Journal-World (Lawrence, KS)
June 20, 1996

MASON TO CAP GRID CAREER AT ALL-STAR TILT

While most players in Thursday night's Metro Classic at Shawnee Mission South District Stadium will use the all-star contest as a springboard to college football, the game will mark the end of Pat Mason's football career.

"I'm going to miss it a lot," said Mason, a 5-foot-11, 220-pound offensive guard from Lawrence High. "It's going to be hard to leave it, but I just have to."
Mason has been around football his entire life. After all, his father, Glen, started coaching six years before Pat was born and has been Kansas University's head coach the past eight seasons.

For several years, Pat and his father were roommates during KU's two-a-days during the summer.

Glen tried to persuade his son to walk on at KU as a deep snapper. Pat, though, plans to attend KU as a student without the football.

"I kind of thought about it," Pat said of walking on. "But it was never really serious. I'm not the type of player who plays at KU. I'm done after this."

As a senior during Lawrence High's 11-1 state championship season, Mason was the starting left guard on an offensive line that helped the Lions rush for a school-record 324.8 yards a game. Mason received honorable mention on the offensive line and defensive line for the all-Sunflower League team.

How has Mason fared since the Kansas all-stars started preparing 10 days ago in Olathe?

"I think I'm hanging in pretty good," said Mason, who will wear No. 66 tonight. "I'm doing better than I thought I would, and I just keep working hard as I've always had. I'm pretty excited about it. We only had to go one day without pads and started hitting off the bat."

Heading into the first practice, Mason admitted his training for the event was minimal.

"I lifted weights a little bit and cut grass a whole bunch," he said.

Mason is one of five LHS players on the Kansas squad. Thomas Daniels, Garrett Attig, Willie McKinnis and John Nelson are the other Lions.

McKinnis, a 5-9, 290-pound tackle, has left his mark during drills, Mason said.

"Willie has been pancaking everybody," Mason said.

Mason expects to see plenty of action tonight against the Missouri all-stars.

"We have only three guards and we've been getting equal rotation," Mason said. "I think everybody is taking it pretty seriously, yet we're still having a lot of fun. If you don't take it seriously, there's a problem, because if you want to have fun, we have to win."

Mason also expects the Kansas team to pass more than he was accustomed to at Lawrence High.

"I'm not used to all the pass coverages," Mason said.

What will Mason miss most about playing football?

"The friendships you make, winning, having to work hard, and the feeling of happiness when two-a-days are over," he said.

Copyright (c) 1996 Journal-World