The movies response to this question comes in the form of a metaphor. 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. 2022 by BBF. Man, you might get to play at the next level., Ah, I dont know, I just gotta focus on this season.. He loved football, Marty said. There are few actors in Hollywood brave enough to wear their Catholic faith on . After his death at a young age, the football community came together to pay tribute to his achievements and his family and friends built a foundation in his name. 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. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the foundation and has been with the BBF since 2010. FAYETTEVILLE, AR, Nov. 2, 2021 - Today, the Burlsworth Trophy announced 89 players nominated from Division 1 (FBS) schools from across the country for the 2021 Burlsworth Trophy. Walk-on player from Harrison, Ark., considered a long shot to get real playing time. I didn't see it in the theater. monetization of National Catholic Register RSS feeds is strictly prohibited. Thats what its all about: What you do while you were here. choose Christ at a young age and you will always be a winner in Christ's eyes; excelling at a sport is fine as . We watched the game from this conference room at the top of the stadium. Most important to Marty and the Burlsworth family: They kept us in the loop.. Marty's current home is located at . company, Get valuable lists emailed directly
or school. They can assist you with all your real estate needs. Out of nowhere, Brandon knocks him out of bounds, Marty said. Pope Francis, Biden Commend Peacemaker Bishop OConnell as Memorial Services Begin. Catholic actor Neal McDonough costars in a Rudy-like faith-based inspirational sports biopic that dares to explore doubt as well as belief. After working 11 years on his Brandon Burlsworth biopic Greater, Reindl is within days of seeing his dream project open on 400 to 450 screens across the Southeast, Midwest and Southwest next week.. Burlsworth was an All-American football player for the University of Arkansas, who died tragically in an automobile . Harrison, Arkansas, United States. At the point when he showed up, he saw the rear of a white vehicle that he from the start thought was Brandon's. On the way there, Burlsworth died an unthinkable death that shook the entire state. 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. I know it was hard. Nick Searcy plays an unnamed character who chats with Marty about the apparent absurdity of existence, and their discussion is a bold and unusual move, even a genre-bending move. As quarterback Clint Stoerner accepted the snap and backed away from the center his foot got tangled up with Burlsworth, who was to his right and was backing up, trying to hold his block. This was the dream. But as Marty Burlsworth, Brandons older brother and companion through it all, emphasized in an exclusive interview with The Daily Wire, Brandon made his football goals happen because he was relentless. She has been married to Johnny 20+ years and they have a son, Haden and his wife, Tristen, and a daughter, Haley. His story has been told in a movie that's not "Rudy.". Real Estate. He is most famous for his college football career at the University of Arkansas. By Carl Kozlowski. Eleven days later he passed on attending a Razorback ring presentation ceremony to drive to his hometown to take his mom to church. We may still get one. I mean it was for me. The film promotes Burlsworth as the greatest walk-on in the history of college football and there is an award the Brandon Burlsworth Trophy, which Marty oversees that is given annually to college footballs best player who began his career as a walk-on. | Every chance he got, Burlsworth went home to Harrison, a town of about 10,000 in the Ozarks, near the Missouri state line. Release Dates He is a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. I think the overall message of the film is we can learn from this and my character in the movie may not be 100 percent the way it is or the way it was, but that doesnt really matter. When I turned on to the street behind Moms house, I could see her driveway through this little opening between houses. Cindi Hagood is our Program Director of the Eyes of a Champion program. arkansas football. "He said, 'You'll have veto power,' " Marty Burlsworth remembered. On top of that, Dad had trouble with drinking and wasnt really in our lives when Brandon was a little boy. Greater has three surprises, which is three more than most faith-based films, particularly of the inspirational sports-movie variety. Reproduction of material from this website without written permission, or unlicensed commercial use or "We want Brandon's message out there. But as good as he was, Brandon was also a late bloomer he was only 17 his senior year and he was still a little undersized for college ball. We didnt expect Brandon to go real high, and we had been told that he wouldnt. 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. The Passion of the Christ actor talks about the challenges of playing iconic roles and why good movies arent always family-friendly. Youll have all your coursework done and can graduate at the end of the year anyway., Yeah, he said with a smile. Some of that was a little bit of filmmaking andwe were fine with it. Vickie's love for children is hard to escape. We had to have the funeral at the high school gym. Chris Severio plays Burlsworth (No. He wont be going down., Well, thats good, he said, sort of laughing. At present, through the Burls Kids program, the foundation works towards providing underprivileged youths a chance to visit Razorback and Colts football games. But me and friends that were close to me were like This is like a movie. And then he walked out and there it was: BURLSWORTH. "I wanted Brandon's story to be known." This life demanded a movie. Not that it got him very far initially. So Mom, Brandon and I piled into my minivan and we drove over to Fayetteville. Burlsworth attended Harrison High School where he was an All-State selection. Even his peers saw an innocent kid who just didnt understand why he couldnt make it in college football, and certainly not the NFL. I dont think anyone was at fault. Surely, he reasons, God will be merciful; Marty would be, and he cant be more merciful than God. He joined the team as a walk-on and eventually became an All-American . His No. Harrison, Arkansas, is set as small town as it receives. Judea school district. Here its a nagging voice in a grieving believers heart asking a question that admits no simple, final answer: Why do bad things happen to good people? His thick black glasses and resemblance to comedian Drew Carey gave him a unique look. 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. View Marty Burlsworth's record in Harrison, AR including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. We still dont really know what happened that afternoon. 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. Sign up for 6 Free IssuesTry us out with a free trial subscription. Theres no explanation for it. A servant at heart, she also serves as president of their local foodbank, Ozark Share & Care. I wasnt sure. I go straight to the sports and see if any scholarships were offered. [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. Whether it was in Fayetteville, or in Knoxville or Tuscaloosa, we had an unspoken rule: We were going to Brandons games. The foundation, established in 1999, has several programs that serve children in Arkansas and around the country. 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 spent as many days as he could in the weight room getting stronger. So that makes it quite a bit easier to revisit because weve never really gone away. In November 1998, the Razorbacks were 8-0, ranked 10th in the country, and playing at No. Marty speaks nationwide on developing character and overcoming adversity. The football fraternity had great expectations from the talented young man but fate had other plans and he was killed in an accident. Brandon didnt dress the first two games of his freshman season, but we found out that hed be on the field for the third. Company Credits His high school coaches couldnt believe his size when he came back for his junior season. Thats the dream. Burlsworth Trophy Announces Nominees. 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. Mom and I picked him up at the airport when he came home. "It was a passion project for everyone who was involved," actor Neal McDonough told CBN News. Brandon belonged on that field, and he knew it. He died instantly. Those were offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworths trademark, and they were prominent even behind the facemask of his Arkansas Razorbacks helmet. In her free time she enjoys hiking, watching sports, riding motorcycles with her husband and catching up with friends. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth (September 20, 1976 - April 28, 1999) was an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1995 to 1998. But before all that, Brandon made one last trip to Fayetteville to visit with his Razorbacks teammates. He was determined to drive home the same day so he could attend evening church service with the family. 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. Copyright 2023 EWTN News, Inc. All rights reserved. Its a good story and, you know, Neal McDonough struggling in the aftermath thats absolutely true. And in Arkansas it was a statewide tragedy. Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. 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. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. And the only thing bigger than high school football in Harrison or anywhere else in Arkansas is Razorback football. Yeah, lets go buy some Colts stuff.. "Brian wouldn't let go.". Brandon Burlsworth found certainty in an uncertain world. 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. by The Daily News Publishing Co. Inc. - All Rights Reserved, VOL. He told the family, "We don't want to take Brandon's faith out of this movie.". Our parents divorced when Brandon was just two years old. Marty is registered to vote in Boone County, Arkansas. 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. Brandon wanted to do more, though. 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. But [the death was] not the ending. The latest videos from KNWA FOX24. Its unreal. But, you know, how would you make it where it wasnt basically depressing. In the film, we see a lot of moments where the Marty character is learning from the persistence and drive of Brandon. Marty Burlsworth hasn't provided a bio yet. 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? During the summer of 2007, Bob acquired his real estate license and in 2010 acquired his brokers license and is currently the Executive Broker for Burlsworth and Associates. 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. Brandon isnt a very interesting character, but hes a likable one. The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation is a symbol of Brandons work ethics and Christian values and provides support to children with limited opportunities. The odds were against him and nobody was looking his way. The movie will be shown on 800 screens throughout the U.S. on March 21 and March 28. One weekend when I was driving with Brandon to campus I think maybe it was his junior year a thought crossed my mind. Sure, there's some creative license in the movie, but the message rings true. Even his peers saw an innocent kid who just didn't understand why he couldn't make it in college football, and certainly not the NFL. He spent his first season of high school football as a sophomore on the sidelines. Then we looked to the TV: Brandons picture came up on the screen and they were calling his name from the podium. Its what he leaned on to work as hard. Proudly created with Wix.com. Creative camerawork is another asset; consider a moment of rapprochement lit by car headlights and filmed through swishing windshield-wiper blades on a night of pouring rain. 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. They put it in more of a condensed form which is the way filmmaking generally always happens. So when Brandon got it in his mind that he was going to be a Razorback, I was all in. In 2007, she and her son Marty ventured out to open Burlsworth and Associates. He put on weight before enrolling at Arkansas, but it was a bad 40 or so pounds that he eventually had to melt before. During his first year, he faced a delay in earning his eligibility and worked hard to transform his 300lb chubby physique into a moderate 260lb body. Brandon's passionate yet painful faith story is now captured in a film called "Greater" which is inspired by the book written about the life of number 77. 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. The Official Website of the Southeastern Conference. 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. If its difficult to describe the love for a brother, its impossible to explain the loss of a brother. 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. And every week he was right on time with his little white Subaru parked in Moms driveway. And I remembered to do what other agents had advised me to do, I kept multiple lines open. So you didnt know if that was going to happen but that wasnt really the main [concern]. Reindl made another unique promise that he kept. He may be gone, but I still want to do whatever I can to keep his dreams going, to keep his legacy going. Although the Razorbacks led 21-3 at one point and were up 24-22 with less than two minutes to go, the game turned on an even crazier play that also involved Burlsworth. I dont even think he played one game. We didnt want that Sports Illustrated did a feature piece on Brandon. I didnt mean to dismiss Moms concerns, but I just figured there was some sort of reason or explanation. To this day, people tell me where they were when they heard the news. near you, Up-to-date reports of crimes near
Director David Hunt (from left) poses Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, with producer Brian Reindl, and Marty Burlsworth, brother of Brandon Burlsworth, during a red carpet event ahead of the premiere of . See, Brandon started out a little scrawny. 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. A shepherd during his younger brother's life, he would become a keeper of his legacy as well. Share. The state with the most residents by this name is Arkansas, followed by Colorado. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth.