Impressive interview from Hutson Mason on Finebaum...

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Finebaum asked Mason to summarize his time at Georgia...

"A lot of phenomenal memories and a lot of great people," Mason said. "I remember Will Muschamp was asked before the Florida Georgia game about his ties to Georgia. He said ‘I am not really loyal to places, I am loyal to people.’ It is the people at Georgia that make it special. I could get into college coaching and end up coaching for another team in the SEC East one day. People will be like ‘how in the world could you take a job like that when you are a Dawg?’ It is the people at Georgia that make it special - the guys you play with, the coaches, the administration, the people who are Dawg fans from Rome, Ga. to Jesup, Ga. That is what made it special - you have passionate people all across the state who love Georgia football."

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Then the conversation turned what it was like playing for head coach Mark Richt.

"I guess I will go with another coach's quotes," Mason said. "One of the greatest quotes I have ever heard from a coaching aspect is that you have to win the respect of your players before you win any games. That is really what reminds me of Coach Richt. I never wanted to let the guy down. That's because he showed me that he loves me, and that he will do anything for me, for any player. Whether it be working out a little harder, getting in an extra rep in, preparing a little more, watching a little more film. When you play for a guy like that, it motivates you not to let him down.

"And just as a coach, he is still sharp. He has been in the game for 20-odd years, and has handed off a lot of the duties to Coach Mike Bobo and now Coach Brian Shottenheimer, but still understands the new era of football coming about in spread football. There is nothing really bad you can say about him."

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Finebaum inquired about how Mason felt about the criticism Richt has drawn over the years.

"I think a lot of (people questioning Richt without understanding him) that has to do with his faith," Mason said. "He is a very passionate guy, but he just shows it a little differently. The best way to explain is that he has a different belief system. His coaching method is not grabbing a kid by his facemask and cussing him out. His teaching method and what he believes in based on the principles of his faith are that I am going to teach a kid, I am going coach a kid and I am going to show him respect. That goes a long way.

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Mason was then asked to expound on his statement of not wanting to let Richt down.

"I think a lot of it just has to do with the respect I have for Coach Richt. I love the guy - for what he stands for. A lot of the garbage that he takes from a lot of the fans - you really have to understand the guy and what he does more so outside of football and what he goes through in his personal life. I know Coach Richt's family really well - his brother-in-law is actually the minister that is doing my wedding on Friday. I am around that family a good bit and I understand the adoption of two kids that they had. When you see that Coach Richt is not only handling that aspect at home, but also trying to be a premiere head football coach and the responsibilities that come along on a daily basis and see how he is there, day-in and day-out for you.

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