Lane Kiffin has made it crystal apparent that he believes college football should adjust its regulations to prevent phony injuries. However, the NCAA failed to do so, so Ole Miss continues to break the regulations as they are.
Fans are outraged by the Rebels’ behavior on Saturday.
The athletic training crew helped running back Matt Jones off the field after he seemed to have a cramp during the second quarter against Kentucky. It turned out to be a forgery.
Ole Miss experienced some uncertainty at the line of scrimmage as the play clock crept down to zero. Quarterback Jaxson Dart told Jones to go down with an injury to stop the clock. He did.
ABC caught the exact angle of the phony cramp, which could not be more clear.
Wildcats fans weren’t the only ones outraged. Social media erupted with outrage over such dishonest and unsportsmanlike behavior.
But, here’s the deal.
Kiffin and the Rebels are abusing a rule that they deliberately seek to modify because the NCAA refuses to change it. This whole phony injury thing has been a hot topic for a long time. Nothing has been done to repair it.
Tennessee and Ole Miss staged several cramps and/or injuries for their 2021 matchup. Throughout the 60-minute game, there were 18 injuries that required interruptions between plays. 11 came from the fourth quarter alone.
Both teams execute high-paced, hurry-up offenses, therefore faking injuries became necessary to disrupt both sides’ momentum. It also provided time for defensive replacements on plays in which the offense did not substitute.
As a result, players on both sides were dropping like flies and miraculously recovered from their injuries just a few moments later.
Lane Kiffin wants the rules to change.
On the following Thursday’s SEC coaches teleconference, both coaches were asked how to prevent phony injuries. Josh Heupel did not provide an answer. Kiffin did it!
You’re not going to stop (fake injuries) until you say a guy has to stay out for so many plays. Like anything, there has got to be a penalty for it. Really, if you want to change it, let the conference review it, look at the film, and when they deem it to be an obvious faking of an injury, then there’s a penalty, a fine, and I promise you it would never happen anywhere.”
— Lane Kiffin in 2021
That occurred more than three years ago.
The NCAA investigated the matter in the following offseason. It eventually decided not to establish rules allowing referees to penalize teams suspected of faking ailments.
Programs who feel their opponents are faking injuries are encouraged to report the claim to the NCAA, but there is no legitimate legislation to sanction the program accused of fabricating injuries. Nothing came from the review. There is nothing in place to prevent this conduct.
Kiffin wanted false injuries to be penalized. He did not receive his wish, therefore Ole Miss continues to utilize phony cramps to stall the game.
The rules are the rules, and it would be foolish not to use them if they provide an advantage.
Lane Kiffin and the Rebels’ actions may not appeal to college football fans. That is good, but their ire should be directed at the NCAA.
