Longtime ESPN reporter Marty Smith has covered numerous impactful topics during his career at the network. On Monday, however, he struggled to contain his emotions on College GameDay prior to the National Championship after a segment about a victim of the recent New Orleans terror attack.
As the highly anticipated matchup between Notre Dame and Ohio State approached, a six-minute segment aired focusing on former Princeton football player Martin Bech Jr., affectionately known as Tiger Bech, one of the 14 casualties of the tragic New Orleans attack earlier this month. The segment included heartfelt comments from Bech’s family, detailing how his nickname reflected their devotion to the LSU Tigers and his upbringing in Lafayette, Louisiana. It also conveyed heartbreaking testimony about his passing on New Year’s Day, when he and fellow Princeton teammate Ryan Quigley visited the French Quarter to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Tiger Bech was an All-Ivy League kick returner at Princeton. He was a brother, a son, a teammate, and a best friend. He was also a victim of the attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.
Those close to him share who Tiger was and his enduring legacy.
(via @MartySmithESPN) pic.twitter.com/uYm3R2we8c
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) January 20, 2025
Following the segment, Marty Smith shared further insights regarding Bech’s tragic death during an on-field report from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where he visibly fought back tears over the senseless act of violence. “In the chaotic aftermath of the Bourbon Street terror that claimed 14 innocent lives, the Bech family informed me they were initially misled to believe that Tiger had saved someone’s life that night,” Smith stated. “They received this incorrect information from authorities and other sources, and they emphasized the importance of accurately representing anything concerning Tiger from that evening. The FBI later clarified that Tiger did not see the approaching truck. Although he lingered for a short time after the impact, it seems he did not suffer. This knowledge brings some semblance of peace to the Bech family in this tragic moment. I’ve been reflecting on ‘Freebird’ this week, and I think it resonates; Tiger had more to experience—more College GameDay ahead.”
An emotional Marty Smith reporting after this segment on College GameDay. ❤️ https://t.co/3YF1nLMKPb pic.twitter.com/PJJetnUk5A
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 20, 2025
While this moment was undeniably difficult for Smith, it served as a poignant tribute to Tiger Bech’s life.
