Gus Malzahn bingo

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn calls a game of bingo at the Oak Park Nursing Home in Auburn, Ala., on Wednesday, April 23, 2014. (Lauren Barnard/Auburn Media Relations)

AUBURN, Alabama -- Gus Malzahn is not accustomed to slowing down, even during a game of bingo.

The Auburn coach volunteered Wednesday at the Oak Park Nursing Home, where he served as the number caller for a morning game of bingo. He rattled off numbers and even made a few jokes during a game of "hurry-up, no-huddle bingo" as he participated in Auburn's annual community service day.

"I'll slow down," Malzahn told a resident after rattling off another number. "That sounds like some of my players. We're going too fast, we've got to slow down. Or it sounds like some of our opponents."

More than 100 staff members from Auburn's athletics department participated in community service activities in the Auburn and Opelika area Wednesday. It's an annual tradition for the Tigers' staff and coaches.

Malzahn cracked a smile or two, too, while also poking at the unidentified opponents who don't like facing his hurry-up, no-huddle offense.

Hurry-up offenses were under attack in February and March, when a small number of coaches expressed concerns about hurry-up offenses and whether they lead to injuries. A rule proposal would have required quarterbacks to wait 10 seconds before snapping the football, but the NCAA Football Rules Committee dropped the proposal on March 5.

Malzahn was one of the most vocal coaches to come out against the proposal in February.



Auburn coach, whose Auburn offense goes by the motto of "Auburn fast" these days, wasn't at the nursing home Wednesday to talk offensive philosophy, however.

"Any time you can use your influence in a positive way, give back, especially to the community, I think that's very important," Malzahn said. "All our coaches and all our players feel that way."