Former Oregon coach Chip Kelly got out at the right time if a new proposal forcing college football teams to wait 10 seconds before snapping the ball becomes a rule, ESPN reported.

"So, you want to talk about the 'Saban Rule'?" South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier told USA Today on Thursday. "That's what I call it. Looks like it's dead now, hopefully."

Spurrier mockingly calls it the Saban Rule because the Alabama coach argued for it in a rules committee meeting last week, according to ESPN.

"He took it upon himself to go before the rules committee and get it done," Spurrier said of Saban. "They tried to change the rules. But I don't think they're gonna get away with it."

Saban championed the proposal along with Arkansas coach Bret Beliema for its safety features. Yet, the defensive-minded coach gave more existential statements supporting such a rule and against the hurry-up offense as far back as last summer.

"Should we allow football to be a continuous game? Is that the way the game was designed to play?" Saban asked during last summer's SEC media days, ESPN reported.

Those arguing against the rule would seem to have a stronger case, especially with precedent on their side.

"I feel like if you can train offensive players to play five or six plays in a row, you can train defensive players to play that many plays in a row, too," George coach Mark Richt told the Athens Banner-Herald.

The proposal's fate will be more heavily considered by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel on March 6, though it's unclear if that meeting will yield a final decision. Obviously, if the rule is added to the books it will have to be adjusted for late game situations when clock time is at a premium. Lucky for Saban, his team is usually ahead at that point.