Named an All-American in 1998, he was drafted in 1999 by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round 11 days before being killed in a vehicular accident. He was a gentle giant with an instinct to win. Brandon Burlsworth, Indianapolis Colts. He made himself into a player by just working harder than everyone else. 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. Burlsworth tragically lost his life in a car accident April 28, 1999, going from Fayetteville to a Wednesday night church service in his hometown of Harrison. Fifteen years. So sad, so much promise, such a terrific person. However, he was killedin an automobile accident 11 days after the draft. The note arrived on the day Brandon died. 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. After his rise to prominence at Arkansas, Brandon Burlsworth seemed poised to make the leap to the NFL. We had never had a problem with anybody in the SEC but Florida. Ratliff saw both luck and destiny in the play that would make him a Tennessee football folk hero. There were times when he was almost late to games because he would never turn a kid down for an autograph or anything.. 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. Brandon Burlsworth death scene What was Brandon Burlsworth's death scene like? He was killed in a car accident just days after the 1999 NFL Draft. You want to just tell the story as if no one had ever heard it before. Carrolton (AP) - Former Arkansas offensive guard BRANDON BURLSWORTH died in a car crash as he headed home to Harrison from Fayetteville, officials said. 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 . Brandon Burlsworth rose from a walk-on to a legitimate player at Arkansas 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. Q: What was your involvement with the movie process from the beginning until now? Burlsworth never got to join the Colts, though. Brandon burlsworth dies on arkansas highway after head on collision with tractor trailer. The movie really addressed the question of why bad things happen to good people, Hansen said. Coach Tice: You know, football's a rough game; it's unpredictable. From @RazorbackFB walk-on to All-American, Brandon Burlsworth's story makes him a Razorback to remember. If Billy Ratliff is still out here playing, whatever injury I have, it cant be that bad, Coleman said. Q: What message do you want fans to take from this movie? Departments offer new classes across campus, Student Association hosts first birthday bash. They award eighteen $5,000 academic scholarships, and one $10,000 Walk-0n athletic scholarship each year. 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's in heaven now. 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. Harding University in Florence students get Sladers Alaskan Dumpling Co. hosts birthday Students attend annual National Prayer Breakfast. 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. Greater misses key fact. 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. Brandon the officer told us had collided head on with a semi. It was all inner-him -- all inner-drive. The football fraternity had great expectations from the talented young man but fate had other plans and he was killed in an accident. 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. Brandon burlsworth car accident details. "I took the player's helmet and put it on," said Tice. He had fresh legs and blew up the play., After the Arkansas game, we knew that was our moment.. Burlsworth, whose heavy frame and thick, black-rimmed . Good fortune was certainly on the Vols side against Arkansas. During his junior and senior years, his work ethic and focus really kicked in. (Zac Budman/ESPN), Marty Burlsworth, brother of the late Brandon Burlsworth, is interviewed. Brandon Burlsworth, NFL player. "Brandon Burlsworth was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the 63rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft. Brandon always had a huge heart for kids. His foundation serves about 2,400 children annually through an Eyeglass program in conjunction with Walmart Optical (a long-visioned Brandon famously would hoard his per diem on football trips to buy Walmart stock). 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.. Marty Burlsworth: Brandon had entered high school early, so he graduated at 17 years old and was still growing. But Arkansas was the dream. 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 . '"I told him how much it would mean to them to receive that message from him.". Ratliff continued playing football for the love of the game. I kept thinking Someone needs to make a movie about this guy,' Reindl said. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. I was high as a kite. "I just wished I'd had the opportunity to have been part of his development. Ratliff and Coleman were suite mates, so they knew each other well off the field. 77 retired. "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.". The more the "farmer" talked to Marty about faith and religion and making him doubt the more detailed it became. He said that the message spoke of the joy of living everyday life and asked big questions, making it a powerful story. He was already something special, but it would have been something else had he not gone through the injuries he did.. 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. If it does not offend you, then you should enjoy it. That Burlsworth was in the accident was completely like the unselfish person who established a cult following while a Razorback. "I sent one of those shirts to the funeral home and Brandon was buried in it," said Barbara. 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. Burlsworth was killed 15 miles from home on a road he had traveled for years when his car drifted into the on coming lane. Do it the Burls way: Have character. 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, Coleman said. There was only one problem. 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. Brandon burlsworth dies on arkansas highway after head on collision with tractor trailer. He definitely was, Coleman said. He died in a car crash on april 28 1999 shortly after he was drafted by the nfls indianapolis colts. "When Brandon showed up at the rookie camp, he was even better than I thought he'd be," said Mudd. This is a movie not just for football fans but for everyone. He went after it without caution.". Carrolton ap former arkansas offensive guard brandon burlsworth died in a car crash as he headed home to harrison from fayetteville officials said. Burlsworth was killed 15 miles from home on a road he had traveled for years when his car drifted into the on coming lane. Draft but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. Weve got to throw it. I said No, were going to run it every down and we ran the football right down their throat.. When I heard Brandon passed away, it hit home, Ratliff said. This is incredible. 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. Some called the Vols lucky after the Arkansas game. During his UT career, Ratliff suffered a severe neck injury, two torn knee ligaments and serious shin splints. "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's an image of how the "farmer" was capturing Marty's soul and he was becoming the "farmers". 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. Cover photo of Clint Stoerners fumble courtesy of University of Tennessee Athletics. It was the offenses turn after Ratliff proved prophetic. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Said Martin, It was really good for us as a team to win in the fashion we won. "There are people in the organization we feel close to. I'm still asked by people in Harrison about the Colts, and I tell them about our close relationship to this day. Arkansas is impressed with the Colts, no doubt about that.". 20 college football teams we aren't sold on in 2023, SEC Basketball Power Rankings: Mizzou shocks Tennessee, Alabama downs Auburn and more, SEC Basketball Power Rankings: Alabama stays unbeaten in SEC play, Tennessee outlasts Auburn and more, SEC Basketball Power Rankings: A new top team emerges, Alabama loses in blowout fashion, Mizzou lights it up again. Actor Chris Severio as Brandon Burlsworth, wearing his trademark black-rimmed glasses. Brandon, Marty's younger brother by 16 years, was tragically killed in an auto accident on April 28, 1999 . A mother losing a child at that young age, it was tough. Please enjoy the peak of my journalistic career. He earned first-team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998; he was also named a first-team All-American during the 1998 campaign. Now, a careless fumble? 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. His truck collided with an approaching 18-wheeler causing him to veer into his lane then he crashed with another tractor-trailer head-on. Both press conferences will be streamed live on Colts.com, the Colts mobile app, @Colts on Twitter and the Colts Facebook page. When he got to Arkansas as a walk-on, he knew that he had to put everything he had into it and more. 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. That has to be the bittersweet part for Ratliff. He became very active in the youth group. 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. He didnt do it on his own, White said of Stoerners fumble. The play was unpredictable, right? "I couldn't stop talking to my wife about how impressive he was and what a bright future he had.". He walked on to the University of Arkansas to become the first All-American from that program in a decade. Sow with thought, you reap in action. It was the type of impression Burlsworth provided with everyone over the three-day camp before heading home. After all, UT needed a pass interference penalty to beat Syracuse and were outgained by Florida but still beat the Gators. Tice said he also called then-Hog head coach Danny Ford and asked him to take a look at Brandon. 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. Since 2010, the Burlsworth Trophy has been handed out to the best player in college football who started his career as a walk-on. Instead, he did set goals and worked hard to achieve them.". 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. The youth center in Harrison, Arkansas . 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. However, the player some consider the best walk-on in college football history was tragically killed in a car accident just 11 days later. 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. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these. After his time at the University of Arkansas ended, Brandon Burlsworth seemed poised to realize his NFL dreams. During the Razorbacks football history, plenty of great players have hit the gridiron. Eleven days after being the 63rd pick in the draft, Burlsworth. You sow a character, you reap a destiny. However, he was killed in an automobile accident 11 days after the draft. MB: We want them to know that bad things can and will happen. . 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. Thats one of those that I would have loved to have seen his career if he had not been injured. It was one of those games where we always thought we were going to win, Ratliff said. When the 1999 NFL draft rolled around, the Indianapolis Colts made the linemans dreams a reality and selected him with the 63rd-overall pick. The foundation also runs football camps and presents several awards and scholarships. Sports betting in Tennessee officially launched on November 1, 2020, and many of the largest sportsbooks are live and operating in the volunteer state. In reality he also had one from Henderson State University. Also not included in the film is that Brandon and Marty also have a brother named Grady. The family picked Brandon up at the airport after the rookie camp. He was sore from the work, but expressed comfort with his teammates and the size of Indianapolis. I struggled with the same things I think everybody does. His story is the subject of movie that debuts Friday calledGreater.. 1976 April 28, 1999) was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas, on . Fate intervened. #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. The other producers couldnt guarantee just how accurate the depiction would be. 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.". 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. 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 literally kept his goal focused right behind his nose through his college career.". Billy Ratliff hit the lineman and he stepped back on his foot. Its hard not to imagine what might have been had Burlsworth not passed away when he was 22. We always beat those guys. Oh well, it was a great run. I love that, whether its as (a former) lineman or just a person that likes sports. Brandon Burlsworth was in a car accident and was announced dead at the scene on April 28, 1999. That hand was holding the football. Miranda Valles, 21, died in a motorcycle accident over the weekend on I-290. 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. State police Cpl. However, the player some consider the best walk-on in college football history was tragically killed in a car accident just 11 days later. I have a son right now that just turned 22. One of Fulmers favorite phrases was Pound the Rock, as in run the football until the other team breaks. ESPN College GameDay 8-31-19 #WeTrust pic.twitter.com/x3UCtOjLLf, Burlsworth Trophy (@BurlsworthTrust) August 29, 2019. The magazine did an extensive eight-page piece on him. Barbara and Marty came to training camp in advance of the Buffalo opener. Brian Reindl is a real estate developer by trade, but a filmmaker by passion. We dont have to understand it -- BUT we do have the choice of how we react to it. . After his two weeks in Indianapolis, Brandon flew home on April 18, 1999, a Sunday. Life itself, squeezed into 60 minutes in 100 yards. He declined both, insisting instead on joining the Razorbacks as a walk-on. He continued to grow and was a good 6-foot-2, 260 pounds in his senior season. 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. 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. The Colts honored the Burlsworth family on opening day in 1999 with a framed jersey number 66. Wed, 09/08/2021 - 15:05. He was more assertive than most of the other linemen at the practices. He died in a car crash on april 28 1999 shortly after he was drafted by the nfls indianapolis colts. Aaron Burlsworths parents, Marty and Vickie Burlsworth, are in charge of the foundation and its numerous roles from taking kids in poor financial situations to games to getting them quality eye care. Tennessee is only one of a handful of SEC football states with legalized sports betting. Sow with action, you reap a habit. 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. I hope he finds a home on an NFL team, and more than that hope he finds peace. 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. Burlsworth was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas, on April 28, 1999, on . 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." "At Arkansas the coaches told him one day his legs could be stronger. Well, he ends up squatting 700 pounds.". We got the ball back. Brandon sure left an indelible impression on me.". 2 Alabama, SEC Women's Basketball Tournament action suspended due to weather delay, 2 SEC players named to late-season watch list for Oscar Robertson Player of the Year Trophy, Overrated? This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. To be of the offensive line Brandon took a risk and walked on 1994! Stoerner lost his grip as he seemingly laid the ball on the ground. He keeps getting knocked down and coming back.. Before he ever hit the gridiron, though, the lineman tragically died in an offseason accident. He had absolutely no quit in him. He said his familys personal contribution to Brandons legacy was the Burlworth Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping underprivileged kids enjoy Arkansas Razorback and Indianapolis Colts games. Had he joined the Indianapolis Colts, Brandon Burlsworth probably would have made quite the impact on the football field. Family members have attended one home game annually to this day. Their affinity for the franchise has been a constant. He was drafted in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft to protect oddly enough former Vol quarterback Peyton Manning. #HistoricHog pic.twitter.com/xBCanCzixz. Ratliff and Burlsworth will always be linked by the Arkansas fumble. Request more info or view our 3D Seat Viewer below! MB: Shortly after the accident, we got a call from a national magazine. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. After that ran, we began getting calls from Los Angeles about doing a movie. ( Marty Burlsworth ) From left to right, Brandon Burlsworth, Grant Garrett and Russ Brown pose for a picture in 1997. Considering the medical issues, an NFL career wasnt likely in the works. 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 MB: Brandon was revered pretty quickly for the obstacles that he overcame. Theyd risen to No. It became clear that this was a story that would resonate far beyond the state boundaries. They came to town to interview everyone and get photographs for the magazine. We're going to be fine.' Arkansas needed 12 yards for the first down, but that wasnt even necessary. Billy Ratliff had every opportunity to give up during that game because that kid was giving him the business, the entire game.. Safety Fred White didnt see it that way. But he loses that control over him and his faith is restored making the carving revert back. Brandon Burlsworth was killed in a car accident on April 28th, 1999 while driving back to his hometown when he was near Alpena, Arkansas he got involved in the accident and died on the spot. However, once Marty stopped listening to him it returned to less detail. 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. Philip Straub said the call came in at 4:17 p.m. that there was a crash involving a car and a tractor-trailer on U.S. 412 near Carrolton. I pushed Brandon back. He loved the sport, though, and worked his way to all-state honors by the time he graduated. 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. Ratliffs explosive push into the backfield caused Burlsworth to step on Stoerners foot. 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.". FAYETTEVILLE There is a great . I think the movie speaks to people in many different ways, Reindl said. The Colts also announced all members of the team will have a special decal on their helmets in a tribute to Burlsworth. He was on his way back to Harrison, his hometown, following a workout in Fayetteville. We are very happy with the way it turned out. The Burlsworth Trophy has been awarded every year since 2010. Phillip was saying Weve got to throw it. 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.. 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. 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. The press conference will be streamed live. 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. Its namesake was an Arkansas offensive lineman from 1995 to 1998. Midnight Madness kicks off basketball season, Social clubs prepare for Homecoming Parade, James Huff receives another research grant.
Bob Whitehead Obituary,
Microcenter Open Box Incomplete,
Articles B