Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive opened the league's football media days at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham Hotel in Hoover, Ala. with his annual state of the conference address Tuesday afternoon.

After recapping the SEC's championship successes of the past school-year, Slive touched upon a number of topics. Here is a synopsis of Slive's comments in these different areas.

Slive comment: "We are reviewing scheduling formats in preparation for the 2016 season. We are deciding if we want an eight or nine-game conference schedule. We are deciding whether we will retain our permanent non-division opponent. Until the review is complete, we will keep our schedule in the 6-1-1 format. We will select a format which is best in the long-term for the conference."

Slive comment: "Not all student-athletes fulfill all of the high expectations placed on them. A vast majority of the student-athletes do conduct themselves appropriately. We are very disappointed when student-athletes do not conduct themselves in the proper manner despite all the things put in place at our schools to help them. It is crushingly disappointing when a young student-athlete throws away the prospects of a bright future. Although there will be student-athletes who will not do the right things, we will continue to try, try, try to help them."

Slive comment: "All of the successes we have had in recent years (three national champions in the last eight years) do not offset what happened last year when we didn't meet the league's high expectations. We have given Mark Whitworth the full-time position of administering men's basketball."

Slive comment: "We have done some things in this area to help the student-athlete. There is the option of a multi-year scholarship. We have made it easier for student-athletes to come back for their undergraduate degree. The NCAA has not been successful in providing the student-athlete with the full cost of attendance. Conferences and member institutions need to be allowed to meet the full-cost of attendance."

Slive comment: "We will increase the GPA for the 16-core courses beginning with August 1, 2016. We will also have a satisfactory progress rule for high schools like we have in college. A student-athlete must have ten core courses prior to the start of his senior year. If a prospect meets the current standards, but not the new ones, he will be able to enroll, receive financial aid and practice. However, he will not be permitted to play for one year. This academic redshirt year will start in 2016."

Slive comment: "We will eclipse the 550 digital events we had planned for in the early years of the SEC Network. Those events will be in addition to the 450 events which will be on over-the-air television. Each Saturday in the fall, the SEC Network will show three games (starting in 2014). In addition, there will be a two-hour on-site pre-game show."

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