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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 10 • 30 season, Michigan State was ranked near the top of the polls, but wasn't eligible for a trip to Pasadena because of the No-Repeat Rule in place at the time. The Boilermakers weren't exactly chopped liver that season as Coach Jack Mollenkopf 's squad was ranked in the top 10, but as is the case in most special sea- sons, Purdue had to have the ball bounce its way to achieve its goals. "At my age, my memory can be a little fuzzy, but I still see the punt block at Michi- gan, all these years later," said Burke, who turned 75 on Sept. 11. "I can still see the ball going straight up in the air, and me jump- ing up and catching it and landing in the end zone. "I suppose that moment will stay with me forever." Burke also started his senior year in 1967 on the Boilermakers' Big Ten title team, but suffered an ACL and MCL injury against Michigan State, one week before the Bucket game. Unable to play against the Hoosiers, he watched while the second-ranked Boil- ermakers were upset by IU, sending the Cream and Crimson to their only Rose Bowl appearance as they shared the crown with the Boilermakers and Minnesota. "The fact that he couldn't play at line- backer was probably one of the reasons that (IU fullback Terry) Cole ran 63 yards right up the middle against us for what ended up being the winning touchdown," Bonk said. "We really missed Frank in that game." But it isn't the defining moment of Burke's life, that is for certain. And Veterans Day is always a time that causes Burke to reflect, something he hopes that future generations will continue to do. "Veterans Day is so important to me," said Burke, who taught school for 36 years and coached football for 22 years. "My fear is that the younger generation is not learn- ing about the ultimate sacrifice that so many have made so we can live the life we live today. "To me it is like All Saints Day (in the Catholic Church) in that we celebrate the lives of all those that died for us. We need our leaders to come together so that every- one understands the efforts of those that came before them." Despite nearly four decades in pub- lic education, Burke has found a new and unique way to serve others. In 2003, he started up his new passion: Prison ministry. Since then, he has visited Dayton State Prison, just north of Houston, giving spiri- tual support to inmates he calls "my broth- ers and sisters in white." He has worked his way to assistant chaplain and visits every Tuesday and every other Saturday. "My schedule makes it hard for me to return to Purdue to see a game, but this has become my life's work," said Burke, who also spends time at home preparing for pro- grams he will deliver when he is inside the prison walls. In fact, last Tuesday, he was at Dayton from 6:30 a.m. until well after 9 p.m. He even teaches classes, and this week's topic was one that rings home to Burke: Anger management. "There have been times in my life I could have used a course on that topic my- self," he laughed. But the prison work is no laughing mat- ter, nor is it full of promises that all will be better on the outside for those prisoners that will be eventually released. "I am not going to sugarcoat the fact that we don't win them all over," Burke said. "But we are planting the seed and we have real-life examples of success stories for our former prisoners on the outside. "We have to get past treating them like the number they are (when in prison). If we can do that, we have a chance at success for them when they get out." Burke, who became a grandfather for real 18 years ago, counts his blessings ev- ery day. His Purdue experience and the role he played in two of the football program's greatest seasons keeps the bounce in his step that allows him to continue to keep moving forward every day. "I have been so lucky," Burke said. "So very lucky." j Ready to tak e t h e plu n g e? David and Sonnie Boudia obtained their home loan at Lafayette Savings Bank. We're the Indiana community bank with local decision-making. When you are ready to take the plunge into home ownership, see Lafayette Savings Bank.www.lsbank.com | 742-1064 E v E r y A n g l E . E v E r y P o s s i b i l i t y . Olympic gold medalist David Boudia and his wife Sonnie