Ask Chase Mason about his performance in his first career South Dakota State start, or about his cohesion with a lot of other new starters on his offense, or Montana State's defense — you know, standard game week interview fare — and he gives thoughtful yet concise answers.

Ask the Jackrabbits' uber-talented quarterback about what new head coach Dan Jackson and late running back Nate White mean to him and SDSU, and Mason gives you particularly deep, profound insight and stories.

Thursday's 30-minute interview with Mason covers all of that. What kind of emotions or even jitters did he have in actually starting a game and operating as QB1 for the first time in his career? What does he need to improve the most, and immediately, for No. 2 SDSU to win at No. 3 Montana State on Saturday?

What challenges will the Bobcats defense present that will be different from Sacramento State in the Jacks' suffocating 20-3 opening win? What kind of personality does Fordham transfer running back Julius Loughbridge bring?

And, how good a running back would have been White — a transfer from Wisconsin who shockingly died in his sleep at the age of 21 in June? What was his personality and how much of an impact did he make on his new teammates in the few months he was in Brookings?

Mason tells a couple personal stories that will bring the same smile White naturally generated out of his teammates. In the middle of the conversation, Mason receives a visit at his house from a couple of insect inspectors who happen to be all-time Jackrabbit football icons.