By Airman 1st Class Derek VanHorn
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. - For the second straight year, a Grand Forks airman will be heading to football's biggest stage to attend an all-expenses paid trip to Super Bowl XLVI.

Senior Airman Matthew Burt entered the Air Force-wide "Football Frenzy" contest, in which one winner is selected for each major command.

Col. Timothy Bush, 319th Air Base Wing commander, surprised Burt with the tickets and news alongside other wing senior leadership atop the base's air traffic control tower.

"It actually kind of caught me off guard," said Burt, who works as an air traffic controller under the 319th Operations Support Squadron.

Burt submitted around five entries throughout the season and said he actually forgot about the drawing until he was told he was the winner.

During the football season, Burt said he would go to J.R. Rockers for a meal and to watch his favorite team, the Detroit Lions, play on Sundays.

"After a while I decided to fill out entries when I would go, and as it turned out, my name got picked," said Burt, who has yet to attend a National Football League game. "I never expected to win; I just wanted to watch football."

Burt said he plans to take his father, Jim, on the four-day, all-expenses paid trip to Indianapolis, and also added that he hopes to see the San Francisco 49ers play the Houston Texans in the big game.

"I think the atmosphere will be amazing," he said.

Burt also said the small vacation out of the North Dakota cold will be "very nice," and is even more thankful that it's "on the Air Force's dime."

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