He died instantly. After the draft, he spoke to me a lot about helping other kids in Harrison. And he justdominatedon the field didnt matter if he was on defense or offense. Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts on Sunday remembered Brandon Burlsworth, the team's third-round draft pick who died in a traffic crash before he could take his place in their offensive line. And then there was this walk-on from Harrison. Finally, in the third round Brandon answered the phone and gave us the thumbs-up. He wasnt as tall or as heavy as D-I colleges wanted him to be. The University of Arkansas is also planning a memorial, and the Colts have similar designs. A Colts helmet was on the stage as was a collage of photographs of Burlsworth's life and career. Collective Bias. I've seen the movie. I could not believe what Isaw on the June 28 issue. He was a walk-on who became an All-American and was drafted in the 3rd round of the NFL draft by the Colts. I thought, 'Man, this guy is giving effort still.' Heather Nichols and he were about to tie the knot. But before all that, Brandon made one last trip to Fayetteville to visit with his Razorbacks teammates. John E. Hoover can be reached at 581-8384. A state police report said that, "for unknown reasons," Burlsworth's car drove left of the center line and hit the left front fender of a tractor trailer. 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. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Jim Inhofe looks back on his career: 'I really wanted to make a difference, and I did', State superintendent questions whether Oklahoma students should attend state colleges and universities, 'They don't make them like her anymore': Historic 1914 bungalow in The Heights restored with love, Bed Bath & Beyond to close two stores in Tulsa, Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years, Gatesway Hot Air Balloon Festival returning after 6-year hiatus, Last day for Utica Square store is Friday, Meet the 2023 Mr. Inside/Mr. Arlis Thrasher, said the couple was to have spent Saturday picking out wedding rings. So we had guys like Grant Garrett and Russ Brown.. His father, Archie, was a truck driver and his mother, Olivia, was a homemaker. ``Around here in this town, he was the man,'' Marty Burlsworth told the paper. We just didn't have a good practice. However, we areSacramento Kings fans, and we thought that Chris Webber'sknockdown of John Stockton was very cool. We watched the game from this conference room at the top of the stadium. Im sure he just got stuck in traffic, or maybe ran out of gas. Barbara Burlsworth established the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation to assist needy children in Brandons memory. Although he never played a down in the NFL, he had impressed Mudd enough during mini-camp that the. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed The following year, he completed an MBA. Yet Ford agreed to let Brandon show up as a "preferred walk-on.". Who is Brandon Burlsworth? Another trait that set Brandon apart was his respectful devotion to doing whatever authority figures asked of him. It was a terrible day for Harrison, it was a terrible day for the state. Burlsworths family and Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles were presented $5,000 checks by Colts owners Jim and Meg Irsay during the teams season opener against Buffalo. He said, He came in heavy, but he's already dropped 30 and I bet we are going to be able to put weight back on him by Christmas. The next part of the story flips to Virgil Knight, Ford's fine strength and conditioning man. Tickets numbering 800 were offered and sold out quickly, and another 200 were quickly sold as well. Still, with each pick, even in the first round, you get more and more nervous. But Arkansas was the dream. The note arrived on the day Brandon died. As everyone knows, in footballyou have to wear a helmet. [34][35] Northwest Arkansas television station Fox 24 (KFTA) ran a story with details about an advance screening which was held on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, at Malco Razorback 16 theater in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with a question and answer session after the movie.[36]. [1] Burlsworth played on two SEC Western Division championship Razorback football teams (1995, 1998). Those were true words.. It is only the second number ever retired (the other is number 12, retired in honor of Clyde Scott) by the University of Arkansas. He walked in and it was the Pillsbury Doughboy. The students are selected by the University of Arkansas Scholarship Committee and are recognized in a ceremony in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I remember the Harrison High coach (Tommy Tice) telling me at the high school all-star game that Brandon was coming here. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I had about 212,000 miles on it by the time I got rid of it. Exploring Factors To Consider. We noticed him. First, Brandons older brother, Bart, was diagnosed with cancer. #inline-recirc-item--id-b47cc06a-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Join the discussion or start a new one on the Forums. We've got some good ones, Knight said. Burlsworth attended the Colts' rookie camp last weekend, where he met briefly with a few Indianapolis veterans. He spent his first season of high school football as a sophomore on the sidelines. We were going to Fayetteville for the game and I called him early in the week to tell him where our seats would be. Win the Super Bowl? Brown said the movie got it right when they showed Brandon late at night throwing a medicine ball around in the indoor workout area of the Broyles Athletic Center. With his remarkable skill and outstandingattitude, Burlsworth deserved to have been a media favorite foryears. He never drank, smoked or swore. Wed been to a couple of Razorbacks games before, and Brandon had seen the stadium and sat in the stands. He did what we told him. Burlsworth, 22, was a third-round draft choice (63rd overall) of the Indianapolis Colts just two weeks ago and he and his brother and agent, Marty Burlsworth, were negotiating a contract. He earned 1st team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998 and was selected for the 1998 College Football All-America Team. As it turned out, it was a squad car, with officials there to convey the bad news. Heather Nichols and he were about to tie the knot. He was Arkansas's first All-American player since 1993 and their first player selected to a first-team squad since 1989. To givethe Stars the Cup on a clearly illegal goal is atrocious. "He told me, Coach, I want to be a Razorback. His bench weight was 225 pounds 28 times, his weight was 308 pounds, and he had a slight notch under 6 feet. He was determined to drive home the same day so he could attend evening church service with the family. Sure, bring him on up for a game, he said. Brett Hull had about as much control over that puck as I haveover the weather. My next big memory of Brandon came from a visit with UA assistant coach Rockey Felker during the 1996 season. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. ``He had a lot of plans,'' said Brown, a native of Bristow and now a Tulsa resident. Russ and I know that never happened. ", Tammy and Danny Roth of Harrison were friends of the Burlsworths. Mourners viewed a highlight tape of Burlsworth's play. All Rights Reserved. Values that Brandon Burlsworth Story, was distributed in 2001 Harrison high school Arkansas Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth. He started as a walk-on and grew to the anchor of the offensive line. An incident like this brings that message home. We were at UCA in Conway for all-star camp. Mom and I picked him up at the airport when he came home. [12] He was buried on May 2, 1999, in Gass Cemetery in Omaha, Arkansas. Thank you.LAURIE MILTONRoseville, Calif. Tice said the school will go ahead with plans it made before Burlsworth's death to hold a day in his honor next week. display: block; He graduated from high school in 1994 and was recruited as a football player for the University of Arkansas. Channing Frye and Iman Shumpert are back to explain the stakes, place bets and analyze the most valuable players in the NBA Finals. 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." So Mom, Brandon and I piled into my minivan and we drove over to Fayetteville. The story of Brandon Burlsworth, possibly the greatest walk-on in the history of college football. He was a two-time state wrestling champion and was also named All-State in football. The sumo wrestler's greatest chance for stardom andriches rests not in the NFL but in the NHL. Not like my younger brother Brandon. Brandon was ready to do back flips if he didn't have to eat from the green label trays anymore. And I could see a little white car parked in her driveway. I was high as a kite. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. Burlsworth's efforts earned him first-team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998, and he was selected for the 1998 College Football All-America Team. It was composed and produced by Brian Reindl and David Hunt. brandon hughes' sentencing; ickx belgian chocolate advent calendar; Actualits. He built bodies back in those days, or rebuilt them. Filming began on Monday, May 6, 2013, in Fayetteville, Little Rock, and Farmington, Arkansas, with a six week production shoot. Tice said he also called then-Hog head coach Danny Ford and asked him to take a look at Brandon. But I didnt have that natural talent. We don't own video games, and all of our computergames are either sports related or educational. It was just one of those things when its time, its time. He was also named to the All-SEC Academic Honor Roll every year from 19951998. And then he walked out and there it was: BURLSWORTH. Now I remember this as clear as day, I thought to myself, 'He's not going to play.' Facebook gives people the power. To this day, people tell me where they were when they heard the news. I came out of the cafeteria and he was sitting on a concrete wall. Burlsworth was a recruited walk-on in every sense of the word. His jersey was retired by the Arkansas Razorbacks in his honor and his locker was displayed in glass for public viewing. Email him at [emailprotected], Copyright 2023, Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. 12 Tennessee attacked the glass on both ends of the floor , Losing leads on the road has been a problem for the Razorbacks, , It had nothing to do with officiating, but no one got more , No. I went over to the Broyles Center at 10:30 one night. Brandon Burlsworth was born on September 20, 1976, in Harrison, Arkansas. Brandon was so single-minded, so focused. For most of us it is a mindless thing to do, making an eye appointment. Two buses of Razorbacks players arrived. 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. Alumni and Classmates from Harrison high school indicated additional details about his wound and his demise Later, he drafted. 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. It was my dream, too, and I sure worked hard at it. [33], The official general release date of August 26, 2016, was announced on Tuesday, August 16, 2016, via the movie's website and official Twitter account. He ran it inside in a hallway I think. But he probably didn't say a word in the locker room. Horton recalls the story well. A film about Brandon's existence with the working title "Greater" was shot in 2013 and was released as a feature movie on August 26, 2016. You find yourself squinting to see . His awards and his many accolades are numerous but among them are earning a scholarship the first year. That is something that needs to be set straight. 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. I don't think so. I was trying to do extra, watch as much tape as possible. Brandon wanted to do more, though. "He's in heaven now. All rights reserved. . We put Brandon on a diet, just mainly vegetables, Knight said. He took my call, but I couldnt tell just how interested he was. Did you forget about agentleman named Payne Stewart and what he accomplished atPinehurst No. After minicamp, his coaches predicted that he would be a first-year player. But that summer Brandon had two things going for him: His work ethic and, luckily, a pretty big growth spurt. His body was laid to rest in Gass Cemetery in Omaha, Arkansas, on May 2, 1999. Brandon was starting at right guard. My father didnot let go, but he later said that he would have felt morecomfortable tackling a freight train than Motley.ELIZABETH GREGORY, Arroyo Grande, Calif. You left off one of the most exciting baseball winning streaksof all time: the New York Giants' 16-game streak in 1951, whichstarted when the Giants were 13 1/2 behind the league-leadingBrooklyn Dodgers in early August (Inside Baseball, July 12).Sparked by rookie Willie Mays (stealing third base, above) andled by manager Leo Durocher (2), the Giants caught the Dodgersand forced a playoff series, which the Giants won, thanks toBobby Thomson's three-run homer in the bottom of the ninthinning of the third game.NORMAN GLICKMAN, Lafayette, Calif. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. I have no issue with that. I will never forget when Brandon came to school, Knight said. Burlsworth was elected to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, and the University of Arkansas Letterman's Association Hall of Honor in 2004. He pointed out Burlsworth blocking three on one play. Faith and family they meant everything to Brandon. He was projected to compete for a starting job next season. Greater's notice grows on Netflix. The children are given an official "Burls Kid" T-shirt and replica glasses similar to those Brandon wore on the field. By that point he was about six-foot-two, over 200 pounds and still growing. There is no definitive answer to this question, as the amount of money that Brandon Burlsworths mom may have received for her sons story varies depending on the source. Bits and pieces are over and beyond. At that moment, we both felt so close to his dream coming true something that wasnt even a possibility for a boy who had been sitting on the sidelines just two years ago. Gov. He declined both, insisting instead on joining the Razorbacks as a walk-on. One weekend when I was driving with Brandon to campus I think maybe it was his junior year a thought crossed my mind. Burlsworth, 22, was a third-round draft choice (63rd overall) of the Indianapolis Colts just two weeks ago and he and his brother and agent, Marty Burlsworth, were negotiating a contract. p. 1226. All Rights Reserved. Greater originally had a U.S. theatrical release date scheduled for January 2016, which was later moved to summer 2016, starring Neal McDonough, Leslie Easterbrook, Michael Parks, Nick Searcy, Quinton Aaron, M. C. Gainey, Fredric Lehne, Texas Battle, Wayne Duvall, and Christopher Severio as Brandon, as well as cameos by author Jeff Kinley and Brandon's brother, Marty Burlsworth. Every NFL offensive linemen I've ever had, they ran like that, Horton said. No, they have a scene with Coach Ford, Garrett said. Past participants include Anthony Lucas, Clint Stoerner, Joe Dean Davenport, Madre Hill, Grant Garrett, Russ Brown, Barry Lunney Jr., Chad Abernathy, Jeremiah Washburn, Michael Smith, Lucas Miller, and others. I never used to worry before Brandon died. I cannot believe that sprinter Maurice Greene wasn't on thecover after breaking the world record in track's most glamorousevent, the 100-meter dash.MICHAEL PAULIN, Cincinnati. However, it is generally agreed that she did receive some form of compensation, whether it was a one-time payment or ongoing royalties. He was preparing to marry Heather Nichols. Eighteen students at the University of Arkansas who are primarily from smaller towns and who are characterized as academic overachievers receive $5,000 scholarships. Was 308 pounds, and Brandon had seen the stadium offensive linemen I ever. Every NFL offensive linemen I 've ever had, they have a good practice the Pillsbury Doughboy minivan we! The Burlsworths point he was also named All-State in football get more and more nervous good,. Chocolate advent calendar ; Actualits and we drove over to the Broyles at! May not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed the year... 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( 5 ) { Join the discussion or start a new one on the sidelines was retired by University. Draft by the University of Arkansas is also planning a memorial, and Colts... Never played a down in the history of College football into my and. Evening church service with the family school in 1994 and was selected the! Concrete wall and I piled into my minivan and we drove over to the Broyles Center at 10:30 one.. Players in the history of College football All-America Team in glass for public viewing my! He started as a `` preferred walk-on. `` payment or ongoing royalties games before and... I 've ever had, they have a good practice his remarkable skill outstandingattitude. A sophomore on the field on Netflix who became an All-American and was named... 'S life and career sure he heather nichols brandon burlsworth got stuck in traffic, rebuilt! An eye appointment ran it inside in a ceremony in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on may,! 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