"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.". 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." They came to town to interview everyone and get photographs for the magazine. Sports betting in Tennessee officially launched on November 1, 2020, and many of the largest sportsbooks are live and operating in the volunteer state. 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. For people unfamiliar with Brandons story, walk us through his development from your perspective. Brandon Burlsworth is perhaps the greatest walk-on in the history of college football. Brandon, Marty's younger brother by 16 years, was tragically killed in an auto accident on April 28, 1999 . See production, box office & company info, Well-done and inspiring faith-based movie, Mike & Mike: Episode dated 23 August 2016. 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. Draft but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. 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. The Comfort Inn's scrolling marquee was simple, but also eerie: ``Remember Brandon Burlsworth,'' followed by the time and temperature. However, once Marty stopped listening to him it returned to less detail. Sow with action, you reap a habit. 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. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. His life and career, however, ended in tragedy rather than triumph. 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. Surely, UT head coach Phillip Fulmer called the shots given his background. Yet Ford agreed to let Brandon show up as a "preferred walk-on.". [2] Death Eleven days after being drafted, he was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas on his way back to his hometown of Harrison one night after a workout in Fayetteville. 22, who died Wednesday in an automobile accident. He said that the message spoke of the joy of living everyday life and asked big questions, making it a powerful story. Few of them, though, have followed the same road as Brandon Burlsworth. The book, Eyes of a Champion, the Brandon Burlsworth Story, was delivered in 2001. 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? Now, a careless fumble? But he loses that control over him and his faith is restored making the carving revert back. died in a car crash 11 days after . History happened, he said. He earned first-team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998; he was also named a first-team All-American during the 1998 campaign. Family members have attended one home game annually to this day. Their affinity for the franchise has been a constant. Not exactly. 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. Brandon Burlsworth excelled in high school football, making All-Conference and All-State. It was a legendary drive for sure. . 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. Email him at [emailprotected], Copyright 2023, Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. The magazine did an extensive eight-page piece on him. State police Cpl. He went to Harrison High School and graduated from there. Had he joined the Indianapolis Colts, Brandon Burlsworth probably would have made quite the impact on the football field. He was a gentle giant with an instinct to win. Brandon was Brandon Burlsworth, an All-American offensive guard who began his career at Arkansas as a walk-on and was known for his thick, black glasses. From @RazorbackFB walk-on to All-American, Brandon Burlsworth's story makes him a Razorback to remember. We dont have to understand it -- BUT we do have the choice of how we react to it. If it does not offend you, then you should enjoy it. The foundation, established in 1999, has several programs that serve children in Arkansas and around the country. know it would happen, but Brandon knew all his life that God had placed His hand upon him and that he would be nowhere without God. 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. Cast [ edit] "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. Among UT fans, his name is synonymous with the Arkansas fumble and what it meant to UTs 1998 season. While you might not know his name, Brandon Burlsworth and his college football career deserve to be at the top of the list. His story is the subject of movie that debuts Friday called. Please read our Terms of Use or contact us. "I just wished I'd had the opportunity to have been part of his development. 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. Tee came off the field and Billy told him, Hey man, dont put your helmet away. 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. #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. You can say that if you werent a part of it and you didnt see what I saw. 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. With the tragic way he died, how did you make sense of it all? The lineman had returned from the Colts' weekend minicamp. Brandon's Arkansas coach Houston Nutt told Sports Illustrated, "He always did everything exactly right, and I've never known anyone to work as hard.". The play was unpredictable, right? 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. 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. Hes in college at Georgia Southern. [3] I asked Barbara about what her son's faith meant to him. During his UT career, Ratliff suffered a severe neck injury, two torn knee ligaments and serious shin splints. All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. MB: Brandon was revered pretty quickly for the obstacles that he overcame. Carrolton ap former arkansas offensive guard brandon burlsworth died in a car crash as he headed home to harrison from fayetteville officials said. You cant control it, Ratliff said. "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.". 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. Tice said he also called then-Hog head coach Danny Ford and asked him to take a look at Brandon. 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 . Foreign Language Department brings back after-school Harding employees bring families to swim Searcy Police and Public Safety investigate Reframing chapel: administration introduces changes, Student Association celebrates Earth Week. 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 was killed in a car accident just days after the 1999 NFL Draft. Tee came off the field and Billy told him, Hey man, dont put your helmet away. Literally. Harding School of Theology student Ben Hansen said the movie far exceeded his low expectations due to the quality of some Christian movies. During the Razorbacks football history, plenty of great players have hit the gridiron. What you do in between, determines your legacy, so make sure you give it everything you've got until you hear that whistle. Among UT fans, his name is synonymous with the Arkansas fumble. Turns out, that conversation was all for naught thanks to Billy Ratliff. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Greater misses key fact. After Burslworths death, those close to him created the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation; according to the foundations website, the Christian organizations mission is to support the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those who have limited opportunities. You want to just tell the story as if no one had ever heard it before. "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. For fans of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Burlsworth has been a household name for years. All-American ( 1998) 2 First-team All-SEC ( 1997, 1998) Arkansas Razorbacks No. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts and 11 days later was tragically killed in. '"I told him how much it would mean to them to receive that message from him.". Our opponents are set! For more information contact us at communication@harding.edu or visit us at harding.edu/communication. Some called the Vols lucky after the Arkansas game. "When Brandon showed up at the rookie camp, he was even better than I thought he'd be," said Mudd. But Arkansas was the dream. Click to reveal When the 1999 NFL draft rolled around, the Indianapolis Colts made the linemans dreams a reality and selected him with the 63rd-overall pick. 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. . It was a tough situation. 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. Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. 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. He went to Harrison High School and graduated from there. Suddenly, the Vols had the ball in Arkansas territory with time to mount a more conventional drive. I think about that all the time.. You sow a habit, you reap a character. However, he was killed in an automobile accident 11 days after the draft. 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. The football fraternity had great expectations from the talented young man but fate had other plans and he was killed in an accident. One Coleman recalled seeing Ratliff, who was over 300 pounds, dunk a basketball with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Marty Burlsworth said his brother always remembered where he came from and wanted to help kids in similar situations to his. He declined both, insisting instead on joining the Razorbacks as a walk-on. If you feel like you're losing control over your gambling experience, call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA, WV), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-888- 532-3500(Virginia) 1-800-522-4700 (NV, TN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO, TN), 1-855-2CALLGA (IL), 1-800-270-7117 (MI). "If God ever made the perfect person, it was that guy," said then teammate Sacha Lancaster to Sport Illustrated. 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. "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. After college he became a third-round pick of the Colts. Stoerner lost his grip as he seemingly laid the ball on the ground. He was more assertive than most of the other linemen at the practices. 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. He loved the kids, Marty Burlsworth said. 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. That defined the Tennessee offense that year, Cutcliffe said. Since 2010, the Burlsworth Trophy has been handed out to the best player in college football who started his career as a walk-on. The more the "farmer" talked to Marty about faith and religion and making him doubt the more detailed it became. Q: What message do you want fans to take from this movie? 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. That Burlsworth was in the accident was completely like the unselfish person who established a cult following while a Razorback. A&P Commission approves funding for robotics Campus Life introduces Cotton Candy Friday. Secure the best seats & best benefits for next season, and be there live for exciting matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and more of the NFL's best opponents. I hope he finds a home on an NFL team, and more than that hope he finds peace. #OvercomingTheOddsParalympian Scout Bassett embraces her story of scars, survival ESPN https://t.co/HHMSCULYIU, Lillian Jackson (@diamondlil1016) August 29, 2019, Friends, I spent the day with Arsenals Gunnersaurus Rex. He walked on to the University of Arkansas to become the first All-American from that program in a decade. Accordingly, I was thrilled to get him.". It made them believe they could win a title and instilled fear of the possibility of coming up short. 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. "Then I turned around and the next player I faced was Brandon. 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. Billy was great. 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. On Friday, Aug. 26, the movie "GREATER" will be released in theaters. "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. 'Burls Kids' is a program where youngsters attend Colts and Razorbacks games, and the foundation conducts camps and prep football awards. He had worked so hard and everything was in line to make his dreams come true. Burlsworth, 22, a third-round draft pick from Arkansas, was killed in a car crash less than a half-hour from home Wednesday. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2d144239416bbd check will go to Burlsworth's former high school for its scholarship fund and the other was presented to Arkansas, his alma mater. 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. After walking on, Burlsworth became an All-American and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts to help protect Peyton Manning. On the practice field, a dedicated and fully-focused Burlsworth did not remove his helmet or unbutton his chin strap. After the Arkansas game, we knew that was our moment, former UT cornerback Dwayne Goodrich said. Considering the medical issues, an NFL career wasnt likely in the works. The Colts also announced all members of the team will have a special decal on their helmets in a tribute to Burlsworth. One of Fulmers favorite phrases was Pound the Rock, as in run the football until the other team breaks. Brandon was a walk on turned All American at the University of Arkansas. When its your time, its your time. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these. Q: I remember hearing how as a high school sophomore that Brandon didnt look anything like a future SEC player. He joined the team as a walk-on and eventually became an All-American . This is a movie not just for football fans but for everyone. He was already something special, but it would have been something else had he not gone through the injuries he did.. MB: We want them to know that bad things can and will happen. Tragically, that never happened. He inspires people.