Gus Malzahn: Eight (games) is still great

MUSCLE SHOALS – Auburn football coach Gus Malzahn still says eight is great when it comes to the number of SEC conference games scheduled each season.

On Monday, SEC commissioner Mike Slive said the conference leadership will meet "soon" to decide whether to use an eight or nine-game schedule and whether or not to keep permanent division crossovers, such as Auburn and Georgia, before the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin starting May 27.

The SEC's football coaches met in Birmingham on Tuesday, though Malzahn said "there really want' that much discussion" about the eight versus nine-game issue.

"I'm in favor of the eight-game, but you know, they've not made any decisions about that," he said. "I think our conference speaks for itself."

The controversial 10-second defensive substitution rule, which was proposed and soundly opposed and tabled this spring, was also not one of the topics of discussion amongst coaches, according to Malzahn, who was one of the leading voices in opposition to the proposal.

"I know once we get into May (spring) meetings, there'll be more of that," Malzahn said.

Slive said the debate "exposed a glaring error in the process" and felt it would have been best placed before a football competition committee, much like what exists in college basketball.

Malzahn did not have an opinion of Slive's concept.