Auburn vs. Texas A&M

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn calls a play during the second half of an NCAA football game against Texas A&M Saturday Sept. 17, 2016, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

(JULIE BENNETT)

Not even Kristi Malzahn could contain her excitement when Gus Malzahn said he was "retiring" his clipboard and granting new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey control of play-calling and coaching quarterbacks.

But that revelation, which the coach's wife celebrated during a press conference last Saturday, might not have happened had Rhett Lashlee still be at Auburn.

Gus Malzahn couldn't say if he'd have given his longtime protege the same latitude had Lashlee not left for UConn.

"I don't know," Malzahn said. "I just decided the other day it was about time."

Lashlee's departure for UConn, where he's giving up $250,000 a year compared to his Auburn salary in order to "run the offense" for the Huskies, did not catch Malzahn by surprise.

"He was wanting to do his own thing and I don't blame him," Malzahn said. "We had been together a long time. He's going to do a super job. I expect him to do very well. ... He applied for a couple head jobs and all that. I knew it was a possibility.

"I'm real happy for him. He did a super job here at Auburn."

After a 1-2 start with Malzahn calling the plays, Auburn won six straight with Lashlee in control on game days before a 1-3 finish to the season due in large part to injuries. The Tigers also defeated Texas A&M in 2015 with Lashlee calling the plays.

Now that job is solely for Lindsey.

"This is going to be Chip's offense," Malzahn said. "This is going to be his responsibility. I have a lot of trust in him like I said. He's going to do a great job."