Arkansas fans...

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Brandon burlsworth movie?

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Man. I would watch the hell out of that.

Wow, congrats to your cousin.

Can't wait for it to come out. Burlsworth was such a good guy, good player, and great role model. I'm just happy his life will be documented in this manner.

LINK /

I looked him up on Wiki but what is the longer back story? Had never heard the name before

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I looked him up on Wiki but what is the longer back story? Had never heard the name before

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He was a walk-on to Arkansas, ended his career as a scholarship player, All-American, and a draft pick by the Colts, that is the short version of his playing career.

Off the field he was a role model, a genuine role model, he was all the time doing community service type things on his own back then it wasn't a requirement for players like it is today, honestly it would be hard to document what all he did, because he just did it not looking for recognition for doing it.

IIRC, he had finished his masters or would have the same year he was drafted which would have made him to first football player to do so for Arkansas or the first in a very long time.

Since his death, there is a foundation set up and ran by a member of his family, IIRC, that provides disadvantaged kids with opportunities to attend Razorback games and provides eye care and glasses to kids who would not have this avaialable to them because their family could afford it.

The glasses part comes in because Burls was known for the thick black wayfarer style glasses he wore during games, he was also said to look like Drew Carey (who was also about his size back then, but fat, lol)

Nutt was the coach at the end of his career at Arkansas, he walked-on for Ford. Nutt "enshrined" his locker, sealing it off exactly how he left it after the last game he played for the Razorbacks, it still remains in this state to day with a glass cover over the front of it, to my knowledge he is the only Razorback who has ever had this type of honor as we rarely if ever retire numbers, do not build statues, etc

The foundation in his honor brings 30 underprivileged kids to every Razorback football home game. If you come to a game in Fayetteville, they have their own little corner. The kids get t-shirts, "Burlsworth glasses" and get recognized on the big screen. Its a good organization.

LINK

Sounds like an SEC Storied needs to be made as well

He'd still be in the NFL today had he not had that wreck. The Colts with him anchoring the line and Peyton Manning along with their rise in the 2000's decade I think would have been good for at least 2 Super Bowl victories.

He'd be putting the final touched on a multiple Pro Bowl career, a first ballot HOF'r, and a guy whose off the field contributions and lifestyle would've overshadowed anything Tim Tebow and Tebowmania would've never taken off like it did.

Rarely do I say the world would have been a much better place with a single person in it, but that's plain as day when it comes to Burlsworth. What I vaguely remember about him was him being really soft spoken, almost shy. I've got a bunch of friends from Harrison, and I'm around the same age as he would be. I don't recall him ever being at any of the hang out spots or at the parties on Gaither Mtn. He was a different kind of cat, motivated and determined by other wordly drive. He was the epitome of walking the walk and not talking the talk.


Here's a pretty good SI article. LINK


And a link to his family's foundation. LINK

It was always ironic to me that he was from Harrison, a place that has the stereotype as being one of the most hateful and close-minded towns in the country yet he was the complete polar opposite in every way, shape and form.