By using BiJog.com you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. | And boy, was he soaking it in. A deep dedication to our nations youth is a high priority of the Burlsworth family. In the movie Im learning from Brandon and I think weve all learned from Brandon but I was right there by his side all the way, you know, backing him and supporting him as far as what he was doing in school and football and the challenges. But I remember going back to churchclose after the accident and after the death had settled a little bit. [To] anyone whos struggling with their faith when something catastrophic happens, I guess the best thing I can say is- to me- thats somewhat normal. "I wanted Brandon's story to be known. It was the Razorbacks. (as Stephen Raynor-Endelman) (music by) Cinematography by Gabe Mayhan . Even an idea, you knowa script can sit on the shelf and never see the light of day. Jessica Mendoza's greatest pride is her background. Where it doesnt have such a bad ending? Burlsworth rouses 'big brother' actor - Arkansas Online Faith, Trust and Character: The Life and Legacy of Brandon Burlsworth By the time he was a senior, we both knew that if we wanted to keep playing football he was going to have to enter the NFL draft. The movie wouldn't get made until a non-Hollywood type, an Arkansas real estate developer named Brian Reindl, decided this was a story worth telling onscreen with the Burlsworth family's input - and then some. Neal McDonough does an outstanding job as Marty Burlsworth. But I didnt have that natural talent. Today, those glasses remain the symbol of the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation brandonburlsworth.org. That was very very tough. Greater reflects that relentless energy we need in order to be the best people we can and, at times, to push further than anyone suspects we can go. By Carl Kozlowski. Marty L Burlsworth, Harrison Public Records Instantly I think it was in June [1999] I think [thats] kinda when that started. At one point on the gridiron, Brandon argues with a teammate that their perspective on the field is limited; the coach has information from a higher perspective, from a skybox where the whole field can be seen, and they need to trust him. So was I. That looks good, doesnt it? I said. So that makes it quite a bit easier to revisit because weve never really gone away. So you didnt know if that was going to happen but that wasnt really the main [concern]. The main [concern] was that it was going to go somewhere that really never happened. . Takeaways from Brandon Burlsworth movie 'Greater' It always seemed like a movie to me. And Ill get a photo of you in your uniform. Brandon Burlsworth was born on September 20, 1976, in Harrison, Arkansas. But this was my brother. As the tagline proclaims, Greater tells the incredible true story of dreamer Brandon Burlsworth who set his mind to joining the University of Arkansas Razorbacks and through great effort and commitment, accomplished just that. Brandon was the kind of guy you win with.. He called to check in a couple of times. And we were concerned that his faith would take a big backseatAnd we just werent up for that at all. However, even from a young age, Brandon Burlsworth (Christopher Severio) knew in his heart he would one day play college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks, and dedicated his life to making a difference for himself and his teammates. He is married to Vickie who serves as the Executive Director of the Foundation. Faith is the river that runs through it all, from Brandon's Christian life to Marty's painful spiritual journey at his death to the care with which those threads are woven together. And it was Brandons time. It was my dream, too, and I sure worked hard at it. We first meet him as an overweight young couch potato (Ethan Waller) with apparent delusions of grandeur: Hes convinced hes going to attend the University of Arkansas and play for the Razorbacks. Brandon Burlsworth Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements The family respectfully declined. Finally, in the third round Brandon answered the phone and gave us the thumbs-up. Previously she worked for the Arkansas Travelers, USA Football, NFL, Athleta and the Outlets of Little Rock. He was the kind of guy that we would have plugged in our offensive line for 10-plus years, said then-Colts general manager Bill Polian. Some of that was a little bit of filmmaking andwe were fine with it. Almost Perfect ARKANSAS LINEMAN BRANDON BURLSWORTH - Sports Illustrated People were swinging by all day. When he set his mind to something, you better believe you were going to witness him do it. "I . She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the foundation and has been with the BBF since 2010. I tried bringing it up to him again. Arkansas All-American Walk-On Burlsworth Now the Subject of Film Majority of the time she will join him for school appearances. "People are seeing it for the first time, and that's really cool," Marty said. The 22-year-old Burlsworth, who had been drafted by the Colts 11 days earlier in the wake of gaining first-group All-America respects as a fifth-year senior, was involved with a head-on crash with a tractor-trailer around 15 miles outside Harrison and was killed. And would you believe it, it was the Indianapolis Colts who took him. Harrison, Arkansas, is about as small town as it gets. Because we dont want to be there- that close- to some scenes thatll be tough to watch even being filmed. David Hunt, the movies director, also assisted with the screenplay. He is a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. company, Get valuable lists emailed directly He didnt take one summer off the entire time he was at Arkansas. Catholic Church. I dont think anyone was at fault. Burlsworth was too small (260 pounds) when he finished high school. I mean everybody knew. That's an inadequate synopsis of an exemplary life. In November 1998, the Razorbacks were 8-0, ranked 10th in the country, and playing at No. Anything that wasnt right, wasnt real, wasnt what Brandon was about. There are few actors in Hollywood brave enough to wear their Catholic faith on . The movies response to this question comes in the form of a metaphor. Marty speaks nationwide on developing character and overcoming adversity. Director Yelena Popovic discusses why this film had to be made. And for the next three years, every Friday at 5:30 p.m., Id close up the photography studio I owned in Harrison, pick up my mom, and my wife and kids, and drive to Brandons football games. As floodwaters washed away his Louisiana home, the pretend Brandon Whether Im driving around town, past the baseball park where we used to play catch, past the Razorbacks signs on front lawns, I feel his presence. properties, Build a downloadable list In the award's twelfth year, the Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas Walk . We were going to Fayetteville for the game and I called him early in the week to tell him where our seats would be. I was 16 years older than Brandon, so I was already out of the house, married and raising my own boys by the time he was of any age. On the way there, Burlsworth died an unthinkable death that shook the entire state. He loved football, Marty said. Portrait and Wedding Photographers Arkansas He was in the prime of his football career. I would talk to him most every night. From anyone who is struggling with God because of a loss theyve faced, especially one as devastating as a close family member, what wisdom would you share with them? Now, more than ever, with the success of GREATER, he enjoys meeting the fans of his brother Brandon and encouraging others to Do it the Burls Way. "Brian wouldn't let go.". Teens and up. That's not a boast. Brian Reindl, writer and producer of "Greater," said he loved the opportunity to tell such an incredible story in his first-ever production. Starting the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation shortly after his death, even as the grief was overwhelming, just set those plans into motion sooner. McDonough plays Marty, Brandon's big brother and father figure in the film, and he . ", Forgotten? Not early or easily when it came to football, but eventually and powerfully. Burlsworth was also Arkansas' first All-American player since 1993 and was also on the All-SEC Academic Honor Roll from 1995 to 1998. 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. There were many times I know it was tough. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. If it meant going over to Moms house to help him with homework, I wanted to be there. Marty Leo Burlsworth from Harrison, Arkansas | VoterRecords.com I think Brandon would be proud of the work were doing in his name. The Vols blocked a kick in that game and the football was picked up by linebacker Al Wilson, who started racing down the right sideline a good 40 yards down the sideline. By his senior year, Brandon was an all-conference and all-state player and played in the states All-Star Game. Thats the dream. Marty Burlsworth is available to appear at special events as his schedule allows. We werent proactive at all in [making a movie]. Instead, Marty is looking forward to next season, when the story of Brandon Burlsworth's astonishing rise to National Football League draftee will reach movie screens nationwide. He wont be going down., Well, thats good, he said, sort of laughing. John Corbett stars in a remarkable faith-based film, based on a true story, about a dying Tennessee church transformed by an encounter with refugees. Greater than my previous knowledge of a young man's winding road from small-town walk-on to home-state hero. He just kicked it in, No, this is not happening.. When the pandemic started, I guess we all needed to find hobbies to help us pass the time. For me, it was reading. Possible relatives for Marty Burlsworth include Roselee Arnold, Keshia Flowers, Brady Burlsworth and several . I never used to worry before Brandon died. The former Arkansas hostile, Brandon Burlsworth was headed to his Harrison, Ark., home from Fayetteville, where he got a SEC West title ring alongside the remainder of the 1998 Razorbacks on April 28, 1999. So that was kind of the stamp of approval there, plus theyre Christians and they didnt want to lose that faith aspect. Mr. Severio sounds like a guy that Brandon Burlsworth would have been proud to have depict him in a movie, as a selfless, hard-working, humble, self-deprecating character. Or Drew Carey, the comedian. Perhaps Martys favorite play from Brandons college career is one that occurred in the same game as the play he would most like to forget. And it paid off. Marty Burlsworth tells us about bringing the story of Greater to the screen, his relationship with Brandon, and making ones way through understanding and accepting God in times of crisis. Even after away games, when the Razorbacks returned to Fayetteville late at Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? The state with the most residents by this name is Arkansas, followed by Colorado. Over the next two years he reformed his body to become more muscular and went back to a 300lb physique. We didnt want that Sports Illustrated did a feature piece on Brandon. Greaters response to the problem of evil, to disbelief and nihilism, is not an argument, but an action: a choice to trust. The present-day strand follows preparations for Brandons funeral and Martys internal struggle with doubt and nihilism, a struggle movingly realized by McDonough. But as it got later in the evening and Mom got more and more worked up, I hopped into my own car to head over and see if we could find out what had happened. Harrison, Arkansas, United States. 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. For someone who had worked so hard and not only did he work so hard, but [for] the family to be backing him and supporting him and talking to him everyday and seeing him everyday and [him] moving on and going on to greater things and then for that to- boom- [and be] over. He is most famous for his college football career at the University of Arkansas. Just give us a call at 870-741-5111 . The 22-year-old, drafted 11 days earlier by the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, was headed home to take his mother to church. Marty's current home is located at . What Marty thinks about now, though, is that even when Brandon was in college and then after he was drafted by the Colts, he had all these ideas for how he wanted to help people. It was 2005 and the . He put on weight before enrolling at Arkansas, but it was a bad 40 or so pounds that he eventually had to melt before. The foundation, established in 1999, has several programs that serve children in Arkansas and around the country. A couple of weeks before Brandon left for school, one of the Arkansas coaches called me. 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.". Along with Brandons rise, Greater equally focuses on the loss experienced by Brandons family, especially his brother Marty, and the questions about Gods goodness that are stirred by the heartache and grief. 2018 Burlsworth & Associates Real Estate in Harrison, AR The drive would always take around an hour and a half but he never made it. Had you ever thought of Brandons story as a film? She started her career with Century 21 and then joined Jerry Jackson as he opened his office in 2001. Channing Frye and Iman Shumpert are back to explain the stakes, place bets and analyze the most valuable players in the NBA Finals. Hed call me or Id call him and we would talk about what practice was like that day. And the first call I made was to the recruiting coordinator at Arkansas. She enjoys singing on the worship team at church, riding motorcycles with her husband, photography, and scrapbooking. Everybody knew. So by his fourth year at Arkansas, he was already finishing his masters degree. It was 2005, and the Burlsworth family . Mom and I picked him up at the airport when he came home. He shows up at the stadium for practice long before anyone else is there and when one of the coaches finds him, hes idly picking up litter in the parking lot. When Stoerner fell the ball came out and Tennessee recovered. Now, I was taking calls from the same stations about Brandons death.. Brandon Burlsworth was known as an American professional football player. Marty Burlsworth - HARRISON, AR Real Estate Agent | realtor.com Vickie Burlsworth is the Executive Director of the Foundation that she and Marty founded honoring Brandon after his passing in 1999.
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