Marty Smith gets emotional reporting after Tiger Bech segment on ESPN College GameDay

It’s been a long and winding road to the national championship game, one that was unfortunately marked by significant tragedy thanks to a terrorist attack in New Orleans ahead of the Sugar Bowl. Lost in that attack was former Princeton standout Tiger Bech, an All-Ivy League kick returner.

On Monday night, ahead of the national championship game, ESPN took a moment to air a touching tribute to Bech. The nearly six-minute piece aired on College GameDay, walking through the timeline of events leading up to the horrific attack and the aftermath.

You can watch the tribute in its entirety below.

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

As noted in ESPN’s piece, the spontaneous playing of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” provided an uplifting and touching moment. It would also make for a tear-jerking send-off on Monday night.

Reporting on Tiger Bech’s story, ESPN’s Marty Smith provided some follow-up. Notably, the family of Tiger Bech wanted to clarify some key details surrounding his death and the events of the attack early on New Year’s Day.

“In the chaotic aftermath of the Bourbon Street terrorist attack that claimed 14 innocent lives, the Bech family tells me they received misinformation that Tiger had saved someone’s life that evening,” Smith reported. “They received that information from authorities and other sources. They now know that was inaccurate information. They did tell me to please make sure that anything that had to do with Tiger that evening on Bourbon Street was properly represented this evening.

“They also told me that the FBI informed them that Tiger never saw that truck coming. And although he did live for a bit longer after he was hit, that hopefully he did not suffer. That gives them some semblance of peace throughout this awful moment for the Bech family.”

As he reached the end of his report on Tiger Bech, Marty Smith’s words began to slow and he became visibly choked up.

Then he delivered a heart-breaking final few lines.

“I’ve spent a lot of time listening to Free Bird this week, my friends, and I’ll tell you those last couple lines of that first stanza…” Smith said, voice trailing off. “Tiger had to be moving on. There was more he had to see. More College GameDay ahead.”

You can view video of Marty Smith’s signoff on Tiger Bech here.