HOOVER, Alabama — When Gus Malzahn first heard that some coaches believed his hurry-up, no-huddle offense was unsafe for players, he thought it was sarcasm.
“To be honest with you, I thought it was a joke,” he said.
When that comment was relayed to new Arkansas coach Bret Bielema, things got interesting in a hurry.
Raising his voice and speaking forcefully, Bielema said he was convinced that forcing players to remain on the field for multiple snaps without rest increasing the risk of serious injury.
“The personal safety of my players is paramount,” Bielema said. “It’s not a joke to me.”
Auburn’s first-year coach has built his career upon the hurry-up offense, beginning as an innovative high school coach in Arkansas.