Marty and Vickie have three sons, two daughters in law, an adorable granddaughter Blake, and a precious grandson, Carter. Twenty-One Years Later, Brandon Burlsworth Legacy Endures For Retired And it paid off. 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. Greater has three surprises, which is three more than most faith-based films, particularly of the inspirational sports-movie variety. Sure, there's some creative license in the movie, but the message rings true. He received many scholarship offers from smaller universities but eventually chose to become a walk-on football player for the University of Arkansas. Possible relatives for Marty Burlsworth include Roselee Arnold, Keshia Flowers, Brady Burlsworth and several . I kept track of how many might be left for Brandon.O.K., they gave one to that boy, thats 12 so far. I dont how many times Id call to check in.Coach, ya need anything?Id sit every week with the newspaper. Hell show up and everything will be fine.. 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. It goes without saying that Brandon, making the team as a walk-on (a player who is not recruited or offered an athletic scholarship), is harassed and abused by his teammates. Locations and showtimes are available onwww.greaterthemovie.com. Marty Burlsworth, in the aftermath of Brandon's death, suffers a crisis of conscience that questions his . 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. 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 I couldnt wait to be right there with him. And the only thing bigger than high school football in Harrison or anywhere else in Arkansas is Razorback football. Steven D. Greydanus is the Registers film critic and creator of Decent Films. Previously she worked for the Arkansas Travelers, USA Football, NFL, Athleta and the Outlets of Little Rock. A shepherd during his younger brother's life, he would become a keeper of his legacy as well. Was there anything that you had to do for yourself spiritually or emotionally to prepare for the making of this movie? The voices of faith, hope and trust or the voices of doubt, disbelief and despair?. 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. EWTN News, Inc. is the worlds largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, Marty Burlsworth Discusses Brandon Burlsworth's Nomination - YouTube At the point when he hadn't shown up by 4, Brandon's brother, Marty got a concerned call from his mother and went to her home. Didn't buy it or rent it or watch it on DVD. He may be gone, but I still want to do whatever I can to keep his dreams going, to keep his legacy going. (The devoutly Catholic McDonough, who also executive produced, has called Marty Burlsworth his favorite role.). 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. One, told in flashback, is a familiar, uplifting Rudy-like arc of an unpromising underdog who makes good despite enormous obstacles. As floodwaters washed away his Louisiana home, the pretend Brandon "People are seeing it for the first time, and that's really cool," Marty said. Marty speaks nationwide on developing character and overcoming adversity. "Brian wouldn't let go.". Only 30 of 175 dioceses ordained an average number of priests at or above replacement level over the five years from 2016 to 2021, according to the report. His age is 36. Today, those glasses remain the symbol of the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation brandonburlsworth.org. Now, more than ever, with the success of GREATER, he enjoys meeting the fans of his brother Brandon and encouraging others to. Burlsworth was selected to be of the team captains by his junior season in 1997 for the University of Arkansas. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/brandon-burlsworth-35134.php. It was composed and produced by Brian Reindl and David Hunt. Brandons number 77 became one of only two numbers retired in Arkansas Razorback football history. (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. 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. 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. By Carl Kozlowski. He never got there, dying in a car accident at age 22. Dang, Marty, what have you been feedin that boy?. 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. When he reached his junior season in 1997, he was selected as one of the captains of the team and in the next two years, he received All-SEC honors. Out of nowhere, Brandon knocks him out of bounds, Marty said. So you just walk down this side of the stadium, O.K.? Brandon Burlsworth, NFL player. He earned 1st team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998 and was selected for the 1998 College Football All-America Team. The foundation, established in 1999, has several programs that serve children in Arkansas and around the country. 'Greater': Neal McDonough Gets to Be a Good Man of Faith (Not Just in Company Credits COINCIDENCES. Along with Brandons rise, Greater equally focuses on the loss experienced by Brandons family, especially his brother Marty, and the questions about Gods goodness that are stirred by the heartache and grief. You dont lose your faith I had struggles because [Id think] why?, you know. Brandon was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the 63rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft. As Brandon and I were standing out there, the offensive linemen came out, running on the field with their helmets on. Aug 26, 2016. Selfishly, I don't want Brandon to be forgotten. Thats pretty tough. A deep dedication to our nations youth is a high priority of the Burlsworth family. 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. Brandon Burlsworth's Story of Triumph Over Tragedy is 'Greater' Harrison, Arkansas, United States. Brandon Burlsworth found certainty in an uncertain world. Of course, he was my brother and you do anything for family, but things were a little tougher for him. 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. Although he had only participated in a Colts mini-clinic before the accident, Burlsworth left such an impression that the team wore a decal with his Colts number, 66, on their helmets that season and they honored him and the family at a game. At that moment, we both felt so close to his dream coming true something that wasnt even a possibility for a boy who had been sitting on the sidelines just two years ago. 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. Being Catholic in Hollywood: it's possible. Just ask Neal McDonough He played on both sides of the ball and would just blow the field up. 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. Hed be all over the line, right off the snap. No, we just kind of kept that to ourselves. 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. It's "Greater." Reproduction of material from this website without written permission, or unlicensed commercial use or And I dont want to say [it means] youre angry at God. So I started calling coaches and seeing where he could play. His faith, his family and his football, in that order. Brandon also earned his masters degree at Arkansas before his playing career was done the first Razorback to do so. I kept gaming out who was left. For the next three years, Brandon started for the Razorbacks. Greater: Cast/Crew 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. 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. His high school coaches couldnt believe his size when he came back for his junior season. Portrait and Wedding Photographers Arkansas No Greater Love Than This: Foundation Carries On Legacy of - AMP Named an All-American in 1998, he was drafted in 1999 by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round 11 days before being killed in a vehicular accident. As far as Brandon goes and reliving everything- through his foundation weve always kept his memory alive and his example out there for kids ever since his accident. He shows up at the stadium for practice long before anyone else is there and when one of the coaches finds him, hes idly picking up litter in the parking lot. Dramatic backlighting and silhouettes create a sense of foreboding and uncertainty, resonating with the themes of tragedy and doubt. 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. Marty Burlsworth | Brandon Burlsworth Foundation | Public Appearances It would take 11 years - with Reindl financing the independent production himself when other investors dried up - but in 2016, "Greater" hit the theaters. 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. Burlsworth attended Harrison High School where he was an All-State selection. Brandon didnt dress the first two games of his freshman season, but we found out that hed be on the field for the third. Greater, a 2016 release, tells the life story of Burlsworth, who rose from mediocrity to greatness depending on his faith.Just 10 days after being drafted by the NFL's Indianapolis . You take care of it, you get things done. So I did whatever I could to be there for Brandon. by The Daily News Publishing Co. Inc. - All Rights Reserved, VOL. He's been gone to a better place for almost as long. On April 17, 1999, the Indianapolis Colts selected Burlsworth in the third round of the NFL Draft. So by his fourth year at Arkansas, he was already finishing his masters degree. The idea wasnt to be the greatest walk-on, Marty explained, it was to get a scholarship.. We didnt want that Sports Illustrated did a feature piece on Brandon. On Aug. 26, the movie about his life, Greater, opens nationwide. Brandon was so single-minded, so focused. Marty and Vickie Burlsworth - Owner - LinkedIn 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. And every week he was right on time with his little white Subaru parked in Moms driveway. He graduated from high school in 1994 and was recruited as a football player for the University of Arkansas. Even when the coach is impressed with Brandons dedication, he isnt exactly nurturing: I cant think of another movie in which someone compares the hero to horse manure and its meant to be encouraging. Neal McDonough plays his older brother, Marty, who took on a father figure role after their parents divorced. I mean everybody knew. Greaters response to the problem of evil, to disbelief and nihilism, is not an argument, but an action: a choice to trust. 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. I think Brandon would be proud of the work were doing in his name. Predictably, trash-talking opponents laughed at him and called him names. She then pursued her graduate degree at the University of Louisville where she interned for the athletic department. 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 next week, Brandon flew to Indianapolis for minicamp. That's not a boast. Evelyn lives in North Little Rock, AR with her husband, Paul, two sons, Bo and Owen, and dog Layla. Burlsworth Trophy Announces Nominees. Opposing teams made game plans just to handle Brandon. French Monastery Survives War and Famine After 885 Years, the Basilica of St. Ambrose in Milan, and More Great Links! 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 Especially after it was all over and, you know, that was bad times. It seemed as if the whole town was there to support Brandon and who he was and what he meant to everybody. 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. During Martys conversation with Searcy this metaphor is further developed; a pattern emerges that Marty cant appreciate without a higher perspective. 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. View Marty Burlsworth's record in Harrison, AR including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. And he justdominatedon the field didnt matter if he was on defense or offense. To this day, people tell me where they were when they heard the news. But almost every boy growing up in the state wants to be a Razorback. Arkansas All-American Walk-On Burlsworth Now the Subject of Film With The Aid Of Marty Burlsworth - SECHARS When I turned on to the street behind Moms house, I could see her driveway through this little opening between houses. 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. Marty Burlsworth - Address & Phone Number | Whitepages Or Kurt Rambis, the funny-looking center for the Los Angeles Lakers. Marty and Vickie both have recorded multiple interviews on podcasts across the nation. It was just one of those things when its time, its time. As we walked by one of the pro shops, we joked to each other. Faith and family they meant everything to Brandon. He knew he could. So that was kind of the stamp of approval there, plus theyre Christians and they didnt want to lose that faith aspect. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was born in Harrison, Arkansas, on September 20, 1976 to Leo Burlsworth and Barbara Burlsworth. So I think its normal. Holy Communion From the Chalice Reintroduced in the UK: What About the US? Mom and I picked him up at the airport when he came home. Starting the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation shortly after his death, even as the grief was overwhelming, just set those plans into motion sooner. Even his peers saw an innocent kid who just didnt understand why he couldnt make it in college football, and certainly not the NFL. Film depicting ex-Arkansas Razorbacks star Brandon Burlsworth to - ESPN What Marty thinks about now, though, is that even when Brandon was in college and then after he was drafted by the Colts, he had all these ideas for how he wanted to help people. After the draft, he spoke to me a lot about helping other kids in Harrison. First, while the films hero is the celebrated Arkansas Razorbacks offensive guard Brandon Burlsworth (Christopher Severio) possibly the greatest walk-on player in college football history the protagonist is not Brandon, but his brother Marty, played by Neal McDonough of Arrow. We werent proactive at all in [making a movie]. Its condensed. 77), who was killed in a car accident days after being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1999. 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. It was just something that we thought of, you know. 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. EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Marty Burlsworth of New Faith-Based Film He asked me to help him, but theres all this certification that goes into being an agent. EIN 27-4581132 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. Bob Edmonson is a lifelong native of Harrison. 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. | of prospects that meet your criteria, Monitor any person, property or 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 . He wasnt as tall or as heavy as D-I colleges wanted him to be. 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