Powered by WebJIVE ~ Featured on the Harrison Arkansas Network. Vickie Burlsworth is the Executive Director of the Foundation that she and Marty founded honoring Brandon after his passing in 1999. But before all that, Brandon made one last trip to Fayetteville to visit with his Razorbacks teammates. We drove it to death. Neal McDonough (L) plays Marty Burlsworth in 'Greater' (Hammond Entertainment). Marty Burlsworth Discusses the Upcoming 2021 Brandon Pig Trail Nation / Jun 1, 2021 / 04:30 PM CDT. The movie was well-received upon its theatrical release, but thanks to its March debut on streaming giant Netflix, it's finding a new audience at a perfect time. Selfishly, I don't want Brandon to be forgotten. arkansas football. Still, with each pick, even in the first round, you get more and more nervous. Arkansas doesnt have a pro football team I dont even know if a pro team could survive here. But that first year after Brandons accident, that was- for the whole family, [especially] my mother and me- I mean it was just it was unreal. Then we looked to the TV: Brandons picture came up on the screen and they were calling his name from the podium. Brandon didnt dress the first two games of his freshman season, but we found out that hed be on the field for the third. So we really did have a good comfort level with them plus the agreement with Brian and them having the movie made was that the family would have some say so if something wasnt just right as far as the script goes and things like that and theyve kept us in the loop all along. And then apparently that thought process was also out there in California we did hear from some that approached us but one thing I wasnt 100 percent sure [of] was the commitment level over there which was why when Reindls wife said [when] he sets his mind to it, he gets it done, you know, Ive always heard that in Hollywood [scripts] can sit on the shelf forever. He lauds Chris Severio for his measured portrayal of Brandon, and veteran actor Neal McDonough, he says, does a tremendous job as Marty Burlsworth. We werent proactive at all in [making a movie]. Marty and Vickie have three sons, two daughters in law, an adorable granddaughter Blake, and a precious grandson, Carter. He grew up in Barnstable, Massachusetts, graduated from Barnstable High School, and attended Syracuse University. Predictably, trash-talking opponents laughed at him and called him names. | It was all over ESPN. is 61 years old today because Marty's birthday is on 11/13/1960. Surely, he reasons, God will be merciful; Marty would be, and he cant be more merciful than God. Second, while Brandons own faith never wavers, the film cross-examines Christian pieties and even faith itself to a greater degree than any other faith-based film I can think of. You know, we established his foundation shortly thereafter [the accident]. I didnt mean to dismiss Moms concerns, but I just figured there was some sort of reason or explanation. 1 Tennessee. Brandons number 77 became one of only two numbers retired in Arkansas Razorback football history. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth. His faith is what he relied on. So before he started his senior year, I started working on getting my certification. In 1996, he earned himself a scholarship and also sealed his own starting place as a right guard on the offensive line for the Arkansas Razorbacks. "He said, 'You'll have veto power,' " Marty Burlsworth remembered. Even in earthly terms it can be argued that Brandons life and achievements were not a waste. He would just say Yeah we did this, we did this, we did this and it was just like this is what were doing, you know he never [said] I cant do this. That just wasnt there because, you know, thats where his faith led him. Burlsworth was too small (260 pounds) when he finished high school. In 2007, she and her son Marty ventured out to open Burlsworth and Associates. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth. 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.". He graduated from high school in 1994 and was recruited as a football player for the University of Arkansas. He may be gone, but I still want to do whatever I can to keep his dreams going, to keep his legacy going. Jessica Mendoza's greatest pride is her background. If its difficult to describe the love for a brother, its impossible to explain the loss of a brother. After the season, over the holidays, we got a call. They are active members of the Northside Church of Christ. Didn't buy it or rent it or watch it on DVD. 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. 2023 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.". News. 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. As for this film, Greater has been more than a decade in the making a labor of love for first-time Arkansas producer Brian Reindl. Marty's current home is located at . Hes not going down.. That's not a boast. French Monastery Survives War and Famine After 885 Years, the Basilica of St. Ambrose in Milan, and More Great Links! 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. Mom and I picked him up at the airport when he came home. Brandon was so single-minded, so focused. Some of his teammates have since told me how red his face would be during practice, how hard he went, how he never gave up. By using BiJog.com you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The brothers age difference is the basis for one of the movies running gags, Martys discomfort at being mistaken for Brandons father. We understand that your home is important to you and we strive to walk you through the steps to get the most for your dollar. And it was Brandons time. Proudly created with Wix.com. As they chat, Searcy whittles a face on a block of wood, a symbolic quirk with a meaning made nearly explicit in a startling line. Its condensed. 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. Always why. To this day, people tell me where they were when they heard the news. Public records for Marty Burlsworth range in age from 35 years old to 61 years old. Bob has been active in the community for many years from volunteer coaching youth sports activities such as soccer, baseball and basketball and also serving in a leadership capacity in community organizations and boards such as United Way, North Arkansas Soccer Association and the Bergman School Board. On the way there, Burlsworth died an unthinkable death that shook the entire state. Marty Burlsworth and his agents have been and will continue to be trusted names in the real estate market. He was born on 31-08-1986. The foundation, which symbolizes his ethics and values, works for the benefit of needy children and provides them with physical as well as spiritual support, something Brandon was known for. Harrison, Arkansas, is set as small town as it receives. 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. But me and friends that were close to me were like This is like a movie. It was composed and produced by Brian Reindl and David Hunt. 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. Not early or easily when it came to football, but eventually and powerfully. That's what Brandon did. If it meant going over to Moms house to help him with homework, I wanted to be there. In the wake of new restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass, two American bishops spoke with EWTNs Raymond Arroyo Thursday about how their dioceses have responded. 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. What were the vital elements that you knew had to be involved in the movie, no matter who made it, in order to fully capture Brandons life? In a few weeks hed be heading back. Pope Francis, Biden Commend Peacemaker Bishop OConnell as Memorial Services Begin. So I started calling coaches and seeing where he could play. The University of Arkansas prides itself on doing things the "Burls Way.". We were going to Fayetteville for the game and I called him early in the week to tell him where our seats would be. And would you believe, all these NFL agents started flying into Harrison wanting to sign Brandon. The Passion of the Christ actor talks about the challenges of playing iconic roles and why good movies arent always family-friendly. Not as devout as his brother, Marty turns desperately to faith in a moment of crisis when he wants a miracle. 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. We wont be there. It's "Greater." A film about Brandon's existence with the working title "Greater" was shot in 2013 and was released as a feature movie on August 26, 2016. Brandon was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the 63rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft. He was determined to drive home the same day so he could attend evening church service with the family. But almost every boy growing up in the state wants to be a Razorback. Id do anything I could for him. He knew he could. (as David Hunt) (directed by) Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification Produced by Music by Stephen Endelman . Slain Los Angeles auxiliary bishop was remembered at the Mass of Christian burial as friend of Jesus Christ and of Mary, our Blessed Mother.. So a few months after his death, we started the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, where we do all of that and more. Greater is currently playing in theaters and stars Neal McDonough, Christopher Severio, and Leslie Easterbrook. Everybody knew. 131 | NO. Another initiative announced was the creation of a memorial for victims of abuse. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. I dont think I got there. And the only thing bigger than high school football in Harrison or anywhere else in Arkansas is Razorback football. Or Drew Carey, the comedian. 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. It demanded an audience larger than you could pack into Razorback Stadium for 60 minutes of weekend celebration in the fall - or into the Harrison High School gym on a spring day of mourning. He found it in routine and repetition, in church and in the trenches, in that place where they call the Hogs and even an Alabama visitor can feel what it means for a young man from Harrison, Ark., to call himself a Razorback. The football fraternity had great expectations from the talented young man but fate had other plans and he was killed in an accident. 2018 Burlsworth & Associates Real Estate in Harrison, AR Thats pretty tough. 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. 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. Twenty-one years ago this month, the big book of SEC football added a chapter so powerful that, to this day, it can grow your heart three sizes and then, an instant later, snap it in two. Evelyn Allen started as the Development and Social Media Director for the foundation in March of 2020. Brandon Burlsworth was known as an American professional football player. We just never felt comfortable with the literary license or whatever, said Marty, who to a degree was both brother and father; their father had long ago divorced from their mother, Barbara, and Leo Burlsworth died of cancer while Brandon was in college. We planned to move out to Indianapolis with him. There are about 11,000 people in town and one unspoken rule: If it's Friday night, you're going to the Harrison High football game. 166 | Friday, August 19, 2016, Arkansas All-American Walk-On Burlsworth Now the Subject of Film, You have entered an invalid email address, Research millions of people and You take care of it, you get things done. Ive kind of been planning it that way.. 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. Chris Severio plays Burlsworth (No. In the making of [the movie], sometimes we were able to be on set some days they didnt want us there and we didnt want to be there. Brandon Burlsworth studied at the Harrison High School where he was an all-state selection. They couldnt give us any assurances that there wouldnt be a lot of Hollywood going into it. Ive heard the director say many times what weve done is [put] that [whole] first year [after the accident] in Neals piece in this movie. His age is 36. Trust. Marty Burlsworth: Burlsworth Photography: Address: 117 W Central Harrison AR 72601 map Phone: 870-741-5111 : Branch Photography : Keith Branch: Branch Photography: Address: 4850 Mission Blvd Fayetteville AR 72703 map Phone: 479-973-0012 Marty is registered to vote in Boone County, Arkansas. podcast interviews Marty and Vickie both have recorded multiple interviews on podcasts across the nation. 77), who was killed in a car accident days after being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1999. 2022 by BBF. Brazilian Charity Caring for Children Who Survived Abortions Issues Urgent Appeal, Memento Mori: Remember You Are Going to Die, The Meat of the Matter: St. Patricks Day and the Lenten Fast, Pope Francis Inexhaustible Font of Words: 10 Gems From the Heart Over 10 Years. Marty Burlsworth, 55, and who was 38 when Brandon died, says they were approached by Hollywood about making a film around Brandons story many years ago. Marty Burlsworth is available to appear at special events as his schedule allows. This has been a pretty big year for me tra. There he is, 300 pounds, and he just runs down this linebacker. Im sure Josh Wheaton, the young apologist in Gods Not Dead, would know all the right things to say to Searcys character, but then Searcy wouldnt be permitted to make his case so eloquently in a movie like Gods Not Dead, if he were allowed to appear at all. of prospects that meet your criteria, Monitor any person, property or For the next three years, Brandon started for the Razorbacks. 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. All this plays out in flashback, with all the usual sports-movie clichs, training sequences, montages, comic relief and so forth. The idea wasnt to be the greatest walk-on, Marty explained, it was to get a scholarship.. Directed by David L. Hunt . He was buried at the Gass Cemetery in Omaha, Arkansas, on May 2, 1999. Currently you are able to watch "Greater" streaming on fuboTV, Hoopla, DIRECTV or for free with ads on Peacock, Peacock Premium, The Roku Channel, VUDU Free, Tubi TV, Redbox, Crackle, Pluto TV, Freevee. Judea school district. 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. Release Dates But that summer Brandon had two things going for him: His work ethic and, luckily, a pretty big growth spurt. David Hunt, the movies director, also assisted with the screenplay. When the producer says Today is probably not a good day [to be on set], thats all he has to say. He slept either in his little room at his mother's house or at his brother Marty's, to be close to his three nephews. Theres never a day where I dont think about Brandon. His jersey has been retired, his locker encased in glass, his spirit captured in a trophy awarded to the best college football player who started his career as a walk-on. When Stoerner fell the ball came out and Tennessee recovered. Martys struggle is not entirely internal. Marty Burlsworth knew it even as he struggled to understand the horrific ending. SubscribeStart your Register subscription today. Its unreal. But, you know, how would you make it where it wasnt basically depressing. Greater may not be in Rudys league cinematically, but Burlsworth was a far more gifted player than Daniel Rudy Ruettiger. You dont lose your faith I had struggles because [Id think] why?, you know. The year is 1999 and Marty Burlsworth is awaiting the funeral of his 22-year-old brother, Brandon. During Martys conversation with Searcy this metaphor is further developed; a pattern emerges that Marty cant appreciate without a higher perspective. When Marty asks Barbara how she justifies going deep into debt for Brandons quixotic dream, she says simply, My son knows I have faith. This could mean faith in God, but I took it to mean that money was no object if it meant Brandon knew his mother believed in him. Share. 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. Especially after it was all over and, you know, that was bad times. 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. Every chance he got, Burlsworth went home to Harrison, a town of about 10,000 in the Ozarks, near the Missouri state line. Brandon knew what it was like to be doubted, to be told you werent good enough. So by his fourth year at Arkansas, he was already finishing his masters degree. He is married to Vickie who serves as the Executive Director of the Foundation. EIN 27-4581132 I never used to worry before Brandon died. 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. Real Estate. An expression that implied do it the correct way, in any event, when nobody is looking. A servant at heart, she also serves as president of their local foodbank, Ozark Share & Care. "I was interested," he said of those early calls from Hollywood. When I turned on to the street behind Moms house, I could see her driveway through this little opening between houses. Faith and family they meant everything to Brandon. His faith, his family and his football, in that order. Hed be all over the line, right off the snap. Itll be real cool.. The film covers the issues he had with his weight and his incredible work ethic that earned him a chance. A deep dedication to our nations youth is a high priority of the Burlsworth family. Filming & Production On April 17, 1999, the Indianapolis Colts selected Burlsworth in the third round of the NFL Draft. It was the Razorbacks. Each Wednesday, he came back to take his mother, Barbara, to chapel. He was a Razorback. Had you ever thought of Brandons story as a film? And I know a lot of good has come out of it and I think a lot of good is going to continue to come out of it and only grow what were [doing] through this film and through Brandons foundation, to impact a lot of kids for many years. And boy, was he soaking it in. Or Kurt Rambis, the funny-looking center for the Los Angeles Lakers. And then we were approached 11 years ago by Brian Reindl whos the producer- who had no experience in the filmmaking industry at all but had a passion for it. View Marty Burlsworth's record in Harrison, AR including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages.