Especially this week, when Bechtel and the unbeaten UW-La Crosse Eagles travel to Menomonie to face UW-Stout. The same Stout team which Bechtel was a key offensive player for three seasons.
Bechtel, the Eagles' starting tailback, transferred to UW-L this fall, and will transfer back to Stout at the end of the fall semester in late December.
``You have to stay focused. That's what it's all about,'' Bechtel said. ``I have some good friends on the Stout team. Mike Olson (defensive lineman) and I were roommates. He's got to stay in his world, and I've got to stay in mine.''
Bechtel said he will tune out anything the fans, or his former teammates, happen to say to him today. He has a mission to help UW-L (4-0 WSUC, 6-0 overall) stay atop the WSUC, and extend its winning streak to 21 games.
``I didn't come down here to beat Stout,'' said Bechtel, who leads the Eagles in rushing (337 yards), punt returns (13.1 yard average), and kickoff returns (23 yard average).
``This is just another step in where we want to go. It will seem different looking at the other sideline. I've never been in the other (visitors) locker room.''
Stout, which has been hit hard with injuries, is not out to get Bechtel, according to Blue Devils' coach Ed Meierkort. Meierkort was upset and disappointed, he said, when Bechtel told him he was leaving. But there is no revenge factor.
``It is a sore spot. You never want to see anyone leave your program,'' Meierkort said. ``Mike had a decision to make, and he made it. I don't blame coach Harring. I blame the system. We have, in effect, created free agency in the WSUC.''
The worst part, Meierkort admits, is that in his four years at Stout, the only two players he has lost ð Bechtel and Travis DeFlorian ð both transferred to UW-L. And both are starters -- and impact players -- for UW-L.
``I can't say too much about it,'' Meierkort said. ``My boss (Steve Terry) is a La Crosse graduate.''
When Bechtel does talk about the move, his thoughts are straightforward and honest. He hasn't dodged the issue of his transfer, which was to play football for UW-L, a NCAA Division III power.
``Life is too short not to do what you want,'' Bechtel said. ``They (former teammates) understand this is what I wanted to do. We have too many weapons for them to do something like that (key on him).''
Harring said he was skeptical of Bechtel's move at first, but since he has gotten to know him, he has been impressed with the senior from Augusta, Wis.
``What I notice is the respect he has earned from his teammates,'' Harring said. ``That says something about the individual. He keeps his mouth shut and plays hard. He did not come in here with an ego that was out of control.''
Bechtel has become an even bigger part of the UW-L offense than even Harring imagined, especially since running backs John Barrett (Achilles) and Beau Coulter (leg, knee) will both miss the game with injuries.
``We've got five starters out, but this is not unusual for this point in the season,'' Harring said. ``We are fortunate enough to have depth.''
Stout, on the other hand, is not.
The Blue Devils' starting backfield of Adam Roach and Shawn Lund is out with injuries, while Stout's best receiver, Matt Doke, blew out his knee in fall workouts.
``We have a young team right now, and we're playing with our number three and four tailbacks,'' Meierkort said. ``Then we lost our top two wideouts early in the season. We are making adjustments.
``It is a different mindset. I've been on the other side of the ball where you are used to winning. You find ways to win instead of lose. La Crosse is the team right now. We used to talk about the big four. I think La Crosse has separated themselves right now. It's the big one, the very good three, and the best of the rest.''