BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive will have to watch games on the league’s new network for opening week.

The SEC announced on its Twitter page Thursday that Slive had successful back surgery two days earlier. The league says he had experienced back pain for several weeks and that Slive will watch games from home this weekend.

The 74-year-old Slive has been commissioner since July 2002. He helped spearhead the partnership with ESPN to form the SEC Network, which debuted recently.

Its first football game was South Carolina-Texas A&M Thursday night.

Slive has also been a strong voice in the power 5 conferences’ push for autonomy.

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