Aug. 22, 1961: Unique start for a unique runner

Headline: Footloose? Nearly Barefoot

Date: Aug. 22, 1961

Reporter: Star Tribune staff report

Impatient Tommy Mason dashed into a new world of pro football so hurriedly he outran his shoes, the first tipoff that the rookie southerner may be heading for some novel and exciting days.

Mason spent the first half of Friday's exhibition against the Colts either (1) running for sizable gains against one of the toughest lines in the business or (2) skidding and slipping with good yardage in sight.

Coach Norm Van Brocklin found the answer to Mason's skids in the clubhouse at halftime. "He was wearing some special-made lightweight shoe with the cleats close together and he was flopping around in them. I threw them in the basket."

Mason, back in conventional footwear and tickled to be healthy again, was one of the gratifying sights of the Vikings' unexpectedly strong game against the Colts.

He hadn't faced football contact for three weeks, since his neck injury in the All-Star training camp. There was some question about his timing, also.

But Mason played creditably most of the way and with glints of speed and power whenever he got running room.

"I wasn't wholly satisfied, though," he said. "I suppose you'd say it was a pretty typical rookie start. There were some times when I should have cut downfield instead of trying to follow blockers. There were other times when I didn't make best use of the blocking — and it was plenty good."

Mason's strong passing marks in his first exposure to National Football League competition put the Vikings in a position where, for the first time, they can start functioning in the "four-back" system as Van Brocklin intended.

Mason's running log against the Colts showed 37 yards on 13 carries. He had one possible touchdown run of 60 yards wrecked when he slipped five yards past the line as he was heading for open country.

Van Brocklin also gave him a full-game trial as a punt return specialist, and Mason fielded two kicks surely.

"It's a pretty rough business grabbing those punts with those big guys charging down, but actually I kind of like it," Mason said. He added: "You understand, those feelings are subject to change."