Air Force's Calhoun on Mountain West's move to 8-man officiating crew: 'Love it'

The Mountain West conference will employ eight-person officiating crews for the 2015 season, a move that will cost member schools an additional $2,000 per game.

Despite the cost, the shift has already received a positive reception.

"Love it. Absolutely love it," Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said, according to Mike Brohard of The Denver Post. "I think there are certain expenditures you carry out that are prudent, that make sense, that make for a more quality game. That's one of them. That's a good investment."

Greg Burks, Mountain West officials supervisor, said that switching to an eight-person team makes a big difference for the crews and how they can see and call a game.

One of the biggest advantages of the having more eyes on the field is the ability to check offensive substitutions and allow defenses to counter those moves, he said.

"If the offense does not substitute, they can go as fast as they want," Burks said. "We don't change how we spot the football, how we referee.

"As soon as they substitute, if the defense sends somebody I (slow play) and that's a three-second window for the defense to make a substitution."