Michael Parsons

FLORIDA TODAY

Alex Brack loved hunting, fishing, country music, his Ford pickup and being a member of the Florida Tech football team.

The place-kicker for the Panthers died Sunday night when he lost control of that Ford F-150 while visiting friends and family in Jackson County on the northern part of the Panhandle.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Brack, 21, and 18-year-old Cierra Brown were driving south on State Road 71 at 9:45p.m. Sunday when he hit a culvert. Brack was pronounced dead at the scene; Brown was listed in serious condition at Jackson County Hospital in Marianna.

The redshirt sophomore from Defuniak Springs helped Florida Tech beat Shorter University on Saturday afternoon, making all four PATs in the 34-30 victory.

But Monday, friends and his Florida Tech family remembered the kid who always had a smile on his face and was willing to do anything for his friends.

"His laugh — he made me laugh all the time," said Andrew Shipotofsky, Brack's best friend and roommate at Florida Tech for the past two years. "He just made my life easier every day. If I struggled with a test, he was there. If I had a bad day, he was there. He was that type of guy."

He was the type who made the new guys feel comfortable when they arrived at Florida Tech. When Tyler Bass transferred to Florida Tech in spring 2012, it was Brack who helped him get adjusted.

"When I first met him, he was that guy, no matter if you were in a bad mood or a good mood, he was going to get you in a good mood," Bass said. "He is the first one in meetings, the last one to leave."

That dedication and passion were not lost on the coaching staff, who would call him "GA Brack" during his first season with the team.

"Believe me, there were times in that first year when I would ask, why is he here? Alex Brack is always here," Florida Tech football coach Steve Englehart said. "I will remember his everyday presence. He loved this place. Loved the team. He would have done anything for the team. If it meant him not kicking, he would have done it if it was best for the team."

At no point was that clearer than during a spring practice. Englehart holds board drills — a one-on-one drill between players. And then he calls Alex Brack's name.

"He strapped it on and lined up in his 3-point stance and he was going to go against Ramsey (Sellers). He didn't care that Ramsey was 305 pounds and benches 500 and some pounds. He is a buck 10," Englehart said, cracking a smile for a moment. "He didn't care. He was in his stance and ready to go. I was about to blow the whistle, but said I can't do that, and we all got a good laugh. But if I blew that whistle, he would have fired off."

Brack also made the rest of the team better with his drive and determination.

"In sprints, he wanted to beat the DBs and wide receivers every time," Englehart recalled. "And he would call his dad and tell him, 'There were only three DBs that beat me today.' He just enjoyed the heck out of life and enjoyed the heck out of being on this team."

The Walton High graduate was studying civil engineering at Florida Tech and earned a spot on the Gulf South Conference Fall Honor Roll for earning a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher through the fall 2013 semester.

"The loss of this young man will be acutely felt by the Florida Tech family," president and CEO Anthony J. Catanese said in a news release. "His spirit, his energy, his ability to make better those around him were all key components of his character. We grieve with his family and offer them our heartfelt condolences."

Florida Tech will wear No. 92 helmet decals and is planning ways to remember their teammate.

"They will be able to lean on one another. They have a whole team to rally around and come together," Englehart said. "One thing I know will help them all get through it is remembering how Alex was on a daily basis. It's helped me, I know that. I was not in very good shape this morning. But I remember all these little things that have brought a smile to my face."

Brack was 7-for-8 in extra points for the 6-3 Panthers, and in his career was 10-for-12.

Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.

"Saturday (game at West Georgia) is going to be for Alex Brack," Bass said.