"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. Carrolton ap former arkansas offensive guard brandon burlsworth died in a car crash as he headed home to harrison from fayetteville officials said. 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. We have a saying in our family, said Marty Burlsworth. 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. I know his teammates respected him for the work he put in and his incredible dedication. There is some footage of the real Brandon after the last credits. 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. Brian Reindl, writer and producer of "Greater," said he loved the opportunity to tell such an incredible story in his first-ever production. MB: Our agreement was that the family could object if we felt something was not portrayed in the right manner. He inspires people. Q: What was the relationship like between your brother and folks from Arkansas? 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. Unfortunately, Brandon was tragically killed in a head-on automobile collision just 11 days after the draft. Another trait that set Brandon apart was his respectful devotion to doing whatever authority figures asked of him. Brandon burlsworth dies on arkansas highway after head on collision with tractor trailer. I promise you that ball seemed like it was there for 5 or 6 seconds.. 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? Sad to see the pain still inside him. The team broke into laughter. Thats where things were headed as Arkansas quarterback Clint Stoerner lined up under center on second down with just 1:47 left on the clock. Burlsworth ran a 40-yard touchdown in 4.88 seconds during the combine, more than any other player. 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. 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. #HistoricHog pic.twitter.com/xBCanCzixz. . He earned first-team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998; he was also named a first-team All-American during the 1998 campaign. We certainly didnt write the script, but we felt our opinions were always welcome. Ratliff continued playing football for the love of the game. The Harrison, Arkansas, native walked on and became a three-year starter, All-American and NFL Draft pick. Draft but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. I love that, whether its as (a former) lineman or just a person that likes sports. 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. Coleman recalled seeing Ratliff, who was over 300 pounds, dunk a basketball with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. (Zac Budman/ESPN), The Burlsworth Award trophy (Zac Budman/ESPN), Ruettiger, the famed former Notre Dame football walk-on], ESPN Producer Michelle Rosenhouse Makes the Most of Memorable Moments, Journalism Showcase: SC Featured Highlights Cheyney States Remarkable 1982 Womens Basketball Team, Inside ESPN Marketings XFL Spot Bring It In, Journalism Showcase: SportsCenter Reporter Dives Into Growth of Girls Youth Flag Football. Harding University in Florence students get Sladers Alaskan Dumpling Co. hosts birthday Students attend annual National Prayer Breakfast. Brandon burlsworth dies on arkansas highway after head on collision with tractor trailer. The fundraising event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. For more information contact us at communication@harding.edu or visit us at harding.edu/communication. Known throughout Arkansas, Indianapolis was only getting to know Burlsworth. During the Razorbacks football history, plenty of great players have hit the gridiron. 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 book, Eyes of a Champion, the Brandon Burlsworth Story, was delivered in 2001. Until that point in the game, he had his way with the Vols, including Ratliff. 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. He loved the sport, though, and worked his way to all-state honors by the time he graduated. Yet Ratliff kept fighting through his injuries to help his teammates. What else could I do? He was killed in a car accident just days after the 1999 NFL Draft. As tangible as his encased locker in the Broyles Athletics Center, the Burls' kids program and the Burlsworth Trophy given each year to the nation's most outstanding walk on football player,. Q: Brandons life seemed to have incredible highs and lows. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Casting Directors are now casting for the upcoming SAG feature film "Greater" filming in Arkansas. But he loses that control over him and his faith is restored making the carving revert back. Burlsworth, 22, died 10 days after his selection on April 28, 1999, in a car crash in Arkansas. Every place starts with a cadence and ends with a whistle. Among UT fans, his name is synonymous with the Arkansas fumble and what it meant to UTs 1998 season. Tennessee is only one of a handful of SEC football states with legalized sports betting. 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 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. Once his chance, though, Burlsworth seized his opportunity. Performance & security by Cloudflare. They said they were at a loss at what to do after Brandons death but knew they had to do something to keep moving forward. He died in a car crash on april 28 1999 shortly after he was drafted by the nfls indianapolis colts. 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). 172.104.178.68 After all, UT needed a pass interference penalty to beat Syracuse and were outgained by Florida but still beat the Gators. 1. I cant imagine losing a child at that age. We support responsible gambling. "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.". Tragically, that never happened. You want to just tell the story as if no one had ever heard it before. Ratliff replaced fellow defensive lineman Jeff Coleman, who was suffering from cramps on the sideline when Ratliffe made history. Although he never played a down in the NFL, he had impressed Mudd enough during mini-camp that. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Billy Ratliff was right next to me, Wilson said. Brandon was very undersized as a freshman and sophomore, a skinny kid. 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. Unfortunately, Brandon was tragically killed in a head-on automobile collision just 11 days after the draft." After being six feet tall and weighing 200 pounds as a senior at Harrison High School in 1993, Burlsworth grew almost three inches and added 30 pounds by the following spring. 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MB: Brandon was revered pretty quickly for the obstacles that he overcame. ", Tammy and Danny Roth of Harrison were friends of the Burlsworths. This is incredible. Please enjoy the peak of my journalistic career. Q: How important for you was it that this movie get made? Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at the University of Arkansas in 1994. During his junior and senior years, his work ethic and focus really kicked in. Brandon was a walk on turned All American at the University of Arkansas. Brandon Burlsworth was in a car accident and was announced dead at the scene on April 28, 1999. 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. "I couldn't stop talking to my wife about how impressive he was and what a bright future he had.". 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 to his family's home. Ratliff pounced on the ball. After walking on, Burlsworth became an All-American and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts to help protect Peyton Manning. Brandon doesn't start out with all . 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. Email him at [emailprotected], Copyright 2023, Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. It was a crazy play. ET on ESPN from Sundance Square in Fort Worth, Texas. 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. Do it the Burls way: Have character. Good fortune was certainly on the Vols side against Arkansas. MB: Shortly after the accident, we got a call from a national magazine. If it does not offend you, then you should enjoy it. 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.". 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. Steichen called plays for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Id never heard it before. After the Arkansas game, we knew that was our moment, former UT cornerback Dwayne Goodrich said. After working 11 years on his Brandon Burlsworth biopic Greater, Reindl is within days of seeing his dream project open on 400 to 450 screens across the Southeast, Midwest and Southwest next week.. Burlsworth was an All-American football player for the University of Arkansas, who died tragically in an automobile . There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. However, he was killed in an automobile accident 11 days after the draft. He became very active in the youth group. On the practice field, a dedicated and fully-focused Burlsworth did not remove his helmet or unbutton his chin strap. He wanted to help underprivileged kids with his NFL money. Ratliff and Coleman were suite mates, so they knew each other well off the field. Brandon burlsworth car accident details. He died in a car crash on April 28, 1999, shortly after he was drafted by the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. The football fraternity had great expectations from the talented young man but fate had other plans and he was killed in an accident. With the tragic way he died, how did you make sense of it all? Arkansas needed 12 yards for the first down, but that wasnt even necessary. Sow with thought, you reap in action. For people unfamiliar with Brandons story, walk us through his development from your perspective. All rights reserved. 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. Had he joined the Indianapolis Colts, Brandon Burlsworth probably would have made quite the impact on the football field. There were times when he was almost late to games because he would never turn a kid down for an autograph or anything.. 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. "I kept coming back to comparisons with Brandon. | 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. Cast [ edit] 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 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. "I took the player's helmet and put it on," said Tice. His heart weighed a good part of that. "GREATER" tells the story of Burlsworth, a former college walk-on, who would go on to earn All-America honors at the . The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. 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. https://t.co/0d1lDS8ST3, Chris Jones (@EnswellJones) August 29, 2019, Tragic what happened to him. Burlsworth was killed in a car accident in 1999 after being drafted . Tee came off the field and Billy told him, Hey man, dont put your helmet away. . He never got there, dying in. **CLICK HERE FOR FOOTAGE OF BRANDON BURLSWORTH IN 1999 ROOKIE CAMP**. If its difficult to describe the love for a brother its impossible to explain the loss of a brother. After walking on, Burlsworth became an All-American and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts to help protect Peyton Manning. 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 . 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. Instead, the dreams of a family and the promise of an NFL career were cut short tragically when Burlsworth was killed 15 years ago today in a car accident as he headed home to Harrison, Arkansas. He had fresh legs and blew up the play.. I hope he finds a home on an NFL team, and more than that hope he finds peace. ESPN College GameDay 8-31-19 #WeTrust pic.twitter.com/x3UCtOjLLf, Burlsworth Trophy (@BurlsworthTrust) August 29, 2019. My mom says that Brandons message comes through. After that ran, we began getting calls from Los Angeles about doing a movie. A rookie mini-camp was held days after the draft. When publicity photos were taken, the lights in a confined photo area cast reflections that made the picture impossible. 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. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts and 11 days later was tragically killed in. It became clear that this was a story that would resonate far beyond the state boundaries. The boy was almost 6-foot-4 and tipped the scales at more than 300 pounds. 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. Stoerner tried to balance himself with right hand. Q: What message do you want fans to take from this movie? It was a tough situation. It was an interesting set of play calls for Cutcliffe, who is widely considered a quarterback and passing game guru. 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. 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. 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. 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 . He was already something special, but it would have been something else had he not gone through the injuries he did.. Sports betting in Tennessee officially launched on November 1, 2020, and many of the largest sportsbooks are live and operating in the volunteer state. His truck collided with an approaching 18-wheeler causing him to veer into his lane then he crashed with another tractor-trailer head-on. Actor Chris Severio as Brandon Burlsworth, wearing his trademark black-rimmed glasses. Mock Draft Monday, our weekly roundup of experts' predictions for who the Colts will take in the NFL Draft, is back a week after the Colts named Shane Steichen head coach.