HOOVER, Ala. — Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive says "important questions need to be answered" in the NCAA's governing structure over college athletics.

Slive used part of his annual address opening SEC media days Tuesday to reiterate his push for athletes to receive the total cost of attendance and stress the importance nationally of "innovative leadership to slash through our Gordian knot."

He says the SEC still supports the NCAA's role in governing college athletics. He says important questions needing to be addressed include the makeup and role of the NCAA's board of directors and changes to the governing body's structure to ensure major roles for school and league administrators and coaches.

However, the longtime commissioner is "bullish on the fact that this is being talked about now." Slive declined to offer specifics.