GREATER: Life Lessons on the Field

Greater I can hardly stand it! Just a few more weeks and this former high school football team water girl will be back on the sidelines yelling for her team! Yes, that season is fast approaching and as much as I hate to see summer leave us, I love to slide into football season. My youngest is starting his third season of football, so I have many weeks ahead of cheering and yelling for my boy and his team.

Next to a good football game, I love a good football movie, and I am thrilled to promote a new movie coming out about a young man who LOVED football. Here is a quick synopsis of the movie:

“Brandon Burlsworth had one dream – to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Unfortunately, Brandon was an awkward kid who lacked the physical prowess to make the team. He was written off by coaches and ridiculed by his fellow teammates. Undeterred, Brandon continued to show-up for practice. He woke up before anyone else and worked harder than anyone else, until his determination paid off. Not only was he given an opportunity to walk-on and play football – he became one of the greatest players on the field, and was drafted to the Indianapolis Colts. Brandon proves that anyone can reach and achieve their dreams, and that champions are mentors who can be role models on and off the field.” Greater movie courtesy of Grace Hill Media

The lead actor who plays Brandon, Chris Severio, wrote this about the life lessons of “Greater”.
“Actors wait their entire lives to play a role as meaty and meaningful as Brandon Burlsworth. I was blessed to get that opportunity in my first movie, bringing Brandon to the big screen in GREATER, in theaters everywhere Aug. 26.

Brandon was a true champion and role model for so many, and I hope this movie entertains and inspires you and your family. For all the young athletes, new athletes, struggling athletes and dreamers out there (and their parents), these three lessons from Brandon’s life hold the key to building character and finding your destiny.

• Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t: Brandon was not the most physically gifted athlete. He struggled with being overweight, wasn’t naturally graceful, was a pretty unlikely candidate to be a college football All-American and then drafted into the NFL. He was able to do it all because he refused to listen to those who doubted him or his abilities. He always believed in himself, knew that through hard work and dedication, he could be anything he wanted to be. The only thing standing between you and your dreams is how passionately you’re willing to produce them.

• Dedicate yourself to something greater: It’s no coincidence the film of Brandon’s life is called GREATER. As a Christian, he believed he was called to be a man of integrity and honor off the field as well as on – he dedicated himself, first and foremost, to God. Your faith can strengthen you, and like Brandon you can choose to be a role model on and off the field.

• Help others: Brandon Burlsworth was a giver. He didn’t just play football, or live his life, focused exclusively on his wants. He made others’ needs a top priority – family, teammates, friends and fans. As he dug in deep to reach his potential as an athlete and a man, he encouraged and supported those who were taking that same journey alongside him. Brandon didn’t just make himself better; he made others better, too, because he was intentional about finding ways to help them.

I hope you enjoy GREATER – and are as inspired by Brandon’s story as much as I and so many others who knew him and know of him have been. He was a remarkable young man, and having the privilege of bringing his life to the big screen was a remarkable experience.”

I have been given access to preview the movie, so I can’t wait to sit back and watch, and then share my review on this new movie next week. I’ll be giving away two Greater football jerseys to two lucky winners, so be watching to learn how to win.

Interviews with the real people who loved, coached, and witnessed the triumphal legacy of the Brandon Burlsworth.

Official Trailer