All-American ( 1998) 2 First-team All-SEC ( 1997, 1998) Arkansas Razorbacks No. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. Midnight Madness kicks off basketball season, Social clubs prepare for Homecoming Parade, James Huff receives another research grant. Billy Ratliff had every opportunity to give up during that game because that kid was giving him the business, the entire game.. It was the offenses turn after Ratliff proved prophetic. (Zac Budman/ESPN), Marty Burlsworth, brother of the late Brandon Burlsworth, is interviewed. Our family chose to turn our grief into something that would make a difference and honor Brandon for the things he felt so strongly about. died in a car crash 11 days after . I struggled with the same things I think everybody does. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Brandon Burlsworth, Indianapolis Colts. The final carry was a 1-yard touchdown run with 28 seconds left and an eventual 28-24 win. I pushed Brandon back. "I couldn't stop talking to my wife about how impressive he was and what a bright future he had.". Burlsworth was killed in a car accident less than two weeks after he was drafted. The film shows Brandon receiving a scholarship offer from Arkansas Tech University. Accordingly, I was thrilled to get him.". Two collisions followed, and the life of a wonderful human with vast talents was over., Jerry Jones Had a Number of Hall of Fame Teammates and Coaches at Arkansas, Including Jimmy Johnson. Q: How important for you was it that this movie get made? Coleman had seen the suffering Ratliff had been through. Do it the Burls way: Have character. That wouldnt be the case. ", "He literally kept his goal focused right behind his nose through his college career.". He was drafted in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft to protect oddly enough former Vol quarterback Peyton Manning. You sow a habit, you reap a character. The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation will be honoring Kevin Scanlon of Stephens Inc. with the 2023 Legends Award. However, the player some consider the best walk-on in college football history was tragically killed in a car accident just 11 days later. Do it the right way when no one else is looking. He had absolutely no quit in him. 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. "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.". The coach said he managed to get back to his feet, still surrounded by the team. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth. Instead, he did set goals and worked hard to achieve them.". 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 was in the prime of his football career. He was freak athlete. Wed, 09/08/2021 - 15:05. Brian Reindl, writer and producer of Greater, said he loved the opportunity to tell such an incredible story in his first-ever production. Brandon Burlsworth was in a car accident and was announced dead at the scene on April 28, 1999. We are very happy with the way it turned out. You sow a character, you reap a destiny. He was made to do it. The 22-year-old Burlsworth, who had been drafted by the Colts 11 days earlier after earning first-team All-America honors as a fifth-year senior, was involved in a head-on crash with a. UT linebacker Al Wilson witnessed his teammates proclamation to Martin on the sideline. The accident occurred near Alpena, Arkansas, while returning to his old neighborhood. In the short time Brandon was on this earth he left a legacy and a positive role model that will be remembered long after we are gone. The lineman had returned from the Colts' weekend minicamp. Marty Burlsworth: Brandon had entered high school early, so he graduated at 17 years old and was still growing. Thats one of those that I would have loved to have seen his career if he had not been injured. Anyone within earshot of Ratliff just moments before heard him call his shot. Burlsworth ran a 40-yard touchdown in 4.88 seconds during the combine, more than any other player. Marty Burlsworth said his brother always remembered where he came from and wanted to help kids in similar situations to his. "Through the years, we have stayed close. We're very appreciative of Mr. Irsay and the bond his organization has with us. My mother always has gotten a Colts Christmas card. We've kept a feeling of being a part of Brandon's team.". "I remember handing the helmet back to the other player, then shouting: "Well, by gosh, that will be the last time I teach you that lesson!" The car accident happened on April 28, 1999, near Alpena when he was on his way back from his hometown of Harrison after a workout in Fayetteville. And I just thought it was a devastatingly tragic story but also an inspiring one., Watch the story behind GREATER. Every national championship team that ever played college football has to have a little luck sometime. He had fresh legs and blew up the play.. It was one of those games where we always thought we were going to win, Ratliff said. After all, UT needed a pass interference penalty to beat Syracuse and were outgained by Florida but still beat the Gators. 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. Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Oh well, it was a great run. Another trait that set Brandon apart was his respectful devotion to doing whatever authority figures asked of him. Cutcliffe called on Henry five consecutive times. 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. 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. One of Fulmers favorite phrases was Pound the Rock, as in run the football until the other team breaks. I really felt like that game built character in our team because for the first time, we felt the feeling of defeat and that was a feeling we didnt want to have anymore.. However, once Marty stopped listening to him it returned to less detail. Tice, now the athletic director for Huntsville, said he's never donned another helmet. Administration enforces faculty reductions to rightsize Larger than life: Family, friends, co-workers Student Health Services offers nurse practitioner, Bison basketball teams drive season further, Police investigate apartment shootings in Searcy, New shopping opportunities come to Searcy. Stoerner lost his grip as he seemingly laid the ball on the ground. The more the "farmer" talked to Marty about faith and religion and making him doubt the more detailed it became. It was all inner-him -- all inner-drive. Burlsworth died in a car accident on April 28, 1999, and his story of faith and conviction has been gaining recognition in recent years due to various programs and a new biopic called Greater.. After an exhaustive, deliberate process, Colts Owner and CEO Jim Irsay and general manager Chris Ballard were in agreement: Shane Steichen was the top candidate for the team's head coaching position. 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. It made them believe they could win a title and instilled fear of the possibility of coming up short. The foundation encourages a strong faith, character, and sportsmanship, developing positive values, and a life pattern that would exemplify Doing It The Burls Way.. Now, you can't control who your mom and daddy is, but you can control how hard you work. 'Burls Kids' is a program where youngsters attend Colts and Razorbacks games, and the foundation conducts camps and prep football awards. All rights reserved. Tragically, at the age of 22, 10 days after the draft, he was killed in a car accident on April 28th, 1999 while on his way home from the University of Arkansas to attend church with his mom. Draft but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. The Burlsworth Trophy has been awarded every year since 2010. 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. At the end of summer, he weighed 311 pounds, yet the draft hopeful could dunk a basketball with both hands from a standing start. The book, Eyes of a Champion, the Brandon Burlsworth Story, was delivered in 2001. After that ran, we began getting calls from Los Angeles about doing a movie. Published: Wednesday, August 24, 2016. Ratliff saw both luck and destiny in the play that would make him a Tennessee football folk hero. Throughout his football career, Brandon Burlsworth never let adversity stop him from achieving his goals. But he loses that control over him and his faith is restored making the carving revert back. Tee came off the field and Billy told him, Hey man, dont put your helmet away. There is a much deeper message here. After college he became a third-round pick of the Colts. The play was unpredictable, right? After college he became a third-round pick of the Colts. His life and career, however, ended in tragedy rather than triumph. 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. 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. Steichen called plays for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. 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. . Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In The Walk-on, which airs Saturday, College GameDay celebrates the annual ceremony of a walk-on player being rewarded with a scholarship by looking back at Burlsworths impact at Arkansas 25 years ago. I dont want to tell them what to walk away with I want to inspire them through this story.. Brandon sure left an indelible impression on me.". Among UT fans, his name is synonymous with the Arkansas fumble and what it meant to UTs 1998 season. All Martin had to do was hand the ball off to running back Travis Henry. An Arkansas loss would end the Vols dreams for a title but keep hope alive for the Razorbacks, who were surprisingly also in the national title hunt. On Friday, Aug. 26, the movie "GREATER" will be released in theaters. Considering the medical issues, an NFL career wasnt likely in the works. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth. History happened, he said. Said Burlsworth's position coach and lineman on the 1964 national champion Razorback team Mike Bender, "(He's) the best to play the offensive line in Arkansas history. There has never been one like Brandon, and there never will be again.". Fulmer was a former offensive lineman who loved running the football. Tice also told of a time when he'd become agitated with another lineman during practice and told the team to watch. FIFA World Cup - Best Goals from Every Angle, Draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, FOX SPORTS, SPEED, SPEED.COM & 2023 Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. We support responsible gambling. It was odd that Arkansas coach Houston Nutt didnt just run the football instead of calling a bootleg that allowed Ratliff to make his historic play. When its your time, its your time. The Vols won eight consecutive games to start the 1998 season before they hosted Arkansas. Eyes of a Champion, for example, helps provide free vision exams and glasses to low to moderate income, uninsured children. Burls Kids, which operates in both Arkansas and Indianapolis, brings children to football games and provides them with an unforgettable experience. Facebook gives people the power. We had never had a problem with anybody in the SEC but Florida. That defined the Tennessee offense that year, Cutcliffe said. I kept thinking Someone needs to make a movie about this guy,' Reindl said. Until that point in the game, he had his way with the Vols, including Ratliff. Brandon was tragically killed in a car accident, crushing all who . Steichen's creativity and flexibility shined when the Eagles came to Indianapolis in Week 11 of the 2022 season. I think the movie speaks to people in many different ways, Reindl said. He was on his heels and I was like, Im not going to stop pushing.'. 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 . Its namesake was an Arkansas offensive lineman from 1995 to 1998. "We attended the First Assembly in Harrison and Brandon was always there, starting at about 10 years old. Before he ever hit the gridiron, though, the lineman tragically died in an offseason accident. His truck collided with an approaching 18-wheeler causing him to veer into his lane then he crashed with another tractor-trailer head-on. His heart weighed a good part of that. Director David Hunt (from left) poses Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, with producer Brian Reindl, and Marty Burlsworth, brother of Brandon Burlsworth, during a red carpet event ahead of the premiere. With the tragic way he died, how did you make sense of it all? Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. You take the ball and drive it and run almost the same play, sometimes right, sometimes left, but basically the same play and run it down their throat and win the game and dont leave hardly any time on the clock. Known throughout Arkansas, Indianapolis was only getting to know Burlsworth. 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. What else could I do? 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. 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. Aaron Burlsworth, Harding sophomore and nephew of Brandon Burlsworth, said his family wanted to make sure faith was directly involved in the film, as it was a huge part of Brandons life. . Im not sure what coach Nutt was thinking about, Ratliff said. However, the player some consider the best walk-on in college football history was tragically killed in a car accident just 11 days later. Playing on the offensive line is not a "glamour" position, but he was still one of the most popular players on the team. In fact, Ed, who works for FedEx in Harrison and has three children, even named his oldest son after Brandon. https://t.co/Ny448gVZWB, A really cool story by @ADavidHaleJoint on @GeorgiaTechFBs @pharvin27 and his role as a groundbreaker and an inspiration to other young punters. CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports. "He's in heaven now. The game was essentially over, as were Tennessees national championship hopes. by Clay Henry | August 27, 2016 at 1:00 a.m. Arkansas' Brandon Burlsworth tells a story to teammates before the beginning of practice at Thunder Field on Dec. 30, 1998 . Marty Burlsworth remembers the day Brian Reindl came to Harrison to pitch his idea of making a movie about the life of Burlsworth's late brother, Brandon. I think about it all the time. 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.". 172.104.178.68 ET on ESPN from Sundance Square in Fort Worth, Texas. 412 when he became involved in the crash with two tractor trailers officials said. "That first year was tough. Every year, it was a little easier," said Burlsworth. "That first year when Brandon was supposed to be on the field was hard, and I think anyone could understand that. You always wanted the best for your team, but you wanted your family member to be out there. . Click to reveal Brandon was a walk on turned All American at the University of Arkansas. He didnt do it on his own, White said of Stoerners fumble. We dont have to understand it -- BUT we do have the choice of how we react to it. Brandon Burlsworth was the former All-American offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Were going to get the ball back., "I tell people all the time that if I was still in the game when that happened, we probably would have lost because I just didnt have it in the tank right then. If its difficult to describe the love for a brother its impossible to explain the loss of a brother. Literally. He wanted to buy mom a nice house. Billy Ratliff was right next to me, Wilson said. "I still believe he'd have had become one of the better guards in the NFL," said Mudd. The note arrived on the day Brandon died. Burlsworth, 22, died 10 days after his selection on April 28, 1999, in a car crash in Arkansas. Just days after the draft, tragedy struck. It was a crazy play. The NFL Combine begins next week in Indianapolis and will begin to bring more clarity to how teams around the league rate this year's group of draft-eligible quarterbacks. He whipped my butt that whole game, Ratliff said. Dave Hooker started covering Tennessee in 1998. If Billy Ratliff is still out here playing, whatever injury I have, it cant be that bad, Coleman said. He didnt just lay the ball on the ground. Burlsworth 22 a third round draft pick of the indianapolis colts on april 17 was driving on us. 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. Casting Directors are now casting for the upcoming SAG feature film "Greater" filming in Arkansas. I think about that all the time.. 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. Request more info or view our 3D Seat Viewer below! He died in a car crash on april 28 1999 shortly after he was drafted by the nfls indianapolis colts. The foundation also runs football camps and presents several awards and scholarships. Burlsworth never got to join the Colts, though. The story of Brandon Burlsworth, possibly the greatest walk-on in the history of college football.The story of Brandon Burlsworth, possibly the greatest walk-on in the history of college football.The story of Brandon Burlsworth, possibly the greatest walk-on in the history of college football. We're going to be fine.' 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. Brandon was on his way home from the university of arkansas to pick up his mother and attend church when the accident happened 11. He had worked so hard and everything was in line to make his dreams come true. He keeps getting knocked down and coming back.. The accident came less than two weeks after the Colts selected him and shortly after he had participated in the team's minicamp where coaches tabbed him as a potential starter at guard. 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? Performance & security by Cloudflare. That was one of those plays that had to happen. Safety Fred White didnt see it that way. That says it all. Brandon Burlsworth excelled in high school football, making All-Conference and All-State. "No problem, I'm used to it," quipped Burlsworth, who popped the lens of his eyeglasses out and smiled away. Burlsworth was killed 15 miles from home on a road he had traveled for years when his car drifted into the on coming lane. Billy Ratliff hit the lineman and he stepped back on his foot. | GREATER Movie LOS ANGELES (Christian Examiner) - GREATER, a new film about the inspiring story of Christian football player Brandon Burlsworth, who shot from walk-on at the University of Arkansas to a NFL draftee, will hit theaters this summer. Sure enough, it happened. 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. Gainey Coach Ford Wayne Duvall Pastor Rick Mark Dobies Coach Nutt Grant Cook Grant Garrett Josh Emerson Nathan Ward Ethan Waller Young Brandon Todd Julian It was a legendary drive for sure. The story of a small town walk-on freshman named Brandon Burlsworth transforming into a first team All-American has been inspiring to football fans of all ages, but there is much more to his legacy than most people know. Harding School of Theology student Ben Hansen said the movie far exceeded his low expectations due to the quality of some Christian movies. Tennessee is only one of a handful of SEC football states with legalized sports betting. 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. Brandon Burlsworth is growning from an unwanted accident of a child, to an abnormally large teenager, to a high school football . Brandon Burlsworth death scene What was Brandon Burlsworth's death scene like? Billy was great. "The common . The now-retired Mudd could be forgiven if he could not remember Burlsworth vividly. His brother, Marty, and their mother, Barbara, met him at the airport in Springfield. 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. When Zac Budman was assigned to produce a feature for College GameDay Built by The Home Depot on the late Brandon Burlsworth, he did his research and learned the amazing and tragic story of the former Arkansas Razorbacks offensive lineman. The Indianapolis Colts wore his initials, BB, on their helmets for the 1999 season. He went to Harrison High School and graduated from there. Even though the linemans life and career ended in tragedy, hes still managing to make an impact more than 20 years later. 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. 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. He was selected in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Stoerner tried to balance himself with right hand. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2d144239416bbd Marty and Vickie Burlsworth said they thought Greater was a fantastic rendering of what was important to Brandon. He was drafted 59 spots after Edgerrin James and with the notion to help fortify an offense that already had young stars in Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning. Fate intervened. ESPN NHL Production Coordinator Camille Bova Does it All for the 2023 NHL Stadium Series in Raleigh, N.C. 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. 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. "He listened, then just did it," said Tice. He was a gentle giant with an instinct to win. Why did he have to die when he had everything to live for? "GREATER" tells the story of Burlsworth, a former college walk-on, who would go on to earn All-America honors at the . 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. The storys been told a lot but it probably hasnt reached as many people as you think, he said. Fifteen years. So sad, so much promise, such a terrific person. Please read our Terms of Use or contact us. However, he was killedin an automobile accident 11 days after the draft. It was meant to be.. He was on his way back to Harrison, his hometown, following a workout in Fayetteville. Less than two weeks after he was chosen in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, Brandon was driving home to go to church with his mother. Burlsworth was killed 15 miles from home on a road he had traveled for years when his car drifted into the on-coming lane. Two collisions followed, and the life of a wonderful human with vast talents was over. Brandon Burlsworth rose from a walk-on to a legitimate player at Arkansas Before he ever hit the gridiron, though, the lineman tragically died in an offseason accident. He was already something special, but it would have been something else had he not gone through the injuries he did.. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. He went after it without caution.". During his junior and senior years, his work ethic and focus really kicked in. Also not included in the film is that Brandon and Marty also have a brother named Grady. They (Arkansas) did a good job of game-planning on us. Its no surprise that Wilson, who was on the sideline with a torn groin, was leading the charge to get the ball back late in the game. #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. After the Arkansas game, we knew that was our moment, former UT cornerback Dwayne Goodrich said.
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brandon burlsworth accident