Lane Kiffin made it abundantly clear that he wants college football to change its rules to prevent fake injuries. However, the NCAA failed to do so, so Ole Miss continues to exploit the rules as they stand.
Fans are absolutely furious with the Rebels’ behavior on Saturday.
Running back Matt Jones was helped off of the field by the athletic training staff after experiencing what appeared to be a cramp during the second quarter against Kentucky. Upon further review, it was not real.
Ole Miss had some confusion at the line of scrimmage as the play clock ticked down to zero. Quarterback Jaxson Dart instructed Jones to go down with an injury to stop the clock. He did.
ABC captured the perfect angle of the fake cramp, which could not be more obvious.
I hope Matt Jones was able to survive this injury. #BBN pic.twitter.com/Bb4kmbeTCO
— Chris Beasmore (@CBeasmoreSports) September 28, 2024
Wildcats fans were not the only ones who were furious. Social media erupted with outcry against such dishonest and unsportsmanlike behavior.
But here’s the thing.
Kiffin and the Rebels are exploiting a rule they actively want to change because the NCAA refuses to change the rule. This whole fake injury thing has been an ongoing topic of discussion for a long time. Nothing has been done to fix it.
Tennessee and Ole Miss faked multiple cramps and/or injuries during their game in 2021. There were 18 stops for injuries between plays throughout all 60 minutes. 11 came in the fourth quarter alone.
Both teams run high-paced, hurry-up offenses so fake injuries became important to stop the momentum for both sides. It also allowed time for defensive substitutions on plays where the offense does not sub.
As a result, players on both sides were dropping like flies and were miraculously cured of their injuries just a few moments later.
Lane Kiffin wants the rules to change.
Both coaches were asked about how to stop fake injuries on the SEC coaches call that following Thursday. Josh Heupel did not have an answer. Kiffin did!
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.
The NCAA reviewed the issue that following offseason. It ultimately decided not to add rules that would give referees the authority to penalize teams that are believed to be faking injuries.
Programs that believe their opponents are faking injuries are encouraged to report the allegation to the NCAA but there is not any valid legislature to punish the program that is accused of faking injuries. Nothing came of the review. There is nothing in place to prevent the behavior.
Kiffin wanted fake injuries to be penalized. He did not get his wish so Ole Miss continues to use fake cramps as a way to slow the game.
The rules are the rules and it would be silly not to exploit the rules if they provide an advantage.
Lane Kiffin: "I am going to exploit the clock rules regarding fake injuries until there is a rule change to fix it. Here is how to fix it."
— Grayson Weir (@GsonJW) September 15, 2024
*NCAA vetos rule to fix injuries*
*Lane Kiffin exploits clock rules*
People online: "HOW DARE LANE KIFFIN EXPLOIT THE CLOCK RULES?!"
College football fans may not like what Lane Kiffin and the Rebels are doing. That’s fine, but their frustration should really be with the NCAA.