In Memory: Not Just a One-Shot Biography of a “True Character”

It’s about two Razorbacks who aren’t defined by play: Brandon Burlsworth and Clint Stoerner.

Not one play versus Tennessee on the 25th anniversary of a game was the subject of the SEC Network premiere of the film True Character on Tuesday night. Beyond the notorious fumble, it was more about Clint Stoerner and Brandon Burlsworth.

To refresh everyone’s recollection, Arkansas nearly defeated No. 1 Tennessee on November 14, 1998, to go to the SEC Championship game and have a real chance to win a national championship, which they have never done. A turnover that resulted in a touchdown and an unexpected victory for the Vols destroyed it all.

It had been a memorable season. In Houston Nutt’s first season as head coach, the Razorbacks went 8-0. It was also the fifth season for an unusual offensive lineman from Harrison, Arkansas, who turned himself around from a fat little child to an All-American guard.

During the summer, he shared a room with quarterback Stoerner and they became close. It wasn’t a fantastic interview with Burlsworth. He didn’t waste many words and was incredibly kind and courteous. If you inquired about Stoerner’s experience, you would receive enough information for a full episode. The two held each other in the highest regard.

That gaffe was the main focus of the film. Stoerner was going to dash out to beat the clock as the Hogs were running out of time. He stumbled a little over Burlsworth’s leg and dropped his hand reflexively to catch himself. Regretfully, the ball dropped out of that hand onto the rain-soaked grass. Tennessee bounced back.

The fact that almost every important member of that squad is still alive and well may be the greatest thing about the entire film. The film featured a number of teammates, including Nutt, Stoerner, and the coach who recruited him, Danny Ford.

Not Burlsworth, though. He was driving home from Fayetteville to take his mother to church, something he did often, when he was killed in a vehicle accident. It had been his desire to play for the Hogs and be selected in the NFL draft. Having selected him with the 63rd overall in the 1999 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts were so impressed with him throughout training that they declared him their likely rookie starter.

It also discussed Stoerner, who refused to back down from the gaffe. Ever moment the play was made and Burlsworth was put on second, he has owned it. For two seasons, Stoerner was a member of the Dallas Cowboys, mostly serving as a backup. Burlsworth, whose brother Marty put in a lot of effort to establish the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded annually to a football player who began as a walk-on and developed into a standout, continues to have an influence on him.

Marty also conducts youth football seminars throughout Arkansas. They can do fundamental exercises with previous college players and attend a Razorbacks game as well. That’s their first opportunity and something that many of them have never experienced.

It also offers them the opportunity to become familiar with the “Burl’s Way.” Stoerner gained that knowledge from their friendship, which had a profound and enduring effect on many of their teammates. That was the main lesson to be learned from the film, and it’s a rather straightforward mantra that I’ve heard him reiterate in speeches ever since.

“That simply means doing the right thing, even when nobody else is around,” Stoerner stated. If not, you should watch it for about an hour on ESPN+ (under the “Originals” menu option) or watch the SEC Network replay. Character matters, but not just for one player. You are welcome to add Stoerner to that.