In “The Wizard of Oz” Dorothy clicked her heels and uttered: “There’s no place like home.” A more prevalent truth cannot be found, whether on the silver screen or in everyday life. And former Woodrow Wilson High School football star Brian Bessner tends to agree.

After leaving the playground of his youth four years ago to play college at East Central University in Ada, Okla., longtime neighborhood resident Bessner wants to return home, where it all began.

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Sports became a way of life for the 22-year-old Bessner as a youngster at Lakewood Elementary. The local Pop Warner Football League gave Bessner his first taste of football, a sport he has excelled at ever since. An exceptional career as a wide receiver at Woodrow earned him a full-scholarship to East Central in 1993.

Although he has achieved a level evasive to most aspiring athletes, Bessner says he initially was disheartened with landing at a Division II school.

“It was a letdown at first because I was told by so many people, including coaches and recruiters, that I would go Division I,” Bessner says.

“After a while, I realized how fortunate I was to receive a free education.”

Bessner has excelled at East Central, earning back-to-back All-America honors in 1995 and 1996 as the nation’s leading punt returner. Bessner, who was redshirted as a freshman in 1993, began his final season of college football in September and expects to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in May.

After spending more than half his life on the gridiron, Bessner is contemplating life after college football.

“I’ve talked to several scouts from the Canadian Football League and the European League,” says Bessner.

“I could schedule some tryouts, but I don’t think I’m going to do it.

“I don’t have the drive anymore. I’m ready for a real off-season.”

After graduation, Bessner wants to teach high school biology and coach football. He sees no better place to do just that than at Woodrow, where a former coach went the extra mile to make him a better player and student.

“Coach E (Ron Elliot) helped guide me through the recruiting process,” Bessner says.

“He spent his own time making tape after tape to send to recruiters. We became good friends, and we’ve always talked about coaching together.”

“I don’t see any better place to start your career than the place you graduated from.”