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 . Brandon Burlsworth died from a car accident just eleven days after being drafted. The book, Eyes of a Champion, the Brandon Burlsworth Story, was delivered in 2001. Sad to see the pain still inside him. 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. Today, The University of Arkansas has created an endowment in Brandon's name. Marty Burlsworth said his brother always remembered where he came from and wanted to help kids in similar situations to his. MB: Brandon was revered pretty quickly for the obstacles that he overcame. Said Fulmer, Anybody that loves football would love that. "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.". 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. The press conference will be streamed live. When (Greater producer and co-screenwriter) Brian Reindl came to us, we instantly felt a comfort level with him and his desire to tell Brandons story. College GameDay Built by the Home Depot airs Saturday at 9 a.m. Shane Steichen quarterbacked Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado, Calif., where he teamed up with future Colts wide receiver Austin Collie. And I just thought it was a devastatingly tragic story but also an inspiring one., Watch the story behind GREATER. His truck collided with an approaching 18-wheeler causing him to veer into his lane then he crashed with another tractor-trailer head-on. After college he became a third-round pick of the Colts. As recorded on the Colts official website, Burlsworth was driving home to Harrison, Arkansas in April 1999; he wanted to head home, have dinner with his mother, Barbara, and attend a Wednesday night church service. The lineman, however, would never arrive. 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? 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. He didnt just lay the ball on the ground. Brandon was very undersized as a freshman and sophomore, a skinny kid. More than. 'Burls Kids' is a program where youngsters attend Colts and Razorbacks games, and the foundation conducts camps and prep football awards. As the mind flashes back 15 years ago, the accident remains just as tragic. The life of a tremendous human being was ended. That is an incalculable loss. 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. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. The boy was almost 6-foot-4 and tipped the scales at more than 300 pounds. The Comfort Inn's scrolling marquee was simple, but also eerie: ``Remember Brandon Burlsworth,'' followed by the time and temperature. A mother losing a child at that young age, it was tough. There is some footage of the real Brandon after the last credits. "I remember he was the first college lineman I looked at on video that year," said Howard Mudd, then the Colts' line coach and one of the game's best ever. . The temperature was a balmy 77 degrees. "He loved the coaching staff and grew close to Coach Mudd immediately," said Marty. "Brandon felt very good about getting on the field and beginning the next step of his career. He knew he could be going against Bruce Smith on opening day. He was already getting ready for that challenge.". In the world of sports, there are plenty of iconic underdog stories. 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. I think the movie speaks to people in many different ways, Reindl said. Do it the Burls way: Have character. Brandon Burlsworth was killed in an automobile accident near Alpena, Arkansas, on April 28, 1999. Throughout his football career, Brandon Burlsworth never let adversity stop him from achieving his goals. The lineman had returned from the Colts' weekend minicamp. Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at the University of Arkansas in 1994. The program provides free exams and glasses for up to 1,000 preschool-through-12th grade students in Arkansas, and there are plans to take it nationwide. However, he was killedin an automobile accident 11 days after the draft. HEATHER NICHOLS, Everton, Ark. So I read up on his story and the first thing that came to mind is hes Rudy [Ruettiger, the famed former Notre Dame football walk-on], only better. 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. If that offends you, then you probably wouldn't like this movie. Burlsworth, 22, died 10 days after his selection on April 28, 1999, in a car crash in Arkansas. 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. "I couldn't stop talking to my wife about how impressive he was and what a bright future he had.". I kept thinking Someone needs to make a movie about this guy,' Reindl said. I love that, whether its as (a former) lineman or just a person that likes sports. Sure enough, it happened. Inspiring to watch his football and his story change others around him and his journey towards wholeness. Brandon Burlsworth rose from a walk-on to a legitimate player at Arkansas That was one of those plays that had to happen. Brian Reindl is a real estate developer by trade, but a filmmaker by passion. 77 retired. History happened, he said. 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. They were winning the whole game, really. "I took the player's helmet and put it on," said Tice. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts and 11 days later was tragically killed in. Dave Hooker started covering Tennessee in 1998. After his time at the University of Arkansas ended, Brandon Burlsworth seemed poised to realize his NFL dreams. He was a gentle giant with an instinct to win. I knew nothing of Brandons story, said Budman. But Arkansas was the dream. 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. Hewalked on at Arkansas in 1994 after having zero FBS scholarship offers and eventually became team captain and a two-time All-SEC pick. John E. Hoover can be . If it does not offend you, then you should enjoy it. 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. Certainly, football was immensely important to Brandon, but it was his character and the relationship he had with God that defined who Brandon Burlsworth really was. When relatively healthy, Ratliff showed he had elite talent. It made them believe they could win a title and instilled fear of the possibility of coming up short. 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. The play was unpredictable, right? The Colts also announced all members of the team will have a special decal on their helmets in a tribute to Burlsworth. On Friday, Aug. 26, the movie "GREATER" will be released in theaters. I never lost my faith and that first night, after everyone had gone home, I grabbed my wife and my moms hand and we prayed. Journalism Showcase: E60 Producer Discusses How New Documentary On Undefeated 72 Dolphins Puts Fresh Perspective on 50-Year-Old Story, ESPNs Gymnastics Creative Soars and Brings the Light to Friday Night Heights, Inside The Making Of Andscape Writer Jesse Washingtons MLK Weekend Essay Living In His Legacy, ESPNs Holland Mickle Roars into Action for the Injured Clemson Cub, Whats Your Beef With Jon Jones? Mom and I picked him up at the airport when he came home. "Then I turned around and the next player I faced was Brandon. "If God ever made the perfect person, it was that guy," said then teammate Sacha Lancaster to Sport Illustrated. 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 . The foundation also runs football camps and presents several awards and scholarships. 1. Weve got to throw it. I said No, were going to run it every down and we ran the football right down their throat.. 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. Brandons goal growing up was to help underprivileged kids, Aaron Burlsworth said. Q: What was the relationship like between your brother and folks from Arkansas? Since 2010, the Burlsworth Trophy has been handed out to the best player in college football who started his career as a walk-on. Offensive lineman brandon burlsworth went from walk on to all american during his career at arkansas before dying in a car crash just after the 1999 nfl draft. Brandon, Marty's younger brother by 16 years, was tragically killed in an auto accident on April 28, 1999 . During his junior and senior years, his work ethic and focus really kicked in. 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 sent one of those shirts to the funeral home and Brandon was buried in it," said Barbara. He wanted to help underprivileged kids with his NFL money. Hollywood keeps making movies about superheroes and people who arent heroes at all, but here is a real life hero that my kids can look up to.. Burlsworth was so much about the right stuff that his dorm bed never was unmade. With a 3.4 grade point average, he earned bachelor's (marketing management) and master's (business administration) degrees at Arkansas before playing his final game. Brian Reindl, writer and producer of "Greater," said he loved the opportunity to tell such an incredible story in his first-ever production. 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. 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. This is a movie not just for football fans but for everyone. Q: What message do you want fans to take from this movie? 22, who died Wednesday in an automobile accident. 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. Now, you can't control who your mom and daddy is, but you can control how hard you work. He loved the sport, though, and worked his way to all-state honors by the time he graduated. Ratliffs explosive push into the backfield caused Burlsworth to step on Stoerners foot. Ratliff replaced fellow defensive lineman Jeff Coleman, who was suffering from cramps on the sideline when Ratliffe made history. Although Brandon became a stickler for staying focused and doing things the right way, he also was a typically sloppy teenager until the 10th grade when Barbara told him if he was serious about going to college, "he'd better get his act together." Brandon doesn't start out with all . "I liked him so much that I used him as the barometer for the rest of the players I evaluated that year. But he loses that control over him and his faith is restored making the carving revert back. You want to hear from the pertinent voices, the people that were closely involved and related to Brandon played with him, coached him and raised him. ", "He literally kept his goal focused right behind his nose through his college career.". Brandon Burlsworth went from freshman walk-on to an All-American at Arkansas before being the Colts' third-round pick in 1999. 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. "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. A UT win would mean the Vols national title hopes would stay alive. Carrolton ap former arkansas offensive guard brandon burlsworth died in a car crash as he headed home to harrison from fayetteville officials said. Family members have attended one home game annually to this day. Their affinity for the franchise has been a constant. [3] Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2d144239416bbd The note arrived on the day Brandon died. Billy Ratliff was right next to me, Wilson said. 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 struggles that he had gone through to get where he was were over. With a chance to be Harrison's first full-time resident to make a professional sport, brother and agent Marty remembers draft day. He definitely was, Coleman said. Barbara and Marty came to training camp in advance of the Buffalo opener. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Brandon's vehicle collided with an oncoming 18-wheeler, forcing him to re-enter his lane. 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. He went to mini-camp, but was killed a few days . His heart weighed a good part of that. Your IP: 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 . He had fresh legs and blew up the play.. Q: When did you realize Brandons story was going to be something that could resonate with people far beyond just Razorback fans? '"I told him how much it would mean to them to receive that message from him.". Literally. Brandon burlsworth car accident details. We do not target any individuals under the age of 21. Now, a careless fumble? We're going to be fine.' INDIANAPOLIS By now, Brandon Burlsworth likely would be retired, probably a world champion and former Pro Bowler and, possibly, according to his brother, Marty, headed to Canton, Ohio. Few of them, though, have followed the same road as Brandon Burlsworth. Email him at [emailprotected], Copyright 2023, Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. One of Fulmers favorite phrases was Pound the Rock, as in run the football until the other team breaks. Sow with action, you reap a habit. The team broke into laughter. MB: Shortly after the accident, we got a call from a national magazine. Two collisions followed and the life of a wonderful human with vast. 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. Brandon was elected to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and the UA Letterman's Association Hall of Honor in 2004. 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. 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. 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. Also not included in the film is that Brandon and Marty also have a brother named Grady. MB: Our agreement was that the family could object if we felt something was not portrayed in the right manner. 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. . "I thought it would soften the blow because there was going to be a ceremony on opening day where our family would get a framed jersey," said Marty. "Brandon hadn't been around the NFL so as a close family, we were going to live it with him. The Burlsworth Trophy has been awarded every year since 2010. After his time at the University of Arkansas ended, Brandon Burlsworth seemed poised to realize his NFL dreams. We had never had a problem with anybody in the SEC but Florida. Good fortune was certainly on the Vols side against Arkansas. Sow with thought, you reap in action. For more information contact us at communication@harding.edu or visit us at harding.edu/communication. Brandon Burlsworth death scene What was Brandon Burlsworth's death scene like? (NWA Media). 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. Burlsworth was killed in a car accident in 1999 after being drafted . Every place starts with a cadence and ends with a whistle. Mock Draft Monday, our weekly roundup of experts' predictions for who the Colts will take in the NFL Draft, is back with the NFL Combine getting underway in Indianapolis this week. Burlsworth ran a 40-yard touchdown in 4.88 seconds during the combine, more than any other player. Midnight Madness kicks off basketball season, Social clubs prepare for Homecoming Parade, James Huff receives another research grant. But there was a film made about it and there were a lot of articles about it. She agreed, and the night before Brandon's fatal accident, he sat with his mother at the dinner table to send the Roths a thank-you note. It was a tough situation. To be of the offensive line Brandon took a risk and walked on 1994! He had fresh legs and blew up the play., After the Arkansas game, we knew that was our moment.. Candidates compete for Searcy mayor as Volleyball finishes record-breaking season at NCAA Thundering Herd welcomes high school guest Megias leads womens cross country team Basketball teams start seasons with high Community organization holds sixth annual Thankfulness Students take advantage of nearby concerts. 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. https://t.co/UV3TEAGddV, Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) August 29, 2019, @espn Amazing photo and article. Honors College announces new faculty fellow. 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. We got the ball back. Please enjoy the peak of my journalistic career. For instance, the film didn't disclose that, shortly before his death, Brandon had formed a budding relationship with a college co-ed, also from Harrison. 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. Powered by ThinkWeb, THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION'S STUDENT MEDIA NETWORK AT HARDING UNIVERSITY, Faith, Trust and Character: The Life and Legacy of Brandon Burlsworth, Three players lead softball team to terrific start, Track construction nearly complete, ready to host, 22 teams compete in annual pickle ball tournament, Womens and mens tennis teams push through season, Bison baseball kicks off season with five straight wins, Harding softball begins season in Louisiana, Ambassador discusses efforts against human trafficking. Eleven days after being the 63rd pick in the draft, Burlsworth. While his tragic death may have ended his football career, it didnt stop the linemans ability to change the world. He was drafted in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft to protect oddly enough former Vol quarterback Peyton Manning. Yet Ford agreed to let Brandon show up as a "preferred walk-on.". 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. Fulmer was a former offensive lineman who loved running the football. He went after it without caution.". 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 Brandon burlsworth dies on arkansas highway after head on collision with tractor trailer. Burlsworth's death on April 28, only 11 days after the Indianapolis Colts took him in the third round of the NFL draft, left people in Arkansas in shock and asking questions that will remain. 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. Freshmen bring people together with Bison El Puente celebrates National Hispanic Heritage University executes new check-in procedures for Harding students from Florida react to Harding students to participate in business ASI kicks off distinguished lecture series University centers Lectureship around Christ and Q&A with Lisa Williams, ambassador for University celebrates Williams inauguration, Songwriting contest ends in recording workshop. He was in the prime of his football career. Published: Wednesday, August 24, 2016. This is incredible. The football fraternity had great expectations from the talented young man but fate had other plans and he was killed in an accident. Burlsworth first caught the eye of Mudd at the Senior Bowl, just prior to the Combine. Burlsworth's Arkansas jersey number 77 was retired by the Colts for Hall-of-Famer Jim Parker, but Burlsworth's memorial picture ran on page 77 of the Indianapolis media guide. A "BB" sticker inside the club logo was worn on the rear of helmets that season. Q: How important for you was it that this movie get made? Steichen's creativity and flexibility shined when the Eagles came to Indianapolis in Week 11 of the 2022 season. 1976 April 28, 1999) was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas, on . Among UT fans, his name is synonymous with the Arkansas fumble and what it meant to UTs 1998 season. Brandon the officer told us had collided head on with a semi. One All Martin had to do was hand the ball off to running back Travis Henry. If Billy Ratliff is still out here playing, whatever injury I have, it cant be that bad, Coleman said. Cast [ edit] UT took over at the Hogs 43-yard line with just 1:43 left. Said Martin, It was really good for us as a team to win in the fashion we won. 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. He continued to grow and was a good 6-foot-2, 260 pounds in his senior season. By what name was Greater (2016) officially released in India in English? The game was essentially over, as were Tennessees national championship hopes. 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. It was a legendary drive for sure. He died in a car crash on april 28 1999 shortly after he was drafted by the nfls indianapolis colts. There was only one problem. A&P Commission approves funding for robotics Campus Life introduces Cotton Candy Friday. "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. "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.". 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. I think about it all the time. Harding School of Theology student Ben Hansen said the movie far exceeded his low expectations due to the quality of some Christian movies. 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. Among UT fans, his name is synonymous with the Arkansas fumble. During his UT career, Ratliff suffered a severe neck injury, two torn knee ligaments and serious shin splints.
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