Jacksonville, AL – Up the to Jax State Oklahoma-based traveler who added’Friendliest College in the South in the South’ to his 15-year record of FBS campus visits
Jax State moved up to Football Bowl Subdivision hoping to be noticed by more radars However, who would have thought that the move could land them the “Friendliest University in The South” as a top choice on the travel bucket lists.
Bill Lawter, wearing his closest resemblance to the red button-up shirt that he wore to match his black Oklahoma State cap He checked off a game on Saturday.
The former tax attorney, 78, for Conoco and occasionally travel companion J.B. Parsons, 73 and a ex- Conoco Financial Analyst, was at Jax State’s win against East Tennessee State on Saturday.
It was FBS campus visits No. in 126 by Lawter and was part of a tour which included UAB in the evening of Thursday. It also would have also comprised Georgia Tech on Friday, should Georgia Tech played Louisville at The Ramblin’ Wreck’s home stadium.
There aren’t any neutral venues such as Meredes Benz Stadium, Lawter declared. This is a rule that’s not written in this bucket-list chase. It has to be the original home stadium.
He and Parsons took a picture of Burgess-Snow Field in a construction phase that included it being the Loring as well as the Debbie White Football Complex standing as a skeleton of concrete beams.
It just enhanced Lawter’s most recent FBS experience.
“Clearly, Jacksonville State cares about the work they’re doing,” the president declared. “They’re improving their performance. They’re working to make themselves stand the same position at Conference USA.”
Lawter’s travels are based on his hometown of Ponca CIty, Okla. It is a town with around 25,000 people. It is named for the town’s local Native American tribe. Parsons reside in Bixby and was previously within Ponca City.
The crow is flying and they watched football for almost seven and a-half hours from their home on Saturday.
If Lawter achieves his FBS travel target, he’ll visit more than 134 of what he describes as being 136 FBS campuses. This includes Idaho that dropped in the Football Championship Subdivision after his visit, as well as Kennesaw State, which moves ahead in 2024.
Why doesn’t Lawter attend the entire FBS campuses? He’s been to Hawaii four times, and doesn’t see any need to fly there to play football.
“If I’m in Hawaii during football season, I’ll be there,” he said.
He doesn’t have plans to attend a sporting event that takes place in Norman, Okla.
“I’m not going for The University of Oklahoma, because I don’t like the sexy students,” he said. “My daughter has been trying to convince me into the idea. She attended SMU this weekend, and the next they will are playing in Oklahoma.”
Lawter’s bucket list began during a great season at Oklahoma State. Lawter chose to go with this team’s path across Texas Tech, Texas, Missouri and Iowa State. He visited Iowa State solo and dressed in OSU orange, but “fell into” the local culture of hospitality.
The new indoor practice facility Lawter saw tables set up to serve the dignitaries.
“We stroll in as if we own the place and it was clear that we shouldn’t have been in the building,” he said. “Sure enough, in about an hour, an Iowa State official with all of these badges appears and shakes his hand at us.
“He stated, ‘Nobody’s allowed to enter the building except for those who are eating, so we went to the line and began eating.”
The experience led Lawter to ask questions aloud Sue Sue, his spouse of fifty years. What would happen if he traveled with “no dog to hunt.”
This was the beginning of the bucket list and bucket-list trips began at LSU. Locals noticed the Oklahoma tag and gave him Jack Daniels to go with Coke.
He ended having dinner and a meal with 30 people. His journeys were about having conversations with people.
“I was hooked and thought”I’m going test how many of these I can manage,” he said. “After an unspecified amount of time I realized that I realized that I might be able to accomplish each one of these.'”
Jax State is No. 129.
“They have structures on campus that are uniform in their architecture,” Lawter said. “It provides more of a environment on campus as well. Jacksonville State has that.
“It’s gorgeous, with its rolling hills and all of that. The stadium isn’t as large than others however that doesn’t make an impact on me. It’s fun.”
Lawter stated that Lawter and Parons loved UAB but they consider Jax State’s level of club “far better.”
Game updates
East Tennessee State will receive the kickoff in the first game of the season.
FIRST QARTER
Logan Smothers will start as QB at Jax State. After two handoffs his first throw of the game is not completed. Jax State goes three-out.
ETSU drives to get within the first and goals at 8 minute mark, however Jax State’s defense stops. Ewan Johnson kicks the short field goal and the Bucs take the lead over the Gamecocks 3-1 at 9:18.
Smothers returns for Jax State’s second play. A penalty for holding on Ron Wiggins set the Gamecocks back. Smothers did not throw a quick pass for Perry Carter then completed a dump to Wiggins for a gain of a few yards on the third and long.
Jax State D is forced to force a three-out. ETSU will kick off out of its own 14.
Smothers throws an slant of medium for 22, yards for Jamarye Joiner. A couple of players later, Smothers hits Sterling Galban with a deep pass for an TD of 24 yards. Alen Karajic’s kick was good as Jax State leads 7-3 at 3:20. Scoring drive: 6 plays, 61 yards, 2:01.
J.S.U.’s Kekoura Tarnue is tipped with an intercepted, and then returns 14 yards, compared to ETSU’s 10. This sets the stage for Wiggins his 10-yard TD drive. Karajic’s kick makes Jax State up 14-3 at 1:49.
JSU’s Devin Baldwin called for roughing the passer and aiming after he smashed ETSU quarterback Tyler Riddell. Targeting was confirmed by a replay which ruled Baldwin continued to play the game. ETSU successfully completed its pass but added the penalty to Jax State’s total of 29.
SECOND Quarter
Jax State’s D shuts down the threat as well as a penalty for delay pushes ETSU away from field goal-line space. Nate Brackett pins Jax State at their 5.
ZION Webb is in as QB to Jax State, 7:04. Webb throws a deep slant to Carter. If it had been played at a good pace, it could have been a huge play however ETSU Safety Sheldon Arnold able to break the ball up. Smothers the QB and finishes the drive with a two-yard zone-read goal keep. Karajic’s kick is 21-3. Jax State, ate 4:06.
The ball is returned to Jax State back with 1:32 remaining, and is in position to shoot a 54-yard field shot. The timeout is at ETSU in 0:04. Karajic is within the range, but was wide left.
Jax State leads ETSU 21-3.
HALFTIME
THIRD QARTER
Checking in on the news after having an interview inside the press room. Jax State now leads 42-3 at 7:12. Jax State’s three TDs in the third quarter include Malik Jackson’s 42-yard romp, Smothers’ 3-yard run and J’Wan Evans’ 2-yard run. Fumbles were the catalyst for the two final scores, which were scored from drives of 32 and 23 yards.
–A Jalen Bustamante intercept and an 18-yard return spot Jax State at ETSU’s 24. The Gamecocks hold second down, and seven at the eleven as the game is over.
Fourth Quarter
-” Evans with a 2 yard TD run as well Jax State leads ETSU 49-3 at 13:54.
Final: Jax State wins 49-3.
