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

PLUS...

It was no Mona Lisa, that University of Sioux Falls 27-21 season-opening victory at Black Hills State last Thursday.

As third-year USF head coach Jim Glogowski puts it, the win was more like your little kid's finger painting. Messy, but it makes you proud enough to hang on the refrigerator.

That is a classic glimpse into "Coach Glo." He had a few other memorable one-liners about the state of the Cougars in a nearly 30-minute conversation with Happy Hour host John Gaskins.

Specifically, how did the Coo handle nearly 6,000 raucous fans in Spearfish? Particularly, how did veteran quarterback Camden Dean handle it and other turbulence?

Glogowski dives into the fascinating story of how he successfully convinced Dean to come with him to Sioux Falls when Glogowski — then the NSIC rival Minnesota State defensive coordinator — accepted the USF head coach gig following the 2022 season.

There is also a funny story that typified Glo's 3-8 first season at USF, plus his assessment of Saturday's home opening opponent, Northern State.

The Wolves lock horns with the Cougars at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Bob Young Field. You can watch the game live — with USF's long-time broadcasting crew of Tom Frederick, Tim Hiatt, and Chad Birger — via the Midwest Sports+ app. Here is how you find the app and what all comes with it.

All USF home football and home men's and women's basketball games will be available live on the Midwest Sports+ app.

BEFORE ALL THAT..

Happy Hour host John Gaskins and Sioux Falls Live sportswriter Trent Singer saddle up at The Orion Pub in downtown Sioux Falls to sink their teeth into this local college and high school football matchups and make predictions:

• South Dakota State at Montana
• South Dakota at Lamar
• Northern State at Sioux Falls
• Jamestown at Augustana
• Iowa at Iowa State
• Sioux Falls Lincoln vs. O'Gorman
• Sioux Falls Washington vs. Harrisburg
• Sioux Falls Jefferson vs Sioux Falls Roosevelt

Enjoy! But whatever you do, don't bet on what they say!