Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss help spark major news from SEC Commissioner heading into their Week 10 game at Arkansas
Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss finally helped spark a major announcement from Greg Sankey the SEC Commissioner today. The issue of various teams faking injuries has become a significant talking this season (and last), thanks much in part to Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels this year. They haven't been the only culprits, but […]
Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss finally helped spark a major announcement from Greg Sankey the SEC Commissioner today. The issue of various teams faking injuries has become a significant talking this season (and last), thanks much in part to Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels this year. They haven't been the only culprits, but Kiffin has become a bit of a poster child for this particular issue in the sport, gaining somewhat strategic advantages via fake injuries quite often this year.
Greg Sankey sent a memo out to SEC coaches and athletic directors on Friday directing players to, "Play football & stop the feigned injury nonsense," as you can see in Ross Dellenger's post below. If they do not, penalties will be coming:
There will finally be consequences for SEC teams if they are found to have feigned an injury for strategic advantage. But what will count as a feigned injury? And how will Greg Sankey and the SEC actually enforce this new policy?
"I will consider a feigned injury to have been determined when the National Coordinator [of Football Officiating] states it is more likely than not that a feigned injury occurred, that a player attempted to feign an injury, or any other general statement from the National Coordinator establishing the probability that a feigned injury has occurred."
The criteria for "feigned injury" is clearly going to come down to a judgment call of officials. That's rough. That means Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss players, and any other program for that matter, are going to have to be careful not to even come close to looking like they're faking injuries. Otherwise there will be punishment.
The first instance will result in a public reprimand of the head coach and a $50,000 fine. The second instance, another public reprimand, but the fine increases to $100,000. And the third instance will result in the suspension of the head coach for the team's next game.
Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss actually released a rather funny statement concerning this issue not too long ago, acting as if they were making sure to be "compliant" with this matter:
"Feigned injuries has become a notable topic in college football, and we realize our program has been part of that discussion. We have been in communication with the National Coordinator for Football Officiating and provided relevant medical information for his review to answer questions about recent injuries. We have also updated the SEC office, and our head coach will communicate with our coaches and players to ensure we conduct ourselves properly and are compliant in this matter."
It was funny because Ole Miss tried to play it off like they weren't already a part of the problem, but that's Lane Kiffin for you.
This new policy is great for fans and the game as a whole. No more intentional flopping or falling to the ground any time an offense as a defense on their heels in hurry-up mode. No more extra timeouts added and penalties avoided following clear directives from coaches to sit on the turf. None of that.
It's great news for college football, but teams who make a habit of faking injuries, Ole Miss included, will have to be careful not to do this moving forward.
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