As Auburn tries to bounce back from the loss to Texas A&M, there is increasing restlessness among the fan base and boosters regarding their frustrations toward Gus Malzahn. However, there may be a compromise with defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, at least in the short term between the factions of fans and boosters who support Malzahn, and the others who want him fired.

That was the sentiment from SEC Network host Paul Finebaum on his regular appearance on “The Roundtable” on WJOX 94.5 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Would Steele look to go to South Carolina or LSU, who have, or may have, defensive coordinator openings this offseason?

“He would definitely be coveted, I do think Kevin Steele is the most interesting name to think about here because if something happens to Gus Malzahn, and they say, ‘OK, we’re going to pony up the money,’ he may be the compromise solution,” Finebaum said. “He’s already there, you don’t have to move him in with an entire new family of coaches, he would keep a few, he would go out and recruit a few and I think he would be relatively cheaper than going into the Urban Meyer category where you have to spend $6 (million) to $10 million a year. He’s already making 2, 2.5 million as a coordinator, you bump him up and he’s probably happy with that, and I think that is the short-term solution if the university decides to move on. I don’t think Gus Malzahn can afford to lose him.”

Finebaum then addressed the relationship between Malzahn and Steele.

“I think most people in the know know that Kevin Steele runs his own shop,” Finebaum said. “There is a line at practice that Gus Malzahn does not cross and it’s into the defensive side of the field.”