UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, April 15, 1996
5A
Mason: Reflecting on a long,difficult year
Continued from Page 1A
As spring drills progressed, Mason got a feeling that the 1995 Jayhawks had a chance to rise above media predictions of doom.
"I thought we had the right type of senior leadership, the right character in that senior class to possibly take us farther than anyone anticipated," Mason said.
One of those senior leaders, linebacker Keith Rodgers, also sensed there might be something special to come for Kansas football. In fact, all the seniors sensed it.
"We took it upon ourselves to set the tone for the season," Rodgers said.
By mid-October, Mason had proven to be prophetic. However, while all the pieces were falling into place on the field, Mason's personal life was coming apart.
Maintaining a private life.
During his coaching career, Glen Mason always has been a public figure. It's a fact of life for major college football coaches.
Mason filed for divorce from his wife, Sally, on March 24. The Masons had been married 23 years.
Court records said the parties no longer were compatible.
The subject of his divorce is one that Mason doesn't discuss with the media. Keeping his personal life private was never more difficult for Mason than during the summer of 1995.
"As soon as I had separated, I had an alum tell me that I should start going out with a 20-year-old coed," Mason said. "I said, 'Why would I want to do that?' and he said 'because people are going to say you are any-way.'"
The divorce was granted in Douglas County District Court on June 20. For the rest of the summer, Mason and his family endured rumor and speculation about the cause of the divorce.
Rumors of Mason's new single status spread rapidly. Contrary to popular belief, Mason said there have been no wild nights in his social life.
"I haven't become part of the so-called swinging sisters' crowd," Mason said.
Laird Noller, a well-known Lawrence car dealer and Kansas alumnus, has known Mason since 1987, when he served on the search committee to find a new football coach for Kansas.
"He's a very intense guy," Noller said. "He's always been very focused on reaching his goals and he wants to be the best at what he does."
Mason and Noller, who live across the street from each other in West Lawrence, have become close friends during the past eight years.
Noller said the rumors that surrounded Mason's personal life were false.
"I talk to the guy every day," Noller said. "I know everything about his personal life, and I know there wasn't any other woman or anything like that."
The court settlement was handed down on October 4. The Masons would share joint custody of their daughter, Chris, 16. The Masons also have a son, Pat, 18.
Meanwhile, the 1995 football season was under way. In a profession that often can be an emotionally wrenching experience, Mason faced pressure both as Kansas football coach and as a divorced father of two teen-agers.
"It was in his face," Ruel said. "He didn't show it outwardly, but you could see it was there."
Noller said that he could see the strain on Mason as well.
"He was really feeling it," Noller said. "I don't know how he found time to be a football coach."
Mason never caved in to the pressure. He even seemed to thrive on it.
"It seemed like he was kind of channelling all his energy into work," Rodgers said. "I think we were the only stable thing in his life at that time."
Kansas opened the season with a hard-fought win over Cincinnati, and the Jayhawks seemed to gain momentum as the season rolled on.
Kansas defensive lineman Dan Dercher remembered that the week of the September 14 TCU game was particularly difficult for Mason.
"He was going through the divorce trial, and it was a rough week for him," Dercher said. "After we won, I remember how excited he was in the locker room after the game."
"He thanked us for making his week a little better."
Dealing with the Glen Mason rumor mill had become an annual reality for the University of Kansas athletic department at the end of a football season.
*Georgia on my mind*
Each year, Mason's name would be mentioned as a candidate for almost every job that opened up.
By the end of the 1995 regular season, the list of schools supposedly interested in Mason was a long and distinguished one. UCLA, Rutgers and Georgia were just a few of the programs rumored to be courting Mason.
Despite all the rumors, the answer always had been the same. Mason was happy where he was. He would not leave Kansas.
But 1995 was different. Georgia was seeking a replacement for departing coach Ray Goff, and Glen Mason was at the top of the Bulldogs wish list.
"He was definitely one of less than a handful of candidates," Georgia athletic director Vince Dooley said. "I liked his history of success in rebuilding programs."
Mason made $225,000 annually as the Kansas head football coach. On Dec. 17, Dooloy offered Mason a reported $500,000 per year offer to come to Georgia.
Mason didn't get much time to consider his decision. Dooley wanted an answer before Mason left for Hawaii.
Bob Frederick,
Kansas athletic director,
had already offered Mason a raise
that would make his annual income around
$25,000.
The Associated Press
"There was about 30 seconds of serious pondering," Mason said. "The offer came out of the blue."
That Sunday night, Mason accepted the Georgia offer. Frederick was stunned when Mason told him.
Frederick later said he was confident the raise would keep Mason at Kansas. He was wrong.
Scoring drive
"He tried to talk me out of going," Mason said.
March 24
Glen Mason files for divorce from his wife, Sally in Douglas County District Court.
Glen Mason was introduced as the new Georgia football coach on Dec. 18, 1951. One week later, Mason chose to stay at Kansas.
For Glen Mason, Kansas head football coach, the 1995 season was full of twists and turns both on and off the field
Spring football drills begin.
Mason attends press conference in Athens, Georgia, introducing him as new Georgia coach.
Divorce settlement handed down in Douglas County District Court.
Mason's divorce granted in Douglas County District Court.
Mason and the Kansas football team leave for the Aloa Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Meson offered head football coaching job at Georgia, and accepta.
December 25 (morning)
Mason decides to stay at Kansas as head football coach.
December 28 (afternoon)
Kansas defeats UCLA 51-30 in the Aloha Bowl.
"Then, the class guy that he is, he wished me the best."
On Monday, Dec. 18, Mason flew to Athens, Ga., and was introduced as the new Bulldogs football coach. The sudden move sent shock waves through Kansas.
"I was surprised, because I knew nothing about Georgia," Rodgers said. "I wasn't shocked, because I figured he was a hot commodity after our season."
When Mason flew to Georgia, he had not yet told the team of his decision. Ruel informed the players during a team meeting that Monday morning.
Mason returned the next day and met with his players. The team's mixed reaction was one that he expected.
"I think there were some people who felt betrayed because he didn't tell us himself," Rodgers said.
"I think it was the same as any situation." Mason said. "Some players respect your decision and wish you luck, other players resent that you're leaving."
Dercher said that while he was frustrated about Mason's announced departure, he also understood the coach's decision.
"I was upset, because I've always liked coach Mason," Derer said. "But I realized they were offering him a lot of money."
*Trouble in paradise*
As the Jayhawks prepared to leave for Hawai, Mason and the rest of the coaching staff tried to keep business as usual for the players.
The job was made more difficult because speculation already had arisen about who would succeed Mason as Kansas coach. Almost immediately, Ruel became a top candidate. The entire week left Ruel's head spinning.
"I was shocked because I don't think any of us had known how Georgia was pursuing him," Ruel said. "Now, I felt like I had an opportunity to be a head coach."
Mason insisted his top priority was still the Aloha Bowl.
"I was not going to cheat my job at Kansas one bit," Mason said.
After the Jayhawks landed in Honolulu on Dec. 20 to prepare for their battle with UCLA, Mason said he did make some phone calls for his new employer.
As the week progressed and the Aloa Bowl grew closer, Ruel said he sensed a change in the demeanor of the man with whom he had worked so closely for the past eight years. So did Rodgers.
"I didn't go to the beach very much." Mason said. "I was working on both ends."
The realization that Mason was leaving the program he had worked to build caused him to have second thoughts.
By Christmas morning, Mason had made his decision to return to Kansas. The first call he tried to make was to Bob Frederick.
"I had time to think, reflect through it, and leaving Kansas kept weighing on my mind," Mason said.
"He wasn't enjoying himself," Rodgers said. "The trip seemed like a trip to the dentist for him."
"I couldn't get through," Mason said. "Anybody who's tried to call back to the mainland from Hawaii on Christmas Day knows what I'm talking about."
Unable to reach Frederick, Mason informed Kansas Chancellor Robert Hemenway, who was in Hawaii to attend the game. Mason then called Dooley and told him of his change of heart.
The next step for Mason made it official. It was time to talk to his team.
Rodgers said the announcement took much of the team by surprise.
"A lot of the guys were like, 'What did he say?" Rodgers said.
The move also initially caught Ruel off- guard.
"I think when he said he wouldn't be going to Georgia, everyone was a little stunned," Ruel said.
Once again, Mason received a standing ovation. The emotion of the moment overwhelmed him.
"It brought tears to my eyes," Mason said. Ruel saw his opportunity to become head coach at Kansas disappear before his eaves.
"I knew he was making the right decision for himself, for the team and for the program," Ruel said. "I was excited for him for a minute, then I said 'damnit,' because I knew I was losing an opportunity."
With their coach back, the Jayhawks had only one task left. Only UCLA stood in the way of a top 10 finish.
The fallout -
The culmination of a memorable season occurred before a national television audience on Christmas Day. The Jayhawks routed the Bruins to cap the best season in Mason's tenure in Kansas.
Andy Robrhack/KANSAN
Following what should have been the team's shining moment, some questions were raised about Mason's return.
The speculation did little to dampen the euphoria of the Kansas players.
"I was happy," Dercher said. "We had won the game, and got our coach back all in the same day."
After one of the fines, moments in his coaching career, Mason returned home amid swirling controversy. What were the real reasons for his return to Kansas?
of Mason happily accepting the Georgia job at that Dec. 18 press conference is one that is etched into the minds of some fans.
"There has never been any outside pressure on me that effected my decision," he said.
Mason also has said on many occasions that his decision to return to Kansas was simply the best thing for his family. He also realizes there will be some fans . will hold a grudge. The vision
Much of the speculation centered on his divorce settlement, which Mason said has never been true.
When he reflects back on the situation now, Doiley blames himself for losing Mason.
"It was my mistake. I wasn't a very good recruiter," Dooley said. "You don't recruit someone for a job, then send them back to their players, and their friends that they have strong feelings for."
"People change their mind every day, but not everybody changes their mind when the media and national TV are watching," Mason said. "People can be critical, but they don't understand."
Dooley said if he could have done anything different, he would have insisted that Mason begin work for Georgia immediately and not coach Kansas in the Alba Bowl.
Despite his lost opportunity, Ruel said there would be no armmoil on the Kansas coaching staff this season.
"If there's one thing I've learned from this business, it's how to be a good soldier," Ruel said. "You can't let ulterior motives get in the way of doing your job."
While many critics have said that Mason's career could be marred by his backing out of his Georgia commitment, Dooley said that it's difficult to tell what the ramifications would be.
"I think if he continues to build the reputation of the Kansas program, he'll still be considered for future jobs," Dooley said. "But obviously based on his decision he's quite happy where he is."
"He loves it here. He tells me that every day," Noller said. "After he got to thinking about it, he realized he didn't want to leave."
Glen Mason's life made several dramatic turns in 1995. All of them, he said, have made him much wiser.
Noller said Mason was happier now than he had been in a long time, and that he seemed focused on the approaching season.
"I did more thinking and reflecting last year than I ever had before," Mason said. "I learned more about football, about people, about relationships and about life last year than at any other time in my life."
Matt Flickner / KANSAN
After upsetting Colorado 40-24 on Oct. 7, Kansas football coach Glen Mason triumphantly troff off of the Buffaloes' Folsom Field. This win brought the Jawhaws into the national spotlight.
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