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Five things to know about Derek Mason, a 'strong candidate' for Oklahoma State's defensive coordinator job

Five things to know about Derek Mason, a 'strong candidate' for Oklahoma State's defensive coordinator job​

Scott Wright
Oklahoman

STILLWATER — Former Vanderbilt head coach and current Auburn defensive coordinator Derek Mason has emerged as a “strong candidate” for Oklahoma State’s vacant defensive coordinator position, according to a report by Bruce Feldman of the Athletic.

Here are five things to know about Mason:

1. Not Derrick Mason​

While Derek Mason, 52, began his coaching career as a wide receivers coach, he is not to be confused with Derrick Mason, the 15-year NFL veteran who played for the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens.

Derek Mason was a college cornerback at Northern Arizona from 1989-92. He began coaching in 1994 as the receivers coach at Mesa (Arizona) Community College, where he spent just one season. His winding career journey did briefly take him to the NFL from 2007-09, when he was the assistant defensive backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings.

2. Eight years at Vanderbilt​

In 2014, Mason was hired to succeed current Penn State head coach James Franklin at Vanderbilt. Though Franklin had success, winning 24 games over three seasons, Mason couldn’t continue the upward trend for Vandy football.

The Commodores went 3-9 in his first season and 4-8 in his second, before breaking through and reaching a bowl game in 2015, finishing the season 6-7. Vandy went back to a bowl game in 2018 — another 6-7 season — but Mason won three games the next year, and went 0-8 in 2020 before he was fired.


Overall, he went 27-55 with a 10-46 record in Southeastern Conference play in his eight seasons as a head coach.

3. Auburn success​

Running a multiple-front defense, alternating between three-man and four-man defensive lines, Mason’s Auburn defense was solid in his first season with the program.
Auburn finished the year ranked 27th in scoring defense, allowing 21.8 points per game, and 29th against the run, giving up 128.1 yards per game. It was 37th in third down defense, allowing conversions on 35.8 percent of snaps, and 40th in sacks with 35 in 13 games. Auburn was 61st in total defense, giving up 373.8 yards per game, and 96th against the pass, allowing 245.8 yards per game.

Mason reportedly made $1.5 million at Auburn last season, the first in a two-year contract. That annual salary figure is in the ballpark of what Oklahoma State was offering Jim Knowles before he accepted a larger offer from Ohio State.

As for why Mason might be willing to move from an SEC job to Oklahoma State for similar money, one report suggests Mason’s first year at Auburn wasn’t the smoothest. Brandon Marcello of 247Sports.com reported that Mason and head coach Bryan Harsin “have not been on the same page lately with staffing and philosophy.”

4. Crossing paths with Gundy​

Mason has no direct connections to Oklahoma State or head coach Mike Gundy, but the two have crossed paths a couple of times.

First, Mason was the co-defensive coordinator at Stanford in the 2011 season, when Oklahoma State faced the Cardinal in the Fiesta Bowl. The Cowboys won 41-38 in overtime.

In January of 2020, Gundy and Mason shared a table for the coaches’ film room broadcast of the college football national championship game between LSU and Clemson. They were joined on the broadcast by then-TCU head coach Gary Patterson and Boston College’s Jeff Hafley.

Mason’s history as a defensive backs coach is not necessarily the ideal fit for Oklahoma State, considering the current defensive staff consists of two defensive backs coaches — Tim Duffie with cornerbacks and Dan Hammerschmidt with safeties — and two defensive line coaches, Joe Bob Clements and Greg Richmond, with no linebackers coach on staff.

But Gundy is willing to think outside the box with coordinator hires, and if Mason is his guy, Gundy will find a way to make it work.

5. Other stops​

Mason’s career has taken him to a variety of places at multiple levels of football, from junior-college to the NFL. After his one year at Mesa Community College, Mason’s resume starts to look more like a list of potential March Madness bracket-busters than football schools — places like Weber State, Idaho State, Bucknell and St. Mary’s, in addition to a one-year stop at Utah in 2002.

At Bucknell from 1999-2001, Mason got his first chance to return to the defensive side of the ball. At all of his previous stops, he had coached either receivers or running backs, but he coached defensive backs at Bucknell.

He handled receivers and special teams at Utah in 2002, but the next season, he was hired as the assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator at St. Mary’s. He had stops at New Mexico State and Ohio over the next three years, coaching receivers at both places, before landing with the Vikings in 2007.

Since then, he has remained a defensive coach. He was hired to coach defensive backs at Stanford in 2010, got promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2011 and was alone as the defensive coordinator in 2012-13 until he was hired at Vanderbilt.
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Ice

I didn't think it was possible, but his shooting has actually become worse this season. He doesn't even try to shoot the ball with 2 hands anymore. Every shot is a one handed push shot (or 1 handed layup). His push shot almost always hits the back of the rim and bounces out with no chance of going in. IMO, he should be aiming for the red square on the backboard going forward (sounds ridiculous, I know). If his push shot hits the red square, there is a chance it will go in. If it doesn't, it will likely hit the rim and bounce up (rather than coming straight down to an opponent for a rebound). Ice, or another one of our players would have a chance to tip the ball in or to fight for a rebound.

Joe is not the only Pedo looks like they got another one in Wisconsin

Curtis Schmitt: Tony Evers’ Appointee in Jail on Child Porn Accusation​


A page about the governor appointing Schmitt has been removed from the website of the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce.
It’s the second time in recent years that a Milwaukee-area Democrat-affiliated official has been accused of child porn allegations. Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Brett Blomme received nine years in prison for distributing child pornography.


https://www.wisconsinrightnow.com/?amp=1

Black vote

I've always said there's no group that could
Ever vote 90 percent one way. You could take white conservatives in Ok and they woukdnt vote 90 percent Republican.

Votes have been stolen for decades and them brainwashing voters that 90 percent blacks vote D was a total fraud. If you gave me the over under at 80 percent I would take the under - easy. Same at 75 percent. If I had to bet at 70 I would take the under but not be as sure.

By gaslighting these "90 percent black vote D".....they could steal the votes to make it read 90/10 and peope wouldn't question it.

Hasn't been fair elections in years- I call total BS on the 90/10 black vote- it's an impossible number without cheating.

Corns' numbers: blacks 64 percent D and 34 percent R And this from someone who is not a Republican.

More Voters Believe Trump Was Legitimately Elected Than Biden


Doesn't matter what you think about the election this should be a concern for everyone. When the electorate does not trust our election are free, fair or secure there is a problem.

Week From Hell

First let me say thanks to the posters on the board. I really mean that. I have laughed, shook my head, cussed our coaching staff. and whispered bad things to portal guys for their ultimate stupidity on not signing a financial assistance request or for walking away from our program. Apparently I even said something about MG's heritage in a drug induced stupor to my orthopedic nurse. She mentioned this to me on the Tuesday morning shift change as a I promptly mentioned oh my. Last but not least, I won the ultimate battle between my colon and the scientific law that all things must come out if they went in. My scream was comparable to what I yelled as Pressley broke into the clear at Bedlam.

By the way I just completed my first five days with a new knee. This was done to repair arthritis from injuries dating 45 years ago. It was time. If you're contemplated a similar surgery don't put it off. I wish I would have done this 10 years ago.


It is amazing the information you glean from a message board around 3 AM just a hour after taking a dose of tramadol. By the way, it is a good thing my nurse looked like Chewbacca's sister or I might have done something really stupid.

"Best all-around player I ever coached. He had no weaknesses."--Tom Penders

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Stock talk thread

Question for the traders/investors here. Today's numbers put all 3 indexes (SP, Nasdaq, Dow) into bear market territory (greater than 10% down) from their peaks. Where are you looking to get back in? Or what are you looking at for spot investing? I'm limited to only ETFs, Mutual Funds, and individual stocks, although the latter I have to hold for 30 days minimum upon purchase per company policy. No trading options or other derivative products.

So who are you investing in? Or if your sitting on cash, at what level are you targeting to start getting back in?

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I'm hearing they will give you cents on the dollar for your savings when they do this- say no to anymore of their fiat currency crap.
Russia and China are thinking of getting out of the central banking system- it will be a bad deal all the way around to start with but maybe good in the long run.

Right now we are owned by the Central banking system that funds both sides of the wars it gets going each year. This Russia BS is the same thing- they want us to get into it with Russia bc Russia is giving the central banks the finger- the global elite won't have that.


FT shooting!!!

I understand why 7 footer struggle at the line. Science says that's it's going to be tough but even then you can still be good at it. Our guards flat out suck. We win this game going away if we can just hit 70% from the FT line. Its just a matter of effort and putting the work in. The FT line never changes, it's always in the same spot, the wind is always blowing in the same direction. I'm about as up beat and positive as anyone on here but I simply can not poor FT shooting. 80% for guards, 70% for post players. It is not that hard. F#####KKKKKKK!!!
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