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Burnett bounds back in spite of broken leg

By MIKE NORRIS

Sports writer

Sept. 17 2004.

Centre High School safety Dustin Burnett was wrestling with a Hope receiver, doing what he could to keep him from getting his hand on the football.

When he saw the screen pass go to the tailback on the other side of the field, he did what any good safety would do: sprinted across the field to deliver a blow the ball carrier would remember every time he walked the next week.

But for Dustin, the play didn't end that way. After diving to make the tackle, his leg swung around and nailed teammate Tad Remy's thigh.

Broken leg.

Burnett knew it right away.

As he was carted off, the Council Grove transfer knew he had more to prove on the football field, but he couldn't help but think of his first love.

"I just didn't want to sit out basketball," he said. "It's my favorite sport."

It's his best too. But don't let that fool you. Whatever sport he's playing he's giving 100 percent, and the results are usually not favorable for the opponent.

Just ask all 11 defenders who unsuccessfully tried to tackle Dustin as he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in his CHS debut.

If Burnett didn't truly love football, or all sports for that matter, he wouldn't be back this season. He would sit out and wait for his main sport, basketball, to come around.

That would mean he would have to sit and watch. He can't do that. In fact, he wanted to play sports so bad last year, instead of opting for a cast and sitting out both basketball and track season, he decided on a surgery that allowed him to miss only the football season.

In the game before the Hope loss, Dustin, who also played wide receiver, hauled in seven catches for 109 yards. After playing just two-and-a-half games he was the team's leading receiver for the entire year.

This year however, he'll be throwing the passes instead of catching them.

CHS football coach Bud Peterson isn't worried about the transition.

"He has some work to do on his timing," he said. "But he's a good natural athlete and has a good mind for the game."

Burnett qualified for the state track meet in the 400- and 800-meter relays and the 4x800 and led the Cougars in points, assists, and steals per game during the basketball season. Despite his incredible athletic ability, it was his attitude and determination after his injury that impressed Peterson the most.

The day after injury, Dustin, his mom Mary, his grandfather, and Peterson went to Manhattan for a diagnosis.

The doctor told them basketball was out of the question.

"It was very devastating," Peterson said. "But I've never seen anyone quite that positive; even his mother and grandfather."

Dustin was determined to get back on the court. He had wowed his new fans for two games on the football field, now he was ready to do so on the basketball court, as well as help the Cougars win.

Surgery

Dustin and his family had two options. First, let the bone sit in a cast and heal. The only problem was there would be no basketball and probably no track for the rest of the year.

The other option, the only option as far as Dustin was concerned, was to insert a titanium rod in his lower leg. The rod would keep the leg strong enough while also helping it heal.

The process included cutting Dusting open just under knee, drilling out some bone marrow, and hammering the knee-to-ankle long rod into his leg.

With the support of his doctor, coaches, and family, Dustin had the rod inserted.

He was on the court for the first basketball game just three months later, and started every game from then on.

After scoring just four points, grabbing one rebound, and favoring his repaired leg in the opening game, he was a little worried.

By the end of the season he was averaging 15 points per game to go along with 2.9 assists, 2.3 steals, and 3.9 rebounds.

In the spring he took fourth in the 400 and 10th in both the 800 and 4x800 at the state track meet in the Wichita.

Dustin knows he couldn't have done it without his coaches.

"My coaches helped me a lot," Dustin said. "Everyday I came in and Coach Peterson took me into the weight room."

He also gave credit to basketball coach Russ Hake and track coach Alan Stahlecker.

"He didn't start me out too hard," Dustin said of Stahlecker. "He peaked me at the right time."

After starting Dustin off slow, Stahlecker helped him take 10 seconds off his 800 time.

Coach Hake was in the same boat as Dustin.

"He hurt his knee too, so he knew which lifts would help me strengthen my knee."

All the work paid off as Dustin established a name for himself in the Cougar sports scene.

More than sports

Although he loves sports, it isn't the only thing on his mind.

He loves hanging out with friends.

Even though Dustin lives with his younger sister Allison and mom, don't be surprised to see fellow football teammate Lance Diepenbrock, Dustin's girlfriend, or any number of other kids just looking to have a good time, hanging out at the Burnett household.

Dustin's room is in the basement and equipped with weights, a card table, boxing gloves, and University of Kansas paraphernalia.

Jayhawk fans don't hold your breath. Dusting has his eyes on purple and white.

"I really need to keep my GPA up this year," Burnett said. "I want to get a scholarship to help with school."

If he does get a scholarship to play basketball or track, so be it; but he isn't sweating too hard.

"If it doesn't work out I want to go to K-State and major in engineering," Dustin said.

Right now

After almost one full year Dustin eagerly awaits his chance to step on the gridiron once again.

Despite the absence of pain in his leg, the uneasy feeling of returning to the scene of the injury weighed on his mind when he returned to practice.

"I was kind of nervous when we put pads on," he said. "But then after we hit I got used to it."

Peterson seemed less worried than his new quarterback.

"I think his leg is stronger than before," he said.

That does happen with some surgeries, but the thought of getting hurt again always is in the back of an injured athlete's mind.

For now Dustin has to shake that off and concentrate on what lies ahead on the football field.

"We're expecting it to be a good season," Dustin said after losing just two seniors. "All the other kids went out and worked hard last year. I just want to help out."

In the back of his mind Dustin knows he will be doing more than just "helping out." His personality just doesn't allow him to take all the credit.

"We have some really good receivers this year," Dustin said referring to Brent Potozncik, Scott Peterson, and Thieen Antoszyk.

It's going to take a good quarterback to get them the ball, and Dustin will try his best to do so. He also will be trying to play a full football season for the first time since his freshman year due to a prior ankle injury before his sophomore season.

Coach Peterson expects he will.

"He's coming out with a good attitude, and we're hoping he'll be a leader for us."

That's the quarterback's job, and that's what Dustin intends to do.

When he steps on the football field Sept. 1 for his first real action in almost a year, every Cougar fan will want to know how his repaired leg is doing.

But what about his arm?

"It feels good," he said with a smile as if everyone forgot about the most important body part to a quarterback.

Cougar fans, let the 2005 season begin.

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