Tre Mason feels like he let you down.
With less than two minutes left to go on the biggest stage in college football, the junior running back turned a three-point Florida State lead into an Auburn lead with a 37-yard touchdown run.
The run not only gave Auburn momentum after a devastating 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Florida State's Kermit Whitfield, it also gave Mason the school's single-season rushing record.
But even with all his new records and individual awards, Tre Mason wants to apologize to you, Auburn fan.
"We all bought into having the biggest turnaround in college football, but I apologize to the Auburn Family and the rest of the fans that we didn't finish," an emotional Mason said after Auburn's 34-31 loss to Florida State in the BCS National Championship Game. "We didn't finish what we started."
Although Mason was on the sidelines when Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston found Kelvin Benjamin for the game-winning score, the junior running back only had one thing in mind in the aftermath of the Tigers' last second loss.
"Emotions are everywhere right now," Mason said. "Right now I just feel like I let the whole Auburn family down by not finishing."
Senior defensive end Dee Ford said his teammate was being hard on himself, but Mason's attitude was what he thought made him such a tough competitor.
"I don't expect him to be any other way," Ford said. "But that's why we're a team. That's why we're brothers. I'm able to really talk to him. And the Auburn Family is going to do the same thing.
"But yeah, he's down on himself. That's expected."
Mason's late, go-ahead touchdown run was compared by some to big plays made by legendary Aubunr running back Bo Jackson, who Mason passed for the all-time single season rushing record.
"It's a blessing to surpass his yards that he put up, but it would be great to do that with holding the crystal ball in the air," Mason said. "But that's just the way it is."
Mason finished with 34 carries for 195 rushing yards, giving him 1,816 rushing yards in his junior season. In addition to his record-breaking touchdown run, he scored Auburn's first touchdown against the Seminoles on a screen pass late in the first quarter.
It was another workhorse-like performance for Mason against another highly ranked rush defense.
"I anticipate a nice workload every game," Mason said. "That's the way teams are going to play us. I had to do my thing, and I gave it all I got. My team looks at me to make plays, and I tried to do that."
Mason, who was alongside Winston as a finalist at the Heisman Trophy presentation last month, could forgo his senior season with the Tigers and enter the NFL Draft.
The Palm Beach, Fla. native previously said he would make his decision on going pro soon after the BCS National Championship Game.
But the decision would not come as quickly as Monday night.
"I still have to sit down with my family," Mason said. "Now is not the time to make that decision."
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