Wed been to a couple of Razorbacks games before, and Brandon had seen the stadium and sat in the stands. 2023 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 was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the 3rd round of the 1999 NFL draft, but sadly, after eleven days, he was involved in a road accident. Obese, unathletic and clumsy, Brandon confronts his shortcomings as sports-underdog movie heroes have ever done: through determination, hard work and a limitless capacity to absorb punishment, both physical and social. He goes through something we all face when we experience tragedy and trials: Which voices do we listen to? They are active members of the Northside Church of Christ in Harrison, Ar. In 1999, he completed an MBA and was the first Razorback football player to complete a master's degree. Brian Reindl, writer and producer of "Greater," said he loved the opportunity to tell such an incredible story in his first-ever production. He loved football, Marty said. His age is 36. Brandon Burlsworth bulked himself up to 300 lbs to be an offensive guard and by his sophomore season in 1996, he had earned a scholarship and a starting position at right guard on the offensive line. He did not survive the accident and passed away on April 28, 1999. And if Brandon was doing whatever he could on the field, then I sure as heck would do whatever I could to help get my brother there. When he set his mind to something, you better believe you were going to witness him do it. So you didnt know if that was going to happen but that wasnt really the main [concern]. | But I knew we still needed a scholarship. He played on both sides of the ball and would just blow the field up. 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. Harrison, Arkansas, is set as small town as it receives. choose Christ at a young age and you will always be a winner in Christ's eyes; excelling at a sport is fine as . Mom and I picked him up at the airport when he came home. But that summer Brandon had two things going for him: His work ethic and, luckily, a pretty big growth spurt. The school was going to give Brandon a scholarship. To this day, people tell me where they were when they heard the news. We probably put 30,000 miles on my minivan each season. We wont be there. I can only hope I did as much as I could to help him. Two buses of Razorbacks players arrived. Marty Burlsworth, Chairman/CEO and founder of the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, is a resident of Harrison, Arkansas. 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.". Hed tell me what it was like but hed never say it was really hard and Im not sure I can do this. A coda sums up the impact of Brandons life: the programs, scholarships and so forth established in his name. Or Drew Carey, the comedian. At the point when he showed up, he saw the rear of a white vehicle that he from the start thought was Brandon's. He's been gone to a better place for almost as long. The phones calls started coming right after that. He grew up in Barnstable, Massachusetts, graduated from Barnstable High School, and attended Syracuse University. Marty's wife, Vickie is also available to speak when their schedule allows. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Arkansas Boone County Omaha Gass Cemetery George Leo Burlsworth ", Trouble was, every time he asked "what input would the family have" in how the story was told, he got the same answer: "None.". 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. Locations and showtimes are available onwww.greaterthemovie.com. The story unfolds in two strands. Martys struggle is not entirely internal. We planned to move out to Indianapolis with him. 2018 Burlsworth & Associates Real Estate in Harrison, AR Lacking the football scholarship he absurdly hoped for, Brandon turns down full rides elsewhere to attend Arkansas. It's a show of faith. Another initiative announced was the creation of a memorial for victims of abuse. Brandon isnt a very interesting character, but hes a likable one. And I was equally impressed with Missy, his wife [They] live in Fayetteville and they drove over to Harris to meet with us and she said Whatever he sets his mind to, he gets done that resonates with me because that was like Brandon. Channing Frye and Iman Shumpert are back to explain the stakes, place bets and analyze the most valuable players in the NBA Finals. you, Subscribe to The Daily The Official Website of the Southeastern Conference. People were swinging by all day. I didnt mean to dismiss Moms concerns, but I just figured there was some sort of reason or explanation. That's not a boast. The voices of faith, hope and trust or the voices of doubt, disbelief and despair?. He was a Razorback. Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. Marty Burlsworth, 55, and who was 38 when Brandon died, says they were approached by Hollywood about making a film around Brandon's story many years ago. 1 Tennessee. He told the family, "We don't want to take Brandon's faith out of this movie.". Hes not going down.. 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. 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. Judea school district. He and his wife Tresia have four children, Michael, Jordan, Brandon and Samantha. Hes always taking a knee, and he crosses himself (a curious gesture, since from his funeral his family is clearly not Catholic). It was a terrible day for Harrison, it was a terrible day for the state. 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. By all accounts, Burlsworth spent his 22 years on this earth showing everyone in his orbit how to do faith, family and football right. 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. Brian Reindl is a real estate developer by trade, but a filmmaker by passion. MARTY BURLSWORTH CONTRIBUTOR Harrison, Arkansas, is about as small town as it gets. (Marty Burlsworth) Neal McDonough was born on February 13, 1966 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, to Catherine (Bushe) and Frank McDonough, motel owners who were born in Ireland. In 2002, Brandon was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and later in 2004 he was inducted into the University of Arkansas Letterman's Association Hall of Honor. Barbara Burlsworth has been in real estate since 1997. https://www.ncregister.com/features/sdg-reviews-greater, Man of God A Film of Faith and Tranquility of the Soul for Our Troubled Time, Interview: Jim Caviezel Goes Back to the Bible in Paul, Apostle of Christ, Portuguese Bishops Announce Steps to End Sexual Abuse in the Church, We Know That Hes in Heaven: Thousands Gather for Funeral of Bishop David OConnell in Los Angeles, Archbishop Naumann and Bishop Paprocki Speak Out in Support of Traditional Latin Massgoers in Their Dioceses, Survey: Decline in Vocations to the Priesthood Is Worse Where Priests Serve Larger Flocks, Amber and Dave VanVickle on Finding God in the Midst of Suffering. Brandon, Martys younger brother by 16 years, was tragically killed in an auto accident on April 28, 1999, just 11 days after being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. And the only thing bigger than high school football in Harrison or anywhere else in Arkansas is Razorback football. How is the dynamic in reality versus how its shown in the film? His No. Brandon didnt dress the first two games of his freshman season, but we found out that hed be on the field for the third. Im sure he just got stuck in traffic, or maybe ran out of gas. Even an idea, you knowa script can sit on the shelf and never see the light of day. Dramatic backlighting and silhouettes create a sense of foreboding and uncertainty, resonating with the themes of tragedy and doubt. Marty Burlsworth is available to appear at special events as his schedule allows. Its a family-friendly film carrying a PG rating and, ultimately, an inspirational message despite the tragedy no one in the Burlsworth family or his football families at Arkansas or in Indianapolis could have imagined. Most important to Marty and the Burlsworth family: They kept us in the loop.. "He said, 'You'll have veto power,' " Marty Burlsworth remembered. Its unreal. But, you know, how would you make it where it wasnt basically depressing. The Foundation also has operated the Eyes of a Champion program in cooperation with Wal-Mart/Sams Club optical departments to provide free vision exams and glasses to low-income, uninsured children in Arkansas; the program is now going nationwide. They can assist you with all your real estate needs. He was determined to drive home the same day so he could attend evening church service with the family. Black horn-rimmed glasses. The latest videos from KNWA FOX24. It always seemed like a movie to me. The police could not determine the reason behind the tragic accident. But he had his priorities right. FAYETTEVILLE Marty Burlsworth remembers the day Brian Reindl came to Harrison to pitch his idea of making a movie about the life of Burlsworth's late brother, Brandon.. http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Remembering-Brandon-Burlsworth-/01475edd-989c-4a56-b3b0-ec6c138bcf1e, https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/entertainment/2016/august/brandon-burlsworths-story-of-triumph-over-tragedy-is-greater. I dont even think he played one game. The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation is a symbol of Brandons work ethics and Christian values and provides support to children with limited opportunities. His brother Marty, 17 years his senior, berates him "Cheesecake," he calls him for his indolence as well as their mother Barbara (Leslie Easterbrook) for her indulgence. The main [concern] was that it was going to go somewhere that really never happened. The National Junior Auxiliary awarded her Volunteer of the Year, and the Governor appointed her to the State Board of Dispensing Opticians. 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. And the only element bigger than excessive faculty soccer in Harrison or anywhere else . 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. Brandon was also the first Arkansas football player to complete his Masters Degree before playing his final college football game. (as David Hunt) (edited by) Casting By The phone number for him is (870) 741-7472 (Windstream Arkansas, Inc). So we had talked to a group or two out of California that had pitched the idea but we just never were at peace or had any comfort. All-time overachiever Brandon Burlsworth had his life tragically cut short at the age of 22, but his impact lives on 17 years later . In the end, Brandon got invited to be a walk-on. But as I turned the next corner onto Moms street and pulled up to her house, I got a good look at the car. There just wasnt enough space anywhere else. Surely, he reasons, God will be merciful; Marty would be, and he cant be more merciful than God. It was my dream, too, and I sure worked hard at it. 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. They are active members of the Northside Church of Christ. He asked me to help him, but theres all this certification that goes into being an agent. If there was anything inappropriate in it, of course that was all made up. But with no scholarship offer coming from Arkansas, Brandon bypassed offers from smaller schools and accepted the invitation to be a preferred walk-on at Arkansas. (The devoutly Catholic McDonough, who also executive produced, has called Marty Burlsworth his favorite role.). He called to check in a couple of times. Marty Burlsworth, Chairman/CEO and founder of the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, is a resident of Harrison, Arkansas. Teens and up. By Carl Kozlowski. She has been married to Johnny 20+ years and they have a son, Haden and his wife, Tristen, and a daughter, Haley. | I had about 212,000 miles on it by the time I got rid of it. Bob has worked in the business community for many years, but his love for working with kids brought him into a teaching career where he is also a teacher in the Mt. A servant at heart, she also serves as president of their local foodbank, Ozark Share & Care. Brandons short-lived career involved true honor and character, and thanks to the new film, his legacy will go further and live on as a model for others. Man, you might get to play at the next level., Ah, I dont know, I just gotta focus on this season.. On Aug. 26, the movie about his life, Greater, opens nationwide. Its condensed. While the film might not give Burlsworth enough credit for what talent he did have no one goes from walk-on to All-American without some ability he did always seem to have a knack for doing what seemed impossible. The foundation, established in 1999, has several programs that serve children in Arkansas and around the country. The foundation has also worked with Walmart/Sam's Optical Department and independent optometrists throughout Arkansas to provide eye care to thousands of school students. And I dont want to say [it means] youre angry at God. She called me just before six oclock, with panic and worry in her voice. 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.