A Tiger, Gone Way Too Soon

TigerBlog ended his final post of 2024 with this: "In the meantime, have a safe and happy New Year's Eve — and a great 2025."

His plan was to start his first post of 2025 with this: "Happy New Year. Hopefully everyone had a safe and happy New Year's Eve." That's how he starts off at the beginning of every January.

From there, he was all set to go into the men's basketball team's 76-75 win over Akron, in what was another game of great drama. He was going to share with you the picture taken by Tiger photographer Shelley Szwast, which confirmed that the game-winning three-pointer from Dalen Davis was, in fact, called correctly. 

All of that went out the window, blown away by a bad wind that sent a chill down TB's back and a shiver straight to his heart. It was the same reaction that you had, and every other Princeton fan had, when you first saw the news that, no, not everyone had a safe and happy New Year's Eve.

TigerBlog woke up to the news of the terror attack on Bourbon Street, with the reports of at least 10 people who had been killed. It wasn't until several hours later that he saw the news that hit really close to home for Princeton — football alum Tiger Bech was among those who had been murdered.

Bech was only 27 years old. He graduated in 2021. 

How is it possible that someone so young, someone who was simply out to celebrate New Year's Eve at one of the most iconic fun spots in the country. Bech had been working in New York City, but he was a Louisiana native. For him, New Orleans was a homecoming.

His given name was "Martin," something that nobody ever called him. Maybe ever. He was nicknamed "Tiger" even before he was born, mostly because of the deep family ties to Louisiana State University. 

At Princeton he was a two-time All-Ivy League punt returner, as well as a wide receiver. For his career he caught 53 passes for 823 yards and three touchdowns, and his average of 15.6 yards per catch ranks 10th all-time in program history. 

Those are the numbers. How about the person? Here's what his head coach, Bob Surace, had to say about him:

"There was no more appropriate nickname of a Princeton player I coached. He was a 'Tiger' in every way - a ferocious competitor with endless energy, a beloved teammate and a caring friend. Our last conversation was about how proud I was of the growth he showed during his time at Princeton and the success he was having after graduation. My love goes to the entire Bech family."

Tiger's brother Jack is an All-American wide receiver at Texas Christian and an NFL prospect. Here was his post on X yesterday:

Love you always brother ! You inspired me everyday now you get to be with me in every moment. I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us ❤️ https://t.co/8sSFf564Mb

— Jack Bech (@jackbech7) January 1, 2025

TB never met Tiger Bech. He did announce his name plenty of the times over the Powers Field at Princeton Stadium public address (it's pronounced "BESH," by the way). 

He certainly remembered his name. How could anyone at Princeton not, right? 

And he saw the picture of him on the bio page:

He sees a young man with long hair and a tie that isn't exactly tied perfectly. It's a picture like so many others TB has seen. 

He was, though, more than just a name on a roster, even if his name was the most distinctive any Princeton athlete has had. He went from Princeton to New York City, working as a trader. He grew up in Lafayette, about two hours from New Orleans. 

It was there that he was killed, on Bourbon Street, on New Year's Eve — struck down just as his life was beginning.

Princeton has been here before. There have been athletes who have been killed, though mercifully that number has been a low one. 

But each of them is its own horrific tragedy. This is again the case.

Can anyone wrap his or her arms around this? Can anyone make sense of it? 

How can you? 

As he said, TB never met Tiger Bech. He wishes he had, so he could tell you more about who the young man was, some interaction that the two of them had that would have stuck with him, but he had none of that.

Still, when he saw the news, he felt like he lost someone close to him, a member of the same extended family. 

Here was a Tiger, gone way too soon.