QBREES9

Where are they now. I love these.

During his prep career, Brett Bech was an outstanding all-around athlete at Slidell High School, excelling in football, baseball and soccer. He earned All-State , All-Metro and All-District recognition in both football and soccer.

The Slidell Tigers captured 2 soccer state titles during Bech’s time at the school. "Soccer was my first love," Brett said. "It was the easiest. You just go out there and play."

Baseball was a sport that was very special to him, too. Bech hit .426 as a centerfielder for the Tigers as a junior, but a shoulder injury suffered during his senior season negated any possibility of continuing his career on the diamond.

It was football that would be Brett’s ticket to college and beyond. In spite of his high school accolades, it was tough getting any attention from college recruiters due to the offense Slidell employed.

"We ran the wing-T. We threw the ball every other series," Bech chuckled. "I set a school record (most yards) with 19 catches for 570 yards (in 1989). The only coach to recruit me was Tom Gainey (Nicholls State) who offered me an opportunity to walk on. I figured if I'm going to walk on, I'm going to do it with both feet."

That's when LSU entered the picture. Former Slidell linebacker and Bech's ex-teammate, Mike Hewiit, was already in Tigertown.

Mike Archer was the head coach at LSU for what would be his final season at the helm. Brett had confidence in his decision, but it was a challenge. "I was just trying to fit in. I wasn't overwhelmed. I knew that I could compete. It was rough for walk ons."

Bech arrived in Baton Rouge as a 5-foot-10, 160 pound freshman but would depart as a 6-foot-1, 190 pounder with pro football aspiration.

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Having played football and soccer taught Brett how to use all of his physical skills.

"I was a natural route runner. I was precise and exact. I used leverage, body lean and angles. I felt my way through it."

Bech was under the tutelage of LSU receiver coach, Jerry Sullivan, who had coached some outstanding receivers with the Tigers such as Wendell Davis, Tony Moss, Eric Martin and Brett's favorite, Todd Kinchen.

"Todd was a senior when I was a freshman," Bech said. "(Todd) would mix it up. He wouldn't back down from anyone."

During the 1993 campaign, the Tigers were 5-5 under Curley Hallman going into the season finale. A win would put the Tigers in a bowl. Quarterback Chad Loup set a record completing 15 passes out of 15 attempts, but the defense struggled against the visiting Razorbacks.

"If we had beaten Arkansas, we go to the Independence Bowl," Brett recalled. "I had 9 catches for 135 yards, which was my best game. I passed up Eddie Kennison as the team's leading receiver. But Arkansas had 3 backs that ran for over 100 yards each on our defense."

The Razorbacks prevailed in Tiger Stadium, 42-24 in a game televised on ESPN.

Bech led the Bayou Bengals in receiving both in 1993 and 1994. In 1993, he recorded 30 catches for 429 yards and 3 touchdowns. The following season he improved to 45 grabs for 772 yards and 5 scores.

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One game on September 17, 1994 will be remembered by Tiger fans as the toughest day in the life of LSU quarterback Jamie Howard. It was a day that Brett will never forget.

"We were 23-point underdogs going into the game against Auburn. They had a 16 game winning streak. I caught a pass behind my head and raced 76 yards for a touchdown."

That Bech touchdown off a deflected pass was part of the 26 points produced by the Tiger offense. But the lead would soon evaporate. Unbelievably, Howard would throw 6 interceptions, 5 coming in the 4th quarter with 3 returned for touchdowns.

Auburn escaped the challenge from LSU, 30-26, in a nightmarish game for players and fans alike.

"I roomed with Jamie for 3 years," he said. "We had death threats on the phone. He was crushed. He didn't go to class. He was depressed. There was an abandon car on the Interstate with ' Kill Howard ' written on it."

Following the loss now known simply as ‘The Interception Game’, Brett intervened in his roommate's decision to not return to Baton Rouge with his teammates.

"I was the last one in the shower. I heard that Jamie was going to ride home with his dad . I ran out to the parking lot clad only in a towel and talked him and his dad out of it."

Howard came to Bech despondent before the South Carolina game the following week.

"He told me that (offensive coordinator) Lynn Amedee told him that if he ever audibled again, he would yank his scholarship and he'd never play at LSU again."

A rematch with the #5 ranked Auburn Tigers the following season produced different results. Brett had graduated and was viewing the game from the stands with Jamie's family.

The 12-6 win in Baton Rouge was much-needed relief for the Howards and everyone who suffered the loss the year before.

“The defense intercepted an Auburn pass in the end zone,” explained Brett. “The players carried Jamie off the field on their shoulders. His dad grabbed me and said 'Go down there, you're part of this.'”

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Following his playing days at LSU, pro football was the next challenge in line for the slick receiver.

"Jacksonville signed me as a free agent. I was one of 14 receivers. They didn't really give me much of a chance."

Next stop was the CFL where Brett had a brief stopover with San Antonio, one of the American teams the league tried to make work in the mid-1990’s.

"I came in during the middle of the season and played special teams," Brett noted.

Soon thereafter, the franchise went belly-up.

During the 1996 off-season, Brett worked with speed and conditioning expert, Tom Shaw. His hard work and persistence paid off.

"Chet Franklin was the director of player personnel for the New Orleans Saints. All that I wanted was a chance," said the former LSU walk-on."

Tom Shaw called. Brett's dad called. Secretaries called. Franklin's phone was inundated with requests for a Brett Bech tryout.

Brett had just about decided to throw in the towel and look for other employment when the call finally came from the Saints. Brett ended up the New Orleans practice squad for the last 6 games of 1996.

The 1997 season brought hope once again for Bech. He was 7th on the receiver depth chart behind former 5th round draft pick Mercury Hayes (1996) and 4th round selection Keith Poole (1997). That's before receiver Darryl Hobbs tried to put a choke hold on offensive coordinator Danny Abramowicz following a post practice disagreement. Hobbs was immediately released, and Brett received some good news from head coach Mike Ditka.

"(Ditka) came up to me and said 'Get ready to play Sunday.' I was moved up the depth chart to 4th receiver." Bech moved from the practice squad in week three to dressing out at home the following week in the Superdome against the Detroit Lions. The Black and Gold won 35-17 to record their 1st win of the season. Brett finished that season with 3 catches for 50 yards. He caught passes from Billy Joe Hobert, Billy Joe Tolliver, Doug Nussmeier, Jake Delhomme, Heath Shuler, Danny Wuerffel and Kerry Collins during his stay with the Saints.

In 1998, Bech developed a special bond with Tolliver. "He liked to throw to me," Brett said. "Billy Joe was a good ole country boy. We played a lot of golf. He still plays on the celebrity tour. I beat him a few times!" Bech is a talented golfer himself having shot 66 just a few months ago.

The final game of the 1998 season against the Buffalo Bills on December 27 turned out to be a highlight performance for Brett.

"We were out of the playoffs (with a 6-9 record) . I got to play a lot." And he made the most of the opportunity, snaring 4 balls for 113 yards. Two of his catches went for touchdowns. "I almost had a 3rd touchdown. I was stopped at the 2 inch line."

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On October 10, 1999, Brett was thrust back into the limelight once again. He made an amazing one handed stab of a Billy Joe Tolliver pass in the back of the Atlanta Falcons' end zone for a 22 yard touchdown catch.

"ESPN's Chris Berman called it the ' BECH (instead of best) play of the week '. I was special teams MVP for the Saints (in 1999). They called me 'Johnny on the spot'. I had a knack.”

Following that season, Brett had a hernia and ankle injuries. A regime change in New Orleans saw Bech looking for work once again. After tryouts with the Eagles and Patriots, his path led him to the XFL franchise in Las Vegas in 2001.

"I just made my injuries worse. It was fun, but I was trying to prove I could still play in the NFL. I shaped my golf game there." While in Vegas, he played with running back, Rod "he hate me" Smart.

Brett’s last stop in his football career was with the Arena Football League’s Indiana Firebirds. He made the All-Rookie squad in 2002 but tore his rotator cuff in 2003. Brett managed to finish his football career with a bang.

The 33-year old led the AFL in forced fumbles, while playing wide receiver and linebacker in 2004. He caught 17 touchdown passes for over 900 yards.

"I went out on a high note," Brett said proudly.

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In 2004, Brett answered a cast call for a movie that called for a wideout. He got the part in the movie The Longest Yard alongside stars Adam Sandler, Burt Reynolds and Chris Rock.

"It was fun," Bech said. "The last touchdown pass that I ever caught was in the movie. Adam Sandler is just like he is on TV. He's funny and cracked jokes."

From 2005 to 2008, Bech spent time with the New York Jets as an assistant strength coach and as a speed consultant with the Jaguars.

It was a long, interesting path from Slidell to LSU to the NFL and finally a role in a Hollywood movie. One memory stands out most for the former receiver.

"When I caught that one handed touchdown against the Falcons, I remembered catching balls from the JUGS machine at LSU. My hands used to bleed. It finally paid off. I was thinking about where I had come from 7 or 8 years earlier. I was a walk-on at LSU. I came from 30 minutes from the Superdome to play for the Saints after growing up in Slidell.”

Television cameras were all around Brett’s locker after that catch in Atlanta. He had earned his time in the spotlight.

Today, Brett resides in Gulf Breeze, Florida where he works for a performance specialist at Athletes Performance inside of Andrews Institute, run by legendary Dr. James Andrews, a fellow LSU graduate. Bech works with athletes from high school to college athletes and higher.

Brett and his wife, Cheri, of 10 years have 3 daughters: Cora (8 years), Olivia (6) and Shilah (3).

Set as fa

www.sportsshooter.com/johnjcoleman

" Anyone can take a picture Only a Photographer can take a photograph "

Rugby Saint II

Sorry. I'm bored but not that bored.lol

QBREES9

I was thinking about where I had come from 7 or 8 years earlier. I was a walk-on at LSU. I came from 30 minutes from the Superdome to play for the Saints after growing up in Slidell.”

To me it was a good read.