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Erica Galindo
Celebrating Food, Faith and Family
Last edited on: August 12, 2016.

In theatres soon, you’ll be able to view the college-football drama ‘Greater’.  The movie premieres mere days prior to the official start of the NCAA football season which begins September 1. The early gridiron action and excitement is sure to please football fans gearing up for the season. On August 26, ‘Greater’ opens nationwide in theatres.

‘Greater’ is the true story of the unlikely career of Brandon Burlsworth. Brandon is thought of as the greatest walk-on (non-scholarship player) in college football history. In the small-town, Burlsworth, who was known most for his horn-rimmed glasses and true humility, wasn’t considered good enough to play Division I football.

But with the support of his older brother, Marty (ARROW’s Neal McDonough), and their struggling single mom, Barbara (Leslie Easterbrook), Brandon walks on to the Arkansas Razorback team in 1994. He succeeds in the face of staggering odds. By the end of his college career, he was not only a star in the SEC, but a 1st Team All-American and an early pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL Draft.

“Brandon’s dedication and work ethic are the stuff of legend,” writer/producer Brian Reindl said. “Doing things ‘the Burls Way’ is still considered the gold standard of character and determination in Arkansas.”

College-football drama 'Greater' comes to theatres August 26th. Photo Courtesy of 'Greater' Facebook.

College-football drama ‘Greater’ comes to theatres August 26th. Photo Courtesy of ‘Greater’ Facebook.

Eleven days after being drafted and before he was able to sign the contract that would have changed the financial status of his family forever, Brandon died in a car accident on his way home. His death stunned the state: The young man of unquestioned character did everything right, and yet he was snatched away before he and his family could enjoy the fruits of his labor.

His loss was particularly hard on Marty, who struggles in the film to hang on to his own faith in the aftermath of Brandon’s death – confronted at his brother’s funeral by a mysterious farmer (Nick Searcy) who tries to convince him that a loving God would never let such a bad thing happen to someone so good.

“This film is as much about Marty’s journey as it is about Brandon’s,” Reindl explained. “He goes through something we all face when we experience tragedy and trials: Which voices do we listen to? The voices of faith, hope, and trust, or the voices of doubt, disbelief, and despair?”

Hammond Entertainment, LLC presents a Greater Productions.  GREATER is produced by Brian Reindl and directed by David Hunt from a script written by Brian Reindl and David Hunt. Neal McDonough and Brian Reindl serve as Executive Producers. The film stars Chris Severio, Neal McDonough (ARROW, MINORITY REPORT, BAND OF BROTHERS) Leslie Easterbrook (the POLICE ACADEMY franchise), Michael Parks (ARGO, DJANGO UNCHAINED) and Nick Searcy (JUSTIFIED).

Stay up-to-date about the movie by visiting the ‘Greater’ website.

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