If Derek Mason is bitter or disappointed about no longer being Vanderbilt's head football coach, the new Auburn defensive coordinator hasn't put that on display.
Perhaps working with an upgraded roster has helped.
"Coming in here, we've got all different types," Mason said Monday afternoon on a Zoom call. "We've got big guys. We've got long guys. For me, it's like having a smorgasbord of players who have different skill sets. I'm like a kid in a candy store."
Mason spent the past seven seasons with the timeworn challenge of trying to guide the Commodores up the Southeastern Conference ladder. He experienced his share of successes, which included three consecutive double-digit wins over Tennessee, a 2016 upset of Georgia inside Sanford Stadium and two bowl trips, but Mason couldn't survive last year's winless season against league opposition.
Last season marked the first winless record in Vanderbilt history, but new Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin made sure Mason's unemployment stint was brief.
"It's fun for me," Mason said. "I'm a solider. I can lead, but I can also follow, and I think those are the important things that Coach Harsin is looking for as he put together a staff - guys with experience and guys who want to get things done the way he wants to get things done. For me, it's been great to just focus on the ball, focus on recruiting and focus on the developing of players.
"I think I'm a relationship coach. Everybody likes to say that, but I've spent a lot of time with these guys getting to know their stories."
Auburn's first defense under Mason has the potential to be impressive with the likes of Tyrone Truesdell and Zykeivous Walker up front, Owen Pappoe and Zakoby McClain at linebacker, and with safety Smoke Monday and cornerback Roger McCreary heading the secondary. Former McCallie School defensive lineman Jay Hardy, who battled injuries last season and didn't play until the Citrus Bowl, is making a push to be in the rotation up front.
The Tigers were mostly stout defensively under Mason's predecessor, Kevin Steele, who arrived in 2016 and whose units allowed less than 20 points a game and ranked among the nation's top 20 until last season's defense was 38th and yielded 24.7 points per contest.
VOLS RESUME
Tennessee has resumed team activities following last week’s COVID-related pause. The Volunteers were scheduled to conduct Josh Heupel’s first spring practice today but will instead start Thursday.
"Coach Mason is a great guy, and we love the system he is bringing in for us," Pappoe said on a recent Zoom. "We love him as a person as well. He's accepted us all as his sons, and it feels like a real big family out there. Change is always good, and we really like the stuff we have been seeing so far in practice.
"The opportunity for us to make a lot of plays is going to be there."
Mason earned his opportunity at Vanderbilt after a four-year run at Stanford, serving as defensive coordinator for the Cardinal during the 2012-13 seasons. Before coming to Stanford, he was an assistant defensive backs coach with the Minnesota Vikings, and the NFL was where he was leaning after being let go following a 41-0 loss at Missouri on Nov. 28.
Harsin was familiar with Mason, with the two having gone on Nike trips together, and his presentation quickly swayed Mason from returning to the professional ranks.
"It was an easy decision," Mason said. "I feel good about where we are right now, and I would have made this decision 10 out of 10 times."
Mason became the first Vanderbilt coach since the SEC's inception in 1933 to defeat Tennessee three straight times. He also experienced 12 consecutive league losses before his removal.
Whether the memories were good or bad in Nashville, Mason has moved on choosing to dwell on the positive times.
"Growth is optional and change is inevitable, and that's part of the process," said Mason, who was 27-55 overall with the Commodores and 10-46 in SEC contests. "I've been doing this for 28 years, and I've always looked at the opportunity to take on the day or try and dominate the day. You never coach on a 10-year contract or a three-year contract. It's every week and every day.
"In looking back, we graduated student-athletes at a high level and several young men had the opportunity to get their degree from Vanderbilt and play in the NFL. We had wins and big games against our rivals. We were able to do some things, but there is a new captain (Clark Lea) at the helm, and I wish him all the best."
McIntosh hurt
Georgia junior running back Kenny McIntosh suffered an elbow during Saturday's third practice session and may have to miss the remainder of spring. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder from Fort Lauderdale rushed 47 times for 251 yards (5.3 per carry) last season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.