AURORA – Luke Tasker finds that many people confuse the NFL accomplishments of his father, Steve, with those of former Buffalo Bills teammates Don Beebe and Mark Kelso.
It was Kelso, not Tasker, who sported extra polyurethane padding on top of his helmet for added protection. It was Tasker, not Beebe, who starred as a special teams gunner.
With respect to Kelso and Steve Tasker, Luke Tasker hopes he discovers no surprises attached to an upcoming arrangement. The Cornell senior wide receiver is set to visit Beebe at season’s end to prepare for the NFL Draft combine. In addition to coaching Aurora Christian, Beebe operates the House of Speed performance training company.
“I’m going to try to do whatever I can and see what happens after my college playing is done,” Tasker said. “I’m hoping to play as long as I can, so I’m hoping to train with Don just to see where I might get to.”
Beebe thinks Tasker has “got a shot at the next level,” and not just because Tasker shared a baby shower with Beebe’s daughter, Amanda, in 1991.
Through eight games, Tasker leads the Big Red in receptions (66) yards (1,044) and touchdowns (seven). The 5-foot-11, 191-pound native of East Aurora, N.Y. – one cardinal direction away from the Beebes’ current hometown – also is Cornell’s punt returner and extra point/field goal holder.
Beebe and Steve Tasker were Bills teammates from 1989-94, playing on four Super Bowl teams while bonding through their position – wide receiver – and a shared devout faith.
Tasker remained with the Bills through 1997. Beebe played with Carolina in 1995 before appearing in two more Super Bowls with Green Bay after the 1996 and ‘97 seasons.
The families have stayed in touch as Don Beebe has built the Aurora Christian program and Steve Tasker has worked as a television analyst for the NFL on CBS.
Chad Beebe, Don’s son and an Eagles wide receiver, remembers visiting the Tasker home as a child. He played with Luke and his siblings near the big pond in the backyard, and there definitely were footballs thrown.
“Since I was old enough to have a thought, that’s what I wanted to do and that’s what I loved doing,” said Luke Tasker, whose three brothers also play or have played football. “Yeah, it was somewhat natural.”
Chad Beebe, a Northern Illinois recruit, agrees.
“There’s always work put in to get where you’re at, and I guess it helps having fathers that have been there before help you out,” he said. “Because obviously, they’ve been there, done that, and they know what they’re talking about.”
Hello, Aurora: Australian Christan rock band Newsboys is scheduled to play a concert at Aurora Christian on Sunday. The crew plans set up for the event a few hours before today’s 6 p.m. kickoff against Winnebago.
“There’ll be a lot of people here this weekend,” Don Beebe said, “so it’ll be a cool atmosphere.”
Spread the wealth: Four Eagles enter the game with at least 25 receptions. Chad Beebe (49) and Cory Windle (40) lead the way.
