Sports

Shane Beamer Targets Lane Kiffin During Passionate Rant About Ole Miss’ Egregious Fake Injury Scheme

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Shane Beamer Ole Miss Fake Injury
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South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer did not appreciate how often Ole Miss players went down with fake injuries during its game in Columbia on Saturday. He called it a “bad look” for college football and, believe it or not, Lane Kiffin would agree.

However, the NCAA refuses to change its rules so the Rebels are going to exploit every advantage that is presented to them. Why would they not?

It should first be noted that Beamer took a classy approach to the conversation. He wants all players on both sides to be okay and finish the game with a clean bill of health. His comments were genuine.

Beamer also made it abundantly clear that his opponent’s fake injuries were not the reason that his offense scored only three points. That was on him.

With that being said, the 47-year-old was not thrilled with the constant stoppages in play.

Ole Miss fakes a lot of injuries.

Kiffin and his team have been at the center of an ongoing dialogue about fake injuries for a few years now and one especially obvious flop set the internet on fire last weekend. The frustrating trend continued during the Rebels’ 27-3 win over the Gamecocks.

South Carolina’s offensive momentum was often stalled by an Ole Miss defensive lineman that went down to the ground with a cramp or minor ailment. Play would stop, typically after a first down. The supposedly injured player would then return to the game just moments later.

In many instances, the controversial tactic is used to make time for a defensive substitution that might not otherwise be possible while the offense runs tempo. Other times, a fake injury gives players a chance to catch their breath and regroup.

Beamer did not appreciate the excessive number of injury timeouts. He voiced his opinion in response to a reporter’s question after the game. It was not unprompted.

But here’s the thing.

Lane Kiffin lobbied with the NCAA to change its rules on fake injuries in the past but the governing body of college sports simply refuses to do so. The powers that be actually shot down an amendment to the rulebook that was loosely based on his solution!

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 was more than three years ago and nothing has changed. A fake injury presents an advantage.

The Rebels, and every other team in the country, would be silly not to take advantage of every advantage presented to them by the rules. It may not be a popular move, but popularity does not win ball games.

Shane Beamer did not appreciate the fake injuries. South Carolina fans let boos rain down every time a white jersey fell to the ground. Lane Kiffin doesn’t care.