Oct. 2, 2001
HYANNIS, Mass. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette senior Brian Burke (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Academy) was presented with the ECAC Award of Valor on Tuesday at the ECAC Fall Convention Awards Banquet in Hyannis, Mass. Burke was accompanied to the event by Lafayette head coach Fran O'Hanlon.
The ECAC Award of Valor is awarded annually and was established in 1985 to honor ECAC student-athletes whose courage, motivation and relentless determination serves as an inspiration to all. The recipients of the Award of Valor exemplify strength of character, perseverance, and most importantly, accomplishment deserving recognition as being truly triumphant.
A standout for the Leopards' men's basketball team, Burke led his team in assists and finished third on the team in scoring (14.0 points per game) despite missing 13 games after suffering a punctured lung in a game at Fordham on Dec. 11. Burke was playing the best game of his career, having scored a career-high 24 points, including five three pointers. With five minutes left in the game, his career-best game came to an end. Burke was removed from the arena on a stretcher after complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath. After one hospital dismissed Burke's injury as a muscle spasm, he continued to suffer throughout the night, then went to a second hospital the next morning and was diagnosed with a punctured lung.
The junior suffered severe internal bleeding, losing one third of his blood supply. After an initial 10-day hospital stay, Burke suffered another setback as he was preparing to return home. On Dec. 21 when the doctors removed the chest tubes, Burke's lung collapsed and prolonged his hospital stay. Burke's recovery was slow but determined and he returned to classes in late January. The coaches and doctors planned on Burke missing the remainder of the season and concerns arose that he may never play competitive basketball again. The Philadelphia native has also battled irritable bowel syndrome which required him to undergo stomach surgery before his senior year in high school. On February 11, exactly two months after a punctured lung left his career and health in jeopardy, Burke returned to the basketball court, scoring a game-high 23 points, just one point shy of his career-high. His effort helped lead Lafayette to an 87-78 win over Navy. Burke went on to play in Lafayette's six remaining games.
In his three seasons, Burke has been a key contributor both on and off the court. He is the Patriot League and Lafayette record holder for consecutive free throws with 49 and shot 91.2 percent from the line this season. Burke is on his way to scoring 1,000 points in addition to becoming Lafayette's career record holder for free throw shooting. Burke continues to cope with his stomach illness on a daily basis, however he has not allowed it to affect his play on the basketball court, his work in the classroom, or his optimistic approach to life that lets him embrace every new challenge that comes his way.
Kasia Fadrowski of Colby-Sawyer College, Dirceu Hurtado of Fairleigh Dickinson University and Pacifica Sauer of Norwich University were also presented with the ECAC Award of Valor at the Banquet.
