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Greater - Burlsworth story.
Posted on 4/18/20 at 11:07 am
Posted on 4/18/20 at 11:07 am
I watched this last night (sorry if already discussed here) and had a question for the hogs on here.
BB seems like a great young man who anyone would be proud to have in their program.
WHEN did you guys (collectively) know he was going to be a major contributor to your program?
Was it just his senior year?
Was he a well known player to fans before his senior year?
Was he a fan favorite while he was playing?
Great story overall with a tragic ending.
BB seems like a great young man who anyone would be proud to have in their program.
WHEN did you guys (collectively) know he was going to be a major contributor to your program?
Was it just his senior year?
Was he a well known player to fans before his senior year?
Was he a fan favorite while he was playing?
Great story overall with a tragic ending.
8
Posted on 4/18/20 at 11:11 am to SECdragonmaster
That actually got to me when he was killed. Just a sad ending to a great story.
Posted on 4/18/20 at 11:16 am to SECdragonmaster
I didn't realize it has been that long ago. It seems like yesterday, but I was only 17. I definitely need to watch some of the documentaries or specials about him.
Posted on 4/18/20 at 11:18 am to SECdragonmaster
Seeing what was left of his car was sad and I felt so bad for his family and the Arkansas program. He was a great guy.
Posted on 4/18/20 at 11:28 am to SECdragonmaster
The fact that an offensive lineman has garnered this much attention speaks volumes about how loved he was while he was here.
Posted on 4/18/20 at 11:35 am to SECdragonmaster
quote:
Great story overall with a tragic ending.
This is a while back so my memory has faded. Darn kids on my lawn and back in my day we wore an onion on our belt.
That having been said I remember noticing Burlsworth during his junior year. The guy was an absolute beast and if you paid attention, which I did back then, we ran behind him a lot because he would just flatten people. He was first team SEC his JR. year and you could tell he was only going to get better.
Posted on 4/18/20 at 3:28 pm to SECdragonmaster
quote:
I watched this last night
Where is it available to watch?
Posted on 4/18/20 at 3:45 pm to Evolved Simian
Netflix
Posted on 4/18/20 at 4:17 pm to SECdragonmaster
I was in my late 20s and remember the poor 1997 season a lot more than how well he was progressing. 1998 he was just so good everyone starting noticing. No one was even over the Stoernover but his 1st team AA made it a little better. Then, he's drafted by the Colts and you just felt like he was in the right place. It helped. Out of nowhere, he was gone and it was crushing. Looking at the bronze trophy given out nationally is such a cool thing.
Posted on 4/18/20 at 5:55 pm to SECdragonmaster
I don't live far from where Burlsworth
grew up. "Greater" has been described as
the greatest walk-on movie ever made and I'm
inclined to agree. Because of its rural isolation
and demographics, few really good football
players come out of the Ozarks at large.
Burlsworth was a kid who believed in himself and
worked hard for everything he achieved,
overcoming tremendous odds.
Not a doubt in my mind he would have been a great
NFL player had fate not intervened.
It's a beautifully shot movie that did not deviate from the actual story. Most of the film is on
location in the Ozarks. I'm not much into
recommending movies, to each his own---but don't deprive yourself of this one.
Greater/trailer
grew up. "Greater" has been described as
the greatest walk-on movie ever made and I'm
inclined to agree. Because of its rural isolation
and demographics, few really good football
players come out of the Ozarks at large.
Burlsworth was a kid who believed in himself and
worked hard for everything he achieved,
overcoming tremendous odds.
Not a doubt in my mind he would have been a great
NFL player had fate not intervened.
It's a beautifully shot movie that did not deviate from the actual story. Most of the film is on
location in the Ozarks. I'm not much into
recommending movies, to each his own---but don't deprive yourself of this one.
Greater/trailer
This post was edited on 4/18/20 at 6:06 pm
Posted on 4/18/20 at 6:29 pm to BamaRoo
quote:
Not a doubt in my mind he would have been a great NFL player had fate not intervened.
I agree. He ran a 4.88 at the combine. He was almost perfect technically as a blocker. Odd to think he would be retired now. If one watches his story and doesn't onion up, they don't have a soul.
Posted on 4/18/20 at 7:15 pm to kajunman
The Burlsworth family were approach by some Hollywood producers a bout doing a movie. The family declined and instead hired a first time director instead. I believe the reason they declined is because of what happened to the movie the blind side. A huge blockbuster but instead it went away from the lessons of the story.
Burlsworth wasn't an ordinary walk on. When he was recruited he was only six feet tall and A bout 250 pounds. He only started his last year in high school. Then he hit a growth spurt and was almost 6-4. Marty his older brother tried to get him in shape by gaining as much weight as possible. He ballooned well over 300 pounds but was mostly fat. However when he got on campus, he got down to 250 and built muscle up to 310.
He redshirted and I'm not sure but was offered a scholarship the next year. He became a full started his redshirt sophomore year. He was a late bloomer who didn't see his athletic potential until after high school.
His athletic ability was noted when he outran tight end Joe Dean Davenport who always jump 20 yards or more in sprints. He dunked a basketball in one spot and ran a 4.88 in the NFL combine.
Burlsworth wasn't an ordinary walk on. When he was recruited he was only six feet tall and A bout 250 pounds. He only started his last year in high school. Then he hit a growth spurt and was almost 6-4. Marty his older brother tried to get him in shape by gaining as much weight as possible. He ballooned well over 300 pounds but was mostly fat. However when he got on campus, he got down to 250 and built muscle up to 310.
He redshirted and I'm not sure but was offered a scholarship the next year. He became a full started his redshirt sophomore year. He was a late bloomer who didn't see his athletic potential until after high school.
His athletic ability was noted when he outran tight end Joe Dean Davenport who always jump 20 yards or more in sprints. He dunked a basketball in one spot and ran a 4.88 in the NFL combine.
Posted on 4/18/20 at 7:16 pm to kajunman
I went to school @ Arkansas from 95-98 and talked to BB when he was a "scrub". I later saw him a week or so before the draft and he was the same kid. Such a tragedy.
To answer OP, mid way thru his Junior year I was saying he was a monster.
To answer OP, mid way thru his Junior year I was saying he was a monster.
This post was edited on 4/18/20 at 7:17 pm
Posted on 4/18/20 at 7:25 pm to Slackaveli
If you were an all american defensive tackle and decided to take a play off against Brandon then you made a huge mistake. You will be on your arse in seconds.
Posted on 4/18/20 at 8:05 pm to dchog
Peyton Manning would have loved him.
Posted on 4/18/20 at 8:40 pm to Honest Tune
No doubt and would be very popular in the NFL. Brandon would have liked to do charitable work and help out with the community.
Posted on 4/18/20 at 9:26 pm to gohogs141
quote:
gohogs141
Thanks
Posted on 4/19/20 at 11:48 am to Evolved Simian
Watched this yesterday and found it to be very moving. He seemed to be a caring, unselfish person. He knew what he wanted and was not discouraged from his pursuit.
Good movie.
Good movie.
Posted on 4/19/20 at 12:06 pm to gladchiefisgone
quote:
That actually got to me when he was killed. Just a sad ending to a great story.
Me too. I remember watching him in both 97 and 98. In 1998 State played Arkansas in what amounted to the SEC West Championship. We won 22-21 on a last second FG by Brian Hazelwood, but I remember big #77 road grading our defense which was one of the best defenses in the nation. I still remember where I was when I heard Burlsworth was killed. Very sad and tragic.
This post was edited on 4/19/20 at 12:07 pm
Posted on 4/19/20 at 3:16 pm to dchog
quote:
If you were an all american defensive tackle and decided to take a play off against Brandon then you made a huge mistake. You will be on your arse in seconds.
Love watching players like him.
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