By Jared Fields, Managing Editor
The ACU football team enjoyed a drama-filled game Thursday, but J. B. Gibbs enjoyed his share of the spotlight also.
Gibbs, senior history major from Abilene, kicked a 23-yard field goal for $15,000 during halftime of the game. However, Gibbs has to wait for possibly three-weeks to hear if he will receive the money.
Gibbs caught a T-shirt in the stands for his chance to take part in the Punt-Pass-Kick challenge, along with another participant making a 50-yard field goal for $10,000.
The 50-yard field goal attempt fell short, but J.B. made things easy for himself after a 52-yard throw and an impressive 45-yard punt gave him his chance with the ball at the 13-yard line.
“I was nervous just because of the fact that it was so much money,” Gibbs said. “I was fairly confident; I did kick and punt in high school.” Gibbs also kicked for the Wildcats’ junior varsity football team for a semester.
After Gibbs nailed the kick, the behind-the-scenes action began.
Odds On Promotions, the Nevada-based company that does promotions across the nation, is now investigating Gibbs’ story to determine if they will pay out the money.
Athletic director Jared Mosley compared the promotion to any special promotion at an event.
“It’s like an insurance policy that we buy,” Mosley said. “It’s similar to what places use on car giveaways. Part of that agreement is to carry out the promotion guidelines.”
Parts of those guidelines involve the participant to be selected by a random process. At the football game, that process was by catching a T-shirt thrown into the stands.
“They threw shirts in the stands and I got one that had a note on it,” Gibbs said.
What happened before he got the shirt is what the company is reviewing.
“It fell to an older man, right off my friend’s hand and right to that guy,” Gibbs said. “So my friend said, ‘I’ve got this guy that can do it.'”
The man gave the shirt to Gibbs, and Odds On Promotions is investigating if this and Gibbs’ JV experience, violate the terms and guidelines of the promotion. A representative from the company called Gibbs on Tuesday to ask some questions about the event.
“They asked a bunch of questions, so I told him everything.”
Gibbs said the representative told him the investigation could take up to three weeks and didn’t give an indication about whether he would get the money or not.
The day after Gibbs made the kick, Mosley called the company to tell them that Gibbs made the kick and to confess that he played JV football.
“She said to go ahead and pursue it,” Mosley said.
Gibbs also hopes the money will be given to him. Gibbs said he was having financial trouble and wondered how he would pay for school.”
“I didn’t get as much in loans as I thought and then the next day I did this,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs doesn’t have the money yet but said it hasn’t stopped people from asking him for money.
“They’re always asking for it, and I’m still just as broke as before,” Gibbs said. “If I get the money I’ll pay rent and stuff for the rest of the year and give some to church.”
