Tracking the Preaux Career of UL's Damon Mason

[NewsCopy]

CHARLOTTE (October 22, 2003) – The Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League announced the signing of three-time All-Arena defensive specialist Damon Mason and 10-year AFL veteran and former Clemson University standout Otis Moore. The club also came to contract terms with first-year linemen Bryan Ray and Chris Royle. The signings are the first by the Cobras since the AFL free agency signing period began on October 15.

In six seasons, Mason has established himself as one of the top defensive players in the league. He currently ranks third in AFL history with 501 total tackles and has been named to the All-Arena team three times (2000, 2001, 2002). Mason also was a key contributor on two ArenaBowl title teams with the Orlando Predators in 1998 and 2000. Last season, he saw action in all 16 games with the Las Vegas Gladiators, leading the team with 67.5 tackles.

“It is very gratifying to begin my seventh season in the AFL playing for the Cobras,” said Mason. “With the respect I have for the coaching staff, I just can’t wait to get on the field and help to build a winning team for the fans of Charlotte.”

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Damon Mason Stat Page

Bio Page

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BIO: Professional Experience:
Discovered at a free agent tryout camp in the Louisiana Bayou. He became the first rookie to lead Predators in tackles since Barry Wagner in 1992…Mason became the first player in Predators history to return more than one interception for a touchdown in the same season. He finished the '99 season with 116 tackles, setting a new AFL single season record. 2000: Mason made Arena Football history for the second consecutive year by finishing first in the league in tackles with a season total of 116 (100 unassisted and 16 assisted). Mason had an excellent year as a team leader on defense and racked up the numbers in tackles throughout the season. In the season opener against New Jersey on April 1, Mason came out in full force tackling receiver after receiver for a total of 9 tackles (8 solo). In the Predators first loss of the season vs. Grand Rapids (6/9), Mason had a stellar performance on defense with 11 unassisted tackles and 1 pass breakup. Three weeks later at Tampa Bay (7/1), Mason repeated his record of 11 solo tackles, while adding 2 unassisted for a season high 13 total tackles. On July 7th vs. Nashville, Mason passed the 100- tackle mark for the season with 102 total.

College Experience:
Mason played three seasons at Southwest Louisiana (1994-96), where he led the Rajun Cajuns in tackles as both a junior and senior. He had a monster 1996 senior season, totaling 135 tackles with 10 pass defenses, 13 tackles-for-loss, and 4 interceptions. Mason earned Sports Illustrated Player of the Week honors vs. Texas A&M when he recorded 9 tackles with 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles vs. Aggies. He returned one of those interceptions 42 yards for a touchdown to lead SW Louisiana to a stunning upset with over A&M. First Team All-Independent League, Defensive Team MVP, First Team All-Louisiana, Third Team All-American as well as having his number 9 jersey retired after his senior year. Prior to his time at Southwest Louisiana, Mason played one season at Jones County Junior College.


Personal:
Mason was born on March 12, 1974. He was an all-district and all-state football selection at Jones County High School. He played defensive back and quarterback in high school. Mason currently resides in Orlando in the off-season.

The rest of the story

[NewsCopy]

New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett got a minute or two to relax last Friday night, attending the Class 5A regional playoff game between Carencro and Destrehan at the home of the Wildcats.

It turns out Haslett lives just a few blocks from Wildcat Stadium in a posh neighborhood near the River Road called Ormond Estates, clearly the place to live in Destrehan.

So he took some time to drop in at DHS and watch the No. 1-ranked Golden Bears handle Destrehan by a count of 34-13.

Haslett’s Saints face a crucial road game today at Philadelphia against the Eagles, but you have to figure there wasn’t much more X’s and O’s he could dream up before Saturday’s flight.

As a local resident, Haslett was treated much like anyone else in the stands. Certainly, everyone knew who he was, but he could be just a fan for a while.

Pacing the sidelines for the Wildcats, meanwhile, was another familiar face.

Damon Mason, the DHS graduate and decorated defensive back at UL Lafayette from 1994-96, is an assistant coach at his alma mater in charge of the secondary.

Mason’s No. 9 jersey was retired at UL, one of only six to be so honored, after he accumulated 243 tackles including 135 during his senior year in 1996.

That was also the year Mason was named the national Defensive Player of the Week and earned notice in Sports Illustrated for his inspired effort in the historic 29-22 upset of Texas A&M at Cajun Field.

Mason had two interceptions in that game, returning one for a touchdown, as well as forcing two fumbles, getting a sack and notching nine tackles. That night alone was almost worth having his jersey honored.

The smallish safety is still playing Arena Football, teaching and coaching at DHS when he’s not in action.

A glance at others with their numbers retired reveals some interesting tidbits.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[Turbine]

Originally posted by NewsCopy
Damon Mason, the DHS graduate and decorated defensive back at UL Lafayette from 1994-96, is an assistant coach at his alma mater in charge of the secondary.

Mason’s No. 9 jersey was retired at UL, one of only six to be so honored, after he accumulated 243 tackles including 135 during his senior year in 1996.

That was also the year Mason was named the national Defensive Player of the Week and earned notice in Sports Illustrated for his inspired effort in the historic 29-22 upset of Texas A&M at Cajun Field.

Mason had two interceptions in that game, returning one for a touchdown, as well as forcing two fumbles, getting a sack and notching nine tackles. That night alone was almost worth having his jersey honored.

The smallish safety is still playing Arena Football, teaching and coaching at DHS when he’s not in action.

Wouldn't it be cool if Damon Mason steered one of his players to UL.

[NOCajun]

Originally posted by Turbine
Wouldn't it be cool if Damon Mason steered one of his players to UL.

I wonder if maybe he talked Jamarcus Smith into committing with us!??

[Turbine]

Originally posted by NOCajun
I wonder if maybe he talked Jamarcus Smith into committing with us!??

Good call NOCajun!

According to the Advertiser;

“I talked to coach (Damon) Mason and he was telling me that UL would be a good fit for me,” Smith said. “So I went visit and he was right. I loved everything about the university, especially the coaching staff. I really came away from my visits feeling like this was a great fit for me.”

[NOCajun]

WAY TO GEAUX DAMON!! THANK YOU!!!

[Pirogue]

This is a quote from 2003 made by a former Cajun football star...

“With the respect I have for the coaching staff, I just can’t wait to get on the field and help to build a winning team for the fans of Charlotte.”

Who said it?

[BrockMeaux]

Jake Delhomme?

[Turbine]

Damon Mason?

[Pirogue]

Nice work turbine..
here's the link...

http://www.heraldguide.com/sports/de...Mason12-27.htm

I was going to throw out some hints like...
He's a Louisiana native...
He finished his career at UL in 1996 after rewriting the record books...
His number is retired...

At least you weren't sure...
But damn.

[Pirogue]

He's still helps out...
Destrehan’s Smith commits to Cajuns
Defensive back gave Tulane verbal pledge last year.
Eric Narcisse
enarcisse@theadvertiser.com

December 5, 2003

LAFAYETTE — During his senior season at Destrehan, Jamarcus Smith came to the conclusion that Tulane University was where he wanted to continue his football career.

But after stuggling to meet the requirements on the ACT for admission into Tulane, Smith sat out the fall semester and has since decided to play for Rickey Bustle and the UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns.

“I didn’t really want to sit out this past semester,” Smith said. “But I was becoming frustrated with myself and that test. But it all has worked out for the best.”

Once the 5-10 170-pound cornerback decided that he wasn’t going to play for the Green Wave, Smith chose the Ragin’ Cajuns over Southern Mississippi and Northwestern State.

“I talked to coach (Damon) Mason and he was telling me that UL would be a good fit for me,” Smith said. “So I went visit and he was right. I loved everything about the university, especially the coaching staff. I really came away from my visits feeling like this was a great fit for me.”

According to Smith, the best thing about the Ragin’ Cajuns’ coaching staff was thier “honesty”.

“During my visits the coaching staff was straight forward with me,” Smith said. “They told me that I would have an opportunity to get some playing time next year, being that they were losing a couple of seniors in the secondary.”

Most importantly for Smith, he’s happy to know that he’ll be in college in January.

“I’m extremely excited about this opportunity,” Smith said. “I really wish that I could have attended UL Lafayette this past fall. I can’t wait until the spring.”

[NewsCopy]

Raging through the Pages of the Web

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Carolina wide receiver Damon Mason graduated from Destrehan High School and played at Louisiana Lafayette from 1994-96. He was the Ragin' Cajuns' leading tackler two years and was selected All-Independent during his senior year. Mason ranks second in the AFL with 48 tackles and third in league history with 549. Mason also works as an assistant football coach at Destrehan. . . . Cobras lineman Bryan Ray was in the Saints 2001 training camp, and Nate Bell attended Southern.

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