July5). That's when the offer to walk-on came. According to sources, he was focused on his professional progress and awaiting the right time to reveal his relationship. As of the 2020 census the population stood at 128. Thats the dream. } And I remembered to do what other agents had advised me to do, I kept multiple lines open. A screenplay titled Greater: The Brandon Burlsworth Story was written based on the book. According to sources, he was focused on his professional progress and awaiting the right time to reveal his relationship. He was a two-time All-American and was the first member of the Arkansas football team to earn a masters degree. Boy, did he have the size and did he have the skills. He did run 5.0. And I couldnt wait to be right there with him. ``I used to kid him about being the only guy on campus who wore his car on his back,'' said Russ Brown, who played on the Arkansas Razorback offensive line with Burlsworth for four years. But Id do anything for that kid. Brown doesn't remember Brandon that first semester, either. I said I was going to the UofA. On the day he was supposed to be picking out wedding rings with his fiancee, Brandon Burlsworth was buried. Primarily, these students come from working families who cannot afford extras like eye care and do not qualify for state funded programs. The tickets are distributed through Razorback Clubs across the state. He became very active in the youth group. I could not believe what Isaw on the June 28 issue. But this was my brother. One was center Jay Leeuwenberg. He is a voter for the Heisman Trophy and has been inducted into the Arkansas Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame. Brandon was 22 years old when he died in a car his crash on April 28, 1999. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. I do remember this, when we came back that second semester ahead of spring drills, you knew him then because he was doing things in our workouts that showed extra effort, Brown said. He did what we told him. Among the ideas: retiring his No. Now, I was taking calls from the same stations about Brandons death.. But Brandon would stay on campus, working painting the stadium, setting up dorms, things like that and taking classes. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. The team broke into laughter. The struggles that he had gone through to get where he was were over. Brandon Burlsworth Girlfriend Heather Nichols. I know hes working hard, but hell know and well know., Coach, mark it down. Some things are fuzzy from 20 or 30 years ago, but I remember that pretty well. Win the World Series? Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It was Brandon Burlsworth. The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, in partnership with Walmart/Sam's Optical Department and independent optometrists across Arkansas, provides eye care to thousands of pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade students. His awards and his many accolades are numerous but among them are earning a scholarship the first year. "We attended the First Assembly in Harrison and Brandon was always there, starting at about 10 years old. I was high as a kite. [8] In 2013, Bleacher Report named Burlsworth the #1 Greatest Walk-On player of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Era. First, Brandons older brother, Bart, was diagnosed with cancer. David Hunt, who also helped Brian write the screenplay, directed the movie, and Gabe Mayhan was director of photography. And it paid off. It's just hard to believe this happened. Tice said the school will go ahead with plans it made before Burlsworth's death to hold a day in his honor next week. A couple of weeks before Brandon left for school, one of the Arkansas coaches called me. His locker is enclosed in a glass case in the Razorback locker room. The Harrison Youth Center in Harrison, Arkansas, was renamed the Brandon Burlsworth Youth Center in May 1999. It was 300 pounds.. in business administration. Thats what its all about: What you do while you were here. -- a drive he had made hundreds of times -- Burlsworth was killed in a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer. } Not like my younger brother Brandon. (NWA Media). I asked him about the young players, still not with the varsity. Probably wouldn't have anyway. More than. I did chuckle when I got a release from a public relations man in Los Angeles touting the movie with a bad fact. Eighteen students at the University of Arkansas who are primarily from smaller towns and who are characterized as academic overachievers receive $5,000 scholarships. You just had to tell him what to do and he'd do it.. Alumni and Classmates from Harrison high school indicated additional details about his wound and his demise Later, he drafted. Drew probably prefers Motel 8 because there's more moneyleft in his wallet the next morning. Now, if you find yourself at that Colts shop, I told him, You make sure and get us some gear this time.. The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Florida), May 2, 1999, Sun. We have lots of information about Heather: religious views . It's Hollywood. He called to check in a couple of times. He spent as many days as he could in the weight room getting stronger. So I started calling coaches and seeing where he could play. For the next three years, Brandon started for the Razorbacks. Win the Super Bowl? But I wanted to uncover the real story. He'll engage the man over him, release him, brush a linebacker enough he can't make the play and then watch this, he's going to go 20 yards down the field and get in the way of the safety, Felker said. Trending News "We are going to retire his high school jersey. Follow the action as the Razorbacks take on the Redbirds at Baum-Walker , On this episode of the Whole Hog Baseball Podcast, Matt Jones and , The Arkansas baseball team has no time to dwell on the 12-3 , Arkansas right fielder Jace Bohrofen is showing the potential at the plate , On Wednesdays we feature an in-state prospect who could be flying under , No. I couldn't believe the quotes from J.D. It was just one of those things when its time, its time. So was I. That looks good, doesnt it? I said. I never thought Bubby was washed up. Jessica Mendoza's greatest pride is her background. All season I watched as goal after goal was disallowed when anoffensive player had so much as a toenail in the crease. He is most famous for his college football career at the University of Arkansas. The children are given an official "Burls Kid" T-shirt and replica glasses similar to those Brandon wore on the field. Faith and family they meant everything to Brandon. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). It is the second retired football jersey in school history. Arlis Thrasher, said the couple was to have spent Saturday picking out wedding rings. I was on that trip, he said. I don't know for sure, but I figure that being in the movie came from me. Brandon Burlsworth was only 22 years old when he died. Boom. That's the kind of stuff we had for Leotis Harris, Greg Koch and R.C. He declined both, insisting instead on joining the Razorbacks as a walk-on. He told the UA head coach, We need to go get him. ", Nutt mixed amusing stories about Burlsworth in his emotional talk. And boy, was he soaking it in. "He listened, then just did it," said Tice. 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. On top of that, Dad had trouble with drinking and wasnt really in our lives when Brandon was a little boy. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. However, we areSacramento Kings fans, and we thought that Chris Webber'sknockdown of John Stockton was very cool. As everyone knows, in footballyou have to wear a helmet. One thing about the Division II schools in Arkansas, they all knew it was a waste of time to recruit someone that Arkansas planned to offer. Then cast your vote, Bruce Springsteen adds to mythology with three-hour show at Tulsa's BOK Center, State board approves new academic standards with Ryan Walters' last-minute revisions, More than 800 Oklahoma medical marijuana farms linked to organized crime, drug agency says, Bill Haisten: A massive event NCAA wrestling in downtown Tulsa, OU athletics director Joe Castiglione on SEC transition; OU-Texas afternoon kickoff; Kyler Murray statue and more. Garrison Stadium in Harrison, Arkansas, and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. More than 1,000 mourners gathered Saturday at the Harrison High School auditorium. Before I leave the remarkable legacy of Harrison's Brandon Burlsworth and the film of his life called , now showing in nearly 400 theaters across America, I want to share a few back-story notes. Well, I was on all of those trips. Brandon Burlsworth died 10 days after being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1999. Knight pointed to Garrett and Brown. 1998 The Associated Press. So you just walk down this side of the stadium, O.K.? The Indianapolis Colts honored him by giving each family member and the University of Arkansas Athletic Director a $5,000 (USD) check at halftime of the first Colts game after Brandon died in 1999. I dont even think he played one game. The next part of the story flips to Virgil Knight, Ford's fine strength and conditioning man. Arkansas doesnt have a pro football team I dont even know if a pro team could survive here. And every week he was right on time with his little white Subaru parked in Moms driveway. p. 1226. But I didnt have that natural talent. Hes not going down.. Since 2000, the Foundation has bought 30 tickets to each Arkansas Razorbacks home football game. He died instantly. But he probably didn't say a word in the locker room. So we had guys like Grant Garrett and Russ Brown.. I've seen the movie. He graduated from high school in 1994 and was recruited as a football player for the University of Arkansas. Tragedy Strikes For The Burlsworth Family All rights reserved. At the combine, Burlsworth topped all linemen with a 4.88 40-yard dash. In 1998, he was selected to the college football all-america team. He earned 1st team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998 and was selected for the 1998 College Football All-America Team. ``When he got in, he'd get in sideways. Hed be all over the line, right off the snap. ``(Colts owner) Jim Irsay made it clear to me last night when I delivered the sad news, that Brandon was a Colt and we are going to honor his memory in the appropriate fashion,'' Indianapolis general manager Bill Polian said at a press conference Wednesday. 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. He was preparing to marry Heather Nichols. He's been struggling, but we hope he can make it. 2?JEFF GOSS, North Providence, R.I. He bench-pressed 225 pounds 28 times, weighed 308 pounds, and measured slightly below 6 feet 4 inches. A third-round draft choice last month, he was supposed to be getting ready to play for the Indianapolis Colts, blocking for Peyton Manning and opening holes for running backs. It was gratifying to see recognition given to trainers(SCORECARD, June 28). 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. With that, Felker put on a tape. Brandon Burlsworth, a former Arkansas football player, is best known for his time with the Razorbacks from 1995 to 1998. Brandon Burlsworth was known as an American professional football player. I can't believe Michael Farber devoted his Stanley Cup finalswrap-up story almost entirely to Brett Hull's controversial goal(The Bitter End, June 28). Darryl Strawberry didn'tdecide to start doing drugs once he realized kids admired him,and Mike Tyson didn't survive in New York City by makingcrumpets for other children. Brown is going. There just wasnt enough space anywhere else. Each year the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation gives out several awards and scholarships at various school levels. Instead, he did set goals and worked hard to achieve them.". 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. The book, Eyes of a Champion, the Brandon Burlsworth Story, was delivered in 2001. The Burlsworth family was paid by the Colts after their son, Brandon, died. Youll have all your coursework done and can graduate at the end of the year anyway., Yeah, he said with a smile. We attended the first Assembly in Harrison and Brandon was 22 years old was. On all of those things when its time would stay on campus, painting., Greg Koch and R.C gone through to get where he was for... Burlsworth Youth Center in Harrison, Arkansas not afford extras like eye and! His time with his fiancee, Brandon started for the Heisman Trophy has... Players, still not with the Razorbacks from 1995 to 1998 as overachievers... 2? JEFF GOSS, North Providence, R.I said tice was buried what to do he! Gives out several awards and scholarships at various school levels the UA head,... 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