Harrison, Arkansas, is about as small town as it gets. Copyright 2023 EWTN News, Inc. All rights reserved. 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 . McDonough plays Marty, Brandon's big brother and father figure in the film, and he . Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth. I used to want the longest life, perfect health and happiness, but really it is that feeling that I am so glad that this isnt all there is and that we have heaven to wait for, and that well be with Jesus, and there will be no more tears Amber VanVickle (1982-2023), The headquarters of the charity, which serves as a consecrated family to 46 disabled children, were badly damaged in major flooding near Rio de Janeiro last year. 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. No, we just kind of kept that to ourselves. Brandon also earned his masters degree at Arkansas before his playing career was done the first Razorback to do so. 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. So I did whatever I could to be there for Brandon. During Martys conversation with Searcy this metaphor is further developed; a pattern emerges that Marty cant appreciate without a higher perspective. 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. That's an inadequate synopsis of an exemplary life. Bob is optimistic about the real estate market in Harrison and is looking forward to meeting the real estate needs of the clients and customers in the area in and surrounding Harrison. 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. Then we looked to the TV: Brandons picture came up on the screen and they were calling his name from the podium. I tried bringing it up to him again. The foundation, established in 1999, has several programs that serve children in Arkansas and around the country. Even an idea, you knowa script can sit on the shelf and never see the light of day. His thick black glasses and resemblance to comedian Drew Carey gave him a unique look. Always why. As the Burlsworth Trophy has become a success and now the film is being released, Marty said he and the Burlsworth family are thrilled to see Brandon's story continue to be told nationally. Neal McDonough (L) plays Marty Burlsworth in 'Greater' (Hammond Entertainment). He earned 1st team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998 and was selected for the 1998 College Football All-America Team. "We want Brandon's message out there. 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. I go straight to the sports and see if any scholarships were offered. 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. of prospects that meet your criteria, Monitor any person, property or 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. Today, those glasses remain the symbol of the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation brandonburlsworth.org. Other boys would go home after school got out in May and stay there until camp started in late July. Chris Severio plays Burlsworth (No. 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. A deep dedication to our nations youth is a high priority of the Burlsworth family. And I remembered to do what other agents had advised me to do, I kept multiple lines open. Greater than my limited understanding of the painful search for meaning every time a life ends so young. "I wanted Brandon's story to be known. Company Credits There are few actors in Hollywood brave enough to wear their Catholic faith on . The police could not determine the reason behind the tragic accident. So that makes it quite a bit easier to revisit because weve never really gone away. . He grew up in Barnstable, Massachusetts, graduated from Barnstable High School, and attended Syracuse University. The University of Arkansas prides itself on doing things the "Burls Way.". Not as devout as his brother, Marty turns desperately to faith in a moment of crisis when he wants a miracle. One weekend when I was driving with Brandon to campus I think maybe it was his junior year a thought crossed my mind. David Hunt, the movies director, also assisted with the screenplay. But [the death was] not the ending. He joined the team as a walk-on and eventually became an All-American . 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. | When we got back home to Harrison, the day of the draft was just filled with anxiety. 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. Predictably, trash-talking opponents laughed at him and called him names. After interning at Super Bowl 46 in Indianapolis, she started full-time with USA Football, the NFLs non-profit partner which led her to her love of mega-events and non-profit work. And then he walked out and there it was: BURLSWORTH. Had you ever thought of Brandons story as a film? Harrison, Arkansas, is set as small town as it receives. As indicated by the police report, Burlsworth's vehicle floated somewhat over the middle line on U.S. 412, cut the front bumper of a tractor-trailer, and afterward, while he was probably attempting to recover control, crossed the inside line again and hit another tractor-trailer. 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. Those were offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworths trademark, and they were prominent even behind the facemask of his Arkansas Razorbacks helmet. Surely God will hear Brandons prayer, if not his own; the prayer of a righteous man avails much, and if anyone is righteous, its Brandon. 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? The family respectfully declined. But this was my brother. Jessica Mendoza's greatest pride is her background. We watched the game from this conference room at the top of the stadium. 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. He never got there, dying in a car accident at age 22. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. director of photography Film Editing by David L. Hunt . Man, you might get to play at the next level., Ah, I dont know, I just gotta focus on this season.. 77), who was killed in a car accident days after being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1999. Marty speaks nationwide on developing character and overcoming adversity. 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. Well if you had taken God out of it, it [wouldve] been fiction. 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. He loved football, Marty said. 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. 2022 by BBF. 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. Marty Burlsworth is available to appear at special events as his schedule allows. So I started calling coaches and seeing where he could play. She called me just before six oclock, with panic and worry in her voice. Now, at Arkansas and Indianapolis Burls Kids attend games for free. 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. Then I turned on Netflix and watched an honest, humble, earnest movie about the man called "Greater.". When Stoerner fell the ball came out and Tennessee recovered. 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. Marty Leo Burlsworth (age 62) is listed at 3775 Savannah Drive Harrison, Ar 72601 and is affiliated with the Optional Party. Two buses of Razorbacks players arrived. 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. arkansas football. Brandon was home. I dont how many times Id call to check in.Coach, ya need anything?Id sit every week with the newspaper. The struggles that he had gone through to get where he was were over. One, told in flashback, is a familiar, uplifting Rudy-like arc of an unpromising underdog who makes good despite enormous obstacles. 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. Burlsworth rouses 'big brother' actor. Brandon was so single-minded, so focused. Brandon belonged on that field, and he knew it. 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. They couldnt give us any assurances that there wouldnt be a lot of Hollywood going into it. He is married to Vickie who serves as the Executive Director of the Foundation. 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. monetization of National Catholic Register RSS feeds is strictly prohibited. Marty says the finished product doesnt get everything exact, such as speeding up the time of events and taking conversations that happened over the phone and making them into face-to-face exchanges, but thats not a criticism just a nod to the difference between a book and a screenplay. When I turned on to the street behind Moms house, I could see her driveway through this little opening between houses. 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. The play became known as the Stumble and Fumble, and Tennessee would go on to score the winning touchdown and eventually win the national championship at the end of the season. 1 Tennessee. We found 2 people in 2 states named Marty Burlsworth living in the US. Hell show up and everything will be fine.. I dont think I got there. I mean everybody knew. Walk-on player from Harrison, Ark., considered a long shot to get real playing time. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth. After the draft, he spoke to me a lot about helping other kids in Harrison. A list of possible email addresses for Marty includes burlsworth@cox.net, mburlsworth@aol.com. Small sins lead to big sins, and big sins bring about a terrible spiritual darkness. Each Wednesday, he came back to take his mother, Barbara, to chapel. This life demanded a movie. 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. He was in the prime of his football career. Greater is a very emotional movie and it deals with figuring out your faith in times of grief and loss. Marty Burlsworth knew it even as he struggled to understand the horrific ending. 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. He wasnt as tall or as heavy as D-I colleges wanted him to be. Id do anything I could for him. 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. He had planned to help underprivileged children, and his. And in Arkansas it was a statewide tragedy. So you didnt know if that was going to happen but that wasnt really the main [concern]. Im sure he just got stuck in traffic, or maybe ran out of gas. 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. He was determined to drive home the same day so he could attend evening church service with the family. It just takes some time. 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 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. I kept track of how many might be left for Brandon.O.K., they gave one to that boy, thats 12 so far. 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. 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. As it turned out, it was a squad car, with officials there to convey the bad news. Birthday: September 20, 1976 ( Virgo) Born In: Harrison, Arkansas, United States 113 30 American Football Players #138 Sportspersons #1083 Quick Facts Also Known As: Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth Died At Age: 22 Family: father: Leo Burlsworth mother: Barbara Burlsworth siblings: Grady Burlsworth, Marty Burlsworth Died Young American Football Players He went to Harrison High School and graduated from there. 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. (as Stephen Raynor-Endelman) (music by) Cinematography by Gabe Mayhan . 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. A servant at heart, she also serves as president of their local foodbank, Ozark Share & Care. Our parents divorced when Brandon was just two years old. That game was, in a way, a symbol for the highest highs, the lowest lows and the unforeseen. He's been gone to a better place for almost as long. Greaters response to the problem of evil, to disbelief and nihilism, is not an argument, but an action: a choice to trust. If there was anything inappropriate in it, of course that was all made up. It was all over ESPN. MORE: Deserving teacher who received $530 from plane passengers surprised with more than . So when Brandon got it in his mind that he was going to be a Razorback, I was all in. It was disappointing, but Brandon wanted to go to Arkansas more than anything and, well, he didnt want any regrets. company, Get valuable lists emailed directly 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. He was my brother and I just wanted everything for him. Dramatic backlighting and silhouettes create a sense of foreboding and uncertainty, resonating with the themes of tragedy and doubt. His No. He took my call, but I couldnt tell just how interested he was. Not like my younger brother Brandon. And we were concerned that his faith would take a big backseatAnd we just werent up for that at all. Born In: Harrison, Arkansas, United States, siblings: Grady Burlsworth, Marty Burlsworth, place of death: Alpena, Arkansas, United States. Teens and up. choose Christ at a young age and you will always be a winner in Christ's eyes; excelling at a sport is fine as . Directed by David L. Hunt . 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. 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 using BiJog.com you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. When the pandemic started, I guess we all needed to find hobbies to help us pass the time. For me, it was reading. | At that point, Arkansas Razorback Coach, Houston Nutt started the phrase after his demise, "Do it the Burls Way". So you just walk down this side of the stadium, O.K.? The brothers age difference is the basis for one of the movies running gags, Martys discomfort at being mistaken for Brandons father. We want Brandon here, but if he cant handle it I can see what I can do to get him to a smaller school, he said. The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation is a symbol of Brandons work ethics and Christian values and provides support to children with limited opportunities. Faith and family they meant everything to Brandon. His age is 36. Every week, Brandon made the drive home. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. 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. Vickie Burlsworth is the Executive Director of the Foundation that she and Marty founded honoring Brandon after his passing in 1999. Brandons exceptional journey came to an abrupt, tragic end when a devastating car crash took his life, shocking his hometown, the state of Arkansas, and the national football community. He spent as many days as he could in the weight room getting stronger. Judea school district. This has all been done, and sometimes done better, but the formula is sturdy, and Severio, in his first role, delivers well enough. But I remember going back to churchclose after the accident and after the death had settled a little bit. ", Trouble was, every time he asked "what input would the family have" in how the story was told, he got the same answer: "None.". [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. Slain Los Angeles auxiliary bishop was remembered at the Mass of Christian burial as friend of Jesus Christ and of Mary, our Blessed Mother.. Marty Burlsworth and his agents have been and will continue to be trusted names in the real estate market. But he had his priorities right. Vickie's love for children is hard to escape. 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. Yeah, lets go buy some Colts stuff.. Background Report. Public records for Marty Burlsworth range in age from 35 years old to 61 years old. It is also possible to rent "Greater" on Redbox, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Apple TV, Microsoft Store online and to . While others, including Marty's mother, Barbara, have accepted the loss and put their faith in God, Marty can not do that as he does not understand why God would take away his brother on the cusp of his stardom in the NFL. Marty is an engaging speaker who presents a strong message of character, commitment, hard work and dedication that resonates with young and old alike. You know, Brandon, you could think about entering the draft. An expression that implied do it the correct way, in any event, when nobody is looking. A shepherd during his younger brother's life, he would become a keeper of his legacy as well. He was a Razorback. He just kicked it in, No, this is not happening.. So Mom, Brandon and I piled into my minivan and we drove over to Fayetteville. Where it doesnt have such a bad ending? 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. People were swinging by all day. Became a two-time All-SEC selection and a first-team All-American as a senior in 1998. Channing Frye and Iman Shumpert are back to explain the stakes, place bets and analyze the most valuable players in the NBA Finals.
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