Now this is some news nobody was expecting to see on Friday night.
Injuries are obviously a big part of football. It’s one of the most physical and dangerous sports in the world, so whenever a player goes down with injury it’s completely understandable, most of the time.
Recently there’s been an epidemic sweeping through college football of players faking injuries to stop an opposing offense’s drive. This gives their defense a chance to sub, catch their breath and regroup to stop their opponent’s momentum. Or it gives their offense a chance to reset if they’re close to a delay of game penalty.
These fake injuries have always been terrible, and it always seems pretty clear when it happens that someone is faking. But players don’t deserve blame for this, it’s the coaches who are likely the ones instructing their players to do this.
Ole Miss is one school who’s been at the center of attention when it comes to this issue. And it’s clear why after seeing this video.
Blatant fake injury from Ole Miss vs. Kentucky😬
— On3 (@On3sports) September 28, 2024
(via @ESPN)pic.twitter.com/l09rrJ7cA1
Commissioner of the SEC Greg Sankey has recognized this problem, and is quickly cracking down on it.
Greg Sankey sent a memo to SEC coaches & ADs ordering them to stop directing players to feign injuries & instituting penalties that include, on a 3rd offense, a coach suspension, per a copy obtained by @YahooSports.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 1, 2024
"Play football & stop the feigned injury nonsense," he writes. pic.twitter.com/1ShgBeve9V
Sankey has released a statement saying that SEC programs and head coaches will be punished for every occurrence of a fake injury, as determined by the by the National Coordinator. The first and second offense will result in a $50,000 and $100,000 fine, respectively. The third offense will result in a "public reprimand' for the head coach and a suspension for the team's next game.
Those finse really aren't that big of a deal to an SEC program, but a head coach being suspended will surely put an end to these fake injuries.
What does this mean for Georgia?
In all honesty, these new rules do not really impact Georgia football and Kirby Smart at all. Georgia is not one of the teams accused of faking injuries, so as long as they continue to just play football than Georgia will be fine.
As mentioned, Ole Miss is one of the teams known for doing this the most. Georgia plays at Ole Miss next weekend, so this is convenient timing for Georgia so they won't have to worry about the Rebels' players faking any injuries.
It is surprising to see Sankey release this statement in the middle of the season, but it is clearly the right decision because faking injuries should have never been allowed to happen.