworth was a recruited walk-on in every sense of the word. 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And then he walked out and there it was: BURLSWORTH. #inline-recirc-item--id-b47cc06a-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-b47cc06a-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { Brandon and Ed played football together and became very close friends over the years. The coach said he managed to get back to his feet, still surrounded by the team. 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. And when its Friday night here in Harrison and the whole town is at the football game, I think about Brandon. The team broke into laughter. Brandon Burlsworth was born on September 20, 1976, in Harrison, Arkansas. I kept track of how many might be left for Brandon.O.K., they gave one to that boy, thats 12 so far. But Arkansas was the dream. We were going to Fayetteville for the game and I called him early in the week to tell him where our seats would be. A Colts helmet was on the stage as was a collage of photographs of Burlsworth's life and career. Rest in peace, Brandon.DAVE SISTARO, Staten Island, N.Y. In fact, Ed, who works for FedEx in Harrison and has three children, even named his oldest son after Brandon. Hes not going down.. Although he never played a down in the NFL, he had impressed Mudd enough during mini-camp that the. But I don't remember Brandon in that game. 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). Some things are fuzzy from 20 or 30 years ago, but I remember that pretty well. [30] The casting director was Stephanie Holbrook, C.S.A. So before he started his senior year, I started working on getting my certification. I know some guys will be there who I haven't seen in 20 years.. Unfortunately, the star died in 1999, aged 22. Exploring Factors To Consider. I remember the Harrison High coach (Tommy Tice) telling me at the high school all-star game that Brandon was coming here. As a faith antagonist, Nick Searcy plays a whittling farmer, who filmmakers believe must represent a message. Brandons number 77 was retired as a result of the Arkansas Razorback football program. One thing about the Division II schools in Arkansas, they all knew it was a waste of time to recruit someone that Arkansas planned to offer. I don't recall him around that first semester at all.. Kind words One player with the colts said it's his loss he won't get to be friends with Brandon Burlsworth. It's the sophomore from Harrison, Burlsworth.. "We attended the First Assembly in Harrison and Brandon was always there, starting at about 10 years old. Who was Brandon Burlsworth fiance? Thats what its all about: What you do while you were here. I know he had to be there because we know the story. Brandon Burlsworth played for Arkansas from 1995-1998. Facebook gives people the power. With Neal McDonough, Leslie Easterbrook, Christopher Severio, Michael Parks. More than 100 members of Burlsworth's family were present and players from Harrison's football team wore their blue and yellow jerseys. He spent his first season of high school football as a sophomore on the sidelines. On stage near the casket was Burlsworth's No. "Then I turned around and the next player I faced was Brandon. He was 309. The work ethic that young man displayed is anexample for us all. Nine of Burlsworth's former Arkansas teammates served as pallbearers, along with one friend from his high school. 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. In the end, Brandon got invited to be a walk-on. On Wednesday, driving his white Subaru home to Harrison, Ark., from Fayetteville, Ark. Please enter valid email address to continue. He was Arkansas's first All-American player since 1993 and their first player selected to a first-team squad since 1989. 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. Brandon was killed in an auto accident 11 days after being selected by the Colts in the first round of the 1999 draft. His final game with the team was in the 1999 Citrus Bowl. It is the second retired football jersey in school history. Thielemann. He became very active in the youth group. [20], In 2007, the "Eyes of a Champion" program was started. Drew probably prefers Motel 8 because there's more moneyleft in his wallet the next morning. All rights reserved. The University of Arkansas is also planning a memorial, and the Colts have similar designs. [27] The award is given yearly to the most outstanding Division I FBS college football player who began his career as a walk-on. Greater, a film depicting the life and tragic death of Brandon Burlsworth will be released in theaters on August 26th. And then there was this walk-on from Harrison. View the profiles of people named Heather Nichols. 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. Faith and family they meant everything to Brandon. [23] The Burlsworth Character Awards are a national award honoring character and sportsmanship in high school football. Brandon Burlsworth, NFL player. The campers learn football skills but, more importantly, they are taught throughout the day about character, attitude, morals, priorities, and the desire to do it "The Burls Way".[22]. His awards and his many accolades are numerous but among them are earning a scholarship the first year. The next part of the story flips to Virgil Knight, Ford's fine strength and conditioning man. In a few weeks hed be heading back. 77 jersey, naming the weight room after him, and permanently encasing his locker. CHARLES OVERTON, Fort Thomas, Ky. Failure to call obvious penalties after the second period allowedan exciting game to deteriorate into tedium.DON HUMAN, Lexington, Ky. heather nichols everton arkansas Feb 26 2021 heather nichols everton arkansas Uncategorized Approximate Reputation Score. She called me just before six oclock, with panic and worry in her voice. I go straight to the sports and see if any scholarships were offered. If it meant going over to Moms house to help him with homework, I wanted to be there. Mom and I picked him up at the airport when he came home. It was a thrill to see the picture of Marion Motley in your July5th issue (SCORECARD). 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. But I didnt have that natural talent. Are we toforget that this is the same player who, without having had onemajor league at bat, held up the Philadelphia Phillies for ayear in contract negotiations, demanding a record signing bonusof about $10 million before reentering the draft the followingyear? When I told him to come at me full force to demonstrate my lesson about blocking, Brandon knocked me flat on my back, leaving me dazed for several seconds.". I thought, 'Man, this guy is giving effort still.' I don't care how good a player he becomes; he's theepitome of what's wrong with sports today.TOM MCCLURE, Cherry Hill, N.J. J.D. ", Tammy and Danny Roth of Harrison were friends of the Burlsworths. It was composed and produced by Brian Reindl and David Hunt. It was disappointing, but Brandon wanted to go to Arkansas more than anything and, well, he didnt want any regrets. Spiritual and physical needs by providing funds to those who are impoverished want... 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