Who Was Brandon Burlsworth? Friends and former teammates of Brandon Burlsworth carry his casket on Saturday, May 1, 1999, in Harrison. The 2020 winner was center Jimmy Morrissey from the University of Pittsburgh. 17 of the best walk-ons in college football history | NCAA.com Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks Football Team from 1995 to 1998. He was well-respected because of the way he carried himself he carried himself extremely well off the field as well as on the field. ', "A little later in the drill, he pulled Brandon aside again, and said, 'Brandon, you've got a chance to start here pretty darn early. BRANDON - Burlsworth Trophy In the replay, you can see Brandon and Stoerner cross shins. As a result, his funeral was held in a high school gymnasium, allowing his teammates and family to attend as well. Here's why. Burlsworth was very close to his brothers, Marty and Craig. He joined the team as a walk-on and eventually became an All-American . He made the movie, Greater, which opened the last weekend in August and is still playing in theaters. 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. 77 jersey and will encase his locker in glass as a memorial. His bench weight was 225 pounds 28 times, his weight was 308 pounds, and he had a slight notch under 6 feet. A new recreation concept is about to call the old Conway Block Plant home. Brandon Burlsworth found certainty in an uncertain world. We were just looking for bodies to practice with," Ford said. "I said, 'Brandon, what are you doing?' He outruns his teammates to knock the linebacker out of bounds at the Arkansas 36. Almost Best Arkansas Lineman Brandon Burlsworth Committed - SECHARS 1 Tennessee, Zweig Collaborates with Apple Blossom Brewing Company. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. His final stats: completing 933-of-1,527 passes (61.1 percent) for 10,892 yards and 83 touchdowns against 27 interceptions. "But he was an overachiever, and when he got up there he started whipping people.". Exploring Factors Benefits And Drawbacks. At halftime of the teams season-opener against Buffalo, Colts owners Jim and Meg Irsay presented Burlsworths family and Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles with checks for $5,000 each. Unfortunately, the star died in 1999, aged 22. He also earned his master's degree. 77 retired. Marty, Brandons brother, and Vickie, his sister-in-law, were quick with responses, and generous with photographs. Also speaking at the funeral were Harrison Coach Tommy Tice, Colts President Bill Polian and Rev. His awards and his many accolades are numerous but among them are earning a scholarship the first year. On his way to Harrison to take his mother to church, Mr. Burlsworths Subaru crossed the center line and collided with an eighteen wheeler. Greater has earned back about $1.75 million and, as you would expect, has been popular in Arkansas. Your email address will not be published. The Colts coaches were high on the Hog from Harrison. Brandons number 77 was retired as a result of the Arkansas Razorback football program. State of the Hogs: The real story of Brandon Burlsworth's first year Brandon Burlsworth was known for always playing to the whistle. "He's in heaven now. The trophy is given annually to a college player who started his career as a walk-on. They are active members of the Northside Church of Christ. The family was given a check for $10,000. 1997 Arkansas Razorbacks Roster - College Football at Sports-Reference.com At 2:13:05, there is a great shot of Brandon, unmistakable in his black-frame glasses. "As one of our other coaches said to me yesterday very eloquently before we left to come here, 'Others will play guard for us, but we won't replace Brandon Burlsworth.' There were very few missed assignments.. Who Was Brandon Burlsworth? - Autopsy Report Of The Arkansas Offensive It was dark. Gone Too Soon: The Tragic Yet Uplifting Stories of Football Players Joe "He spent (Tuesday) night with Joe Dean Davenport." (Joe Dean later played for the Colts.) Arkansas is retiring Burlsworth's No. 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. "He stayed around the house and left for Fayetteville on Tuesday," Vickie says. Nutt said Burlsworth was ready for each stage in his life, even his tragic death. After returning to its lane briefly, the car crossed the center line again and hit a second tractor-trailer. ', "Then he said, 'We're going to be all right, aren't we, Coach?' On the ground, he rushed for 1,375 yards and 25 touchdowns. A whittling farmer (Nick Searcy) is cast as a faith antagonist because film makers believe they must have one to create a message. But just 11 days after being drafted, he was killed in a car crash. Amazon: "GREATER follows the true story of Brandon Burlsworth who is perhaps the greatest walk-on in the history of college football. In addition to Polian, the Colts were represented at the funeral by offensive line coach Howard Mudd, starting center Jay Leeuwenburg and trainer Hunter Smith. The University of Arkansas prides itself on doing things the Burls Way., The mindset, which is inspired by former student Brandon Burlsworth, is all about doing things the best you can, high school football coach Tommy Tice told GMA.. FAYETTEVILLE Pittsburgh center Jimmy Morrissey won the Burlsworth Trophy on Monday as the best college football player who began his career as a walk-on. After his two weeks in Indianapolis, Brandon flew home on April 18, 1999, a Sunday. Our Team | Brandon Burlsworth Foundation - The BBF At 63, Burlsworth was not the biggest player on the team, but he quickly earned the respect of his teammates with his hard work and dedication. The University of Arkansas has only ever retired two numbers In honor of Burlsworth, the Razorback locker rooms locker is covered in glass and maintained for upcoming players and fans. "Brandon knew that champions were made when no one else was around and no one else was looking," Tice said. The Burlsworth Foundation provides underprivileged kids with corrective glasses and a chance to go to football camp. Below is a list of the remaining 22 states without NFL teams, in alphabetical order: Arkansas has won one national championship (1964), so its a no-brainer in picking its best year ever. I didnt practice well today, he told his coach. That will change this weekend, with the release of Greater , an independently produced, PG-rated movie that will premiere in more than 400 theaters nationwide, primarily in the South. The Chi airs Sundays at 9/8 Central on Showtime. Consequently Was the movie Greater accurate? He finished his MBA the next year. He became a starter his sophomore year and was named an All-American his senior year. In the 1999 season, he was expected to start for the Colts. Mike Huckabee sent to the Burlsworth family and said that Burlsworth had planned to marry Heather Nichols and that they were to have picked out wedding rings Saturday. According to a report in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, May 10 was. Harrison football players wore their team jerseys, and there were many others from Harrison and around the state. Brandon Burlsworth requested his Arkansas teammates everytime the offense came inside 20 yards of the end sector. Greater - Rotten Tomatoes He was prepared for this day, there's no doubt about that," Nutt said. His brother, Marty, and their mother, Barbara, met him at the airport in Springfield. For fans of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Burlsworth has been a household name for years. Coach Nutt had been pep-talking his players about the future, but not the immediate future. In 1999, Brandons family established a charity in his memory. Brandon was killed in a car accident eleven days after the draft when he was thrown from his vehicle in a head-on collision. We hear from people all over the country who have been inspired by the movie. Undeterred, Brandon took a risk and walked on in 1994. (Photograph by Stephen Thetford), That story, says Coach Nutt, also illustrates the leadership of Mr. Burlsworth, who was known for yelling frequently to his teammates: How bad do you want it?, Arkansas beat Alabama 42 to 6. However, he was offered a walk-on spot at his dream school. It was the only place in this town of 11,611 big enough to hold all the people who came to pay their last respects to Burlsworth, 22, who died Wednesday in an automobile accident. All rights reserved. Even though he was here for a short period, Burlsworth left a legacy and will be remembered for a very long time. Colts' Burlsworth Laid To Rest - CBS News Brandon passed away just ten days after the draft, at the age of, Brandon Burlsworth Car Accident Details Revealed. Brandon, who was 22 years old when he was chosen, passed just ten days after that. Eleven days later he passed on attending a Razorback ring presentation ceremony to drive to his hometown to take his mom to church. The offensive linemans bride-to-be, Heather Nichols, was getting set to wed him. Celebrity.fm #1 Official Stars, Business & People Network, Wiki, Success story, Biography & Quotes, Who Is Coop Based On In Real Life? Mr. Nutt well remembers the words of his first-team All American from their last conversation, less than 24 hours earlier: Coach, Mr. Burlsworth said, Ill be going home.. The Burlsworth family has also started a foundation in Brandons memory, which provides scholarships to young athletes. Houston Nutt likes the movie. He was totally committed. As if by design, at 3 p.m. as Burlsworth was being laid to rest in Gass Cemetery, a Harrison hotel electronic sign with the time and temperature read "77" degrees -- Burlsworth's jersey number at Arkansas. (Photo by Brandons brother, Marty), The movie is doing amazing, says Vickie, who is executive director of the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation. He was a walk-on who later rose to the position of All-American. Brandon Burlsworth was known for always playing to the whistle. Brandon got drafted in the third round of the 1999 draft by the Indianapolis Colts. At the combine, Burlsworth ran the fastest 40-yard time among all linemen (4.88). "By doing this, we will know that once upon a time, we had the honor and privilege of knowing someone like Brandon, and that has made us better people and our community a better place to live," Tice said. Garrett, Brown and Burlsworth lettered four straight years, 1995-98. On the way there, Burlsworth died an unthinkable death that shook the entire state. We just didnt have a good practice. Thats the way it had to be.. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2020 Arkansas Money and Politics. Personal Life & Death. ESPN.com - NFL - Colts pay tribute to Burlsworth 1 movie in every theater we played in Arkansas. The total box office take will be about $2 million, he says. Brandon and Ed played football together and became very close friends over the years. He was buried on the day that he was supposed to be selecting his wedding jewelry, according to CBS News.
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