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Lawler In Butler Hall Of Fame

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By JOEY JOHNSTON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 21, 2008

Nearly two decades ago, Tampa's Scott Lawler took a big chance.

Lawler, an all-state player from King High, signed a soccer scholarship with Butler University, which was starting a program.

"I had never even heard of the school," Lawler said. "I took a visit up there and found myself in Hinkle Fieldhouse when the Indiana state high school basketball tournament was going on. I'm watching a game with Damon Bailey and Eric Montross. There was such passion. I thought, 'Hey, this is pretty good stuff.'

"I guess I didn't notice the cold weather. I'm not sure I realized what I was getting into."

Lawler's college soccer career was pretty good stuff, too.

"I think we had 25 freshmen that first year," Lawler said. "I still remember the coach Langdon Kumler standing up and saying, 'Half of you won't make it until your senior year.'

"Nine of us made it the whole way through. We used to joke about it and call ourselves the 'Founding Fathers.' I think we made our mark."

And the people at Butler haven't forgotten.

On June 8, Lawler traveled to Indianapolis for induction into the Butler University Athletic Hall of Fame.

"I'm really, really humbled by it," said Lawler, who is back in Tampa and working for a building supply company owned by his family.

In a Butler news release, Lawler was described as "immediately becoming the face of the program." Lawler, still Butler's all-time leading scorer with 127 career points, had 14 goals and 12 assists in the program's initial season. From 1989-92, he had a school-record 50 goals and 27 assists.

Lawler started 75 consecutive matches. He was a three-time all-conference performer and a two-time All-Mideast selection. He played on the gold medal-winning North team at the 1991 U.S. Olympic Festival.

Then began his odyssey through all levels of professional soccer.

"I was one of those kids who grew following the Tampa Bay Rowdies," said Lawler, 37. "I remember getting an NASL soccer ball as a present in kindergarten. I took right to it, and I can still remember the smell of that leather soccer ball.

"I guess back then, the dream was playing for the Rowdies in Tampa. As it turned out, I played just about everywhere else."

His first stop was in Dallas, where he played for the indoor Sidekicks. The coach was Gordon Jago, formerly of the Rowdies. One of Lawler's teammates was Tatu, a player he once watched from the stands.

But Lawler was just getting started.

Dayton Dynamo.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Cincinnati Silverbacks.

Detroit Rockers.

Philadelphia Kicks.

Outdoors in Finland.

Hampton Roads Mariners.

Indiana Twisters.

Indiana Blast.

And back to the Philadelphia Kicks.

"I was getting ready to turn 30, and I had achieved my lifelong goal of playing some professional soccer," Lawler said. "I had quite a run."

One that was kick-started at Butler.

Lawler remembers his sophomore season, when a bunch of young Butler players upset heavily favored and No. 6-ranked Saint Louis 2-1. He remembers coming to Tampa for a weekend doubleheader, beating the UT Spartans (ranked No. 1 in Division II) 4-2, then tying South Florida 0-0.

He remembers making a life for himself.

"No matter what, you always remember those college years," said Lawler, who also served a stint as Butler assistant coach during a break in his professional career. "Those memories will always live forever."

At the Butler Athletic Hall of Fame, that is now guaranteed for everyone.

Reporter Joey Johnston can be

reached at (813) 259-7353 or

jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

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