Monday, April 26, 2010 | 6:30 p.m.
Former UNLV defensive end/outside linebacker Jason Beauchamp wraps up his two-year run as the Rebels' resident blogger for the Sun with one last entry. It comes two days after he signed a free agent deal to go to camp with the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. Beauchamp led the Mountain West Conference in tackles as a junior in 2008, then as a senior led the Rebels in tackles (95), tackles for loss (12) and sacks (6.5).
Going back to draft weekend, and particularly Saturday, when rounds 4-7 were wrapped up.
The crazy thing was that I checked my horoscope that day, and it said something about how I was going to be denied in something that I wanted, but it was for the best, and the situation is more important — that I was going to be put in a good situation, that it's a test of your faith and a test of your loyalty to the game.
It wasn't really about being drafted, because one thing I realized is that anything after about the fourth round is pretty much all the same. It's almost like having a free-agent deal, because teams don't have enough invested. You're a really guy they want, but you're a guy that's here today and you've just got to take care of your opportunity.
I think the more important thing is that you want a team that wants you, that really has a need for whatever you do.
I guess right away, it kind of bothered me that I didn't hear my name called, but after I read that horoscope and really started thinking about the whole situation, everything fell into place and everything was a success, because I'm going somewhere where they're going to need me, and I'm going somewhere where it's important to try and stay in.
It's not about just getting to the NFL. Everyone wants the opportunity, but as my good friend Beau Bell told me, it doesn't matter where you get drafted. You're here today and could be gone tomorrow. It's important that you get a team that has a particular need, because it's all about trying to stay in this league.
New Orleans started talking to me during about the fifth or sixth round. A couple of other teams were talking to me then, too.
The Saints were at the point to where they were saying that they wanted me on the team and that they never really draft linebackers. I guess they have a great eye for it, for guys who are going to be under the radar that they want.
We're talking about the Super Bowl champions, and they've only drafted one linebacker in the last few years. So the more and more they talked to me in the fifth and sixth round, I kind of knew already, even though it was up to me, because there were a bunch of teams that wanted me as a free agent.
That was the team that showed me the most interest, and they also keyed exactly on what they want.
That's valuable. I don't want to go somewhere where me being there is not valued, where I'm here today and gone tomorrow. I have a really good opportunity to play right away my first year.
This is a dream come true, and I never thought I'd be going to the Super Bowl champs. I'm just happy they're giving me an opportunity. I don't think I'll be intimidated, because I feel like I have a lot to prove and I have a chip on my shoulder, and I'm gonna approach this thing totally different.
Being given the opportunity is a huge honor. I'm thankful.
Including myself, four former Rebels were either drafted or signed free-agent contracts on Saturday. I think that that means the program is on the rise.
The guys who are still there have a great opportunity to really change the whole program around. We were a big part of the team, but I can honestly say that we alone weren't what was running the train. It was everyone working hard, coming out every day and saying "Hey, we've had enough." It was all of us who did things such as going up to Arizona State in 2008 and beating those guys.
That core, that unit, it's still there.
One thing I take with me from UNLV and on forward is knowing that you don't have anything in this world without hard work, and that you've got to have a rock in your life, whether that be your family, your friends, church, anything.
The world is unexpected, and especially with football. It's a game of numbers, and you never know what may happen. Everyone goes in with high hopes, and it's a roller coaster once you're in.
You have to keep moving forward and react. Whatever situation comes your way, make sure you don't sulk about it or talk about it, just react.
Thank you for reading over the course of the past two years, and before I wrap it up for good, I want to leave you with two words: "Who Dat?"
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