Malzahn & Bielema Disagree Over Hurry-Up

First-year Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema has previously stated his less than favorable opinion of hurry-up and no-huddle offenses. At SEC Media Days on Wednesday, his Auburn counterpart, Gus Malzahn, unsurprisingly expressed a difference in philosophy.

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“When I first heard that, to be honest with you, I thought it was a joke,” Malzahn told reporters, referring to Bielema’s recently proposed “15-second substation period” for defensive players. “As far as health or safety issues, that’s like saying the defense shouldn’t blitz after a first down because they’re a little fatigued and there’s liable to be a big collision in the backfield.”

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Bielema took the podium immediately after Malzahn and replied with...

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“He thought it was a joke? I’m not a comedian.”

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Bielema also had a response for Malzahn’s suggestion that if the substitution rule should pass, officials should pay closer attention to defensive players faking injuries to slow down the pace of the game...

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“You know what, in addition to not being a comedian, I’m not an actor. I can’t tell you how to tell a kid how to fake an injury.”

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