Sports

Lane Kiffin Will Finally Get Revenge On Tennessee When The SEC Punishes Volunteers For Fake Injury

by Last Updated
Tennessee Fake Injury Punishment Lane Kiffin SEC
Getty Image / ABC

Lane Kiffin was the most outspoken voice in college football against fake injuries and he will finally get his revenge on Tennessee after more than three years. The Southeastern Conference is going to punish the Volunteers for an obvious dive on Saturday if commissioner Greg Sankey adheres to his own rules.

It is the ultimate case of chess, not checkers.

In Partnership With Embark Embark Dog DNA test Why I'd Recommend Embark Dog DNA Tests To Any Dog Owner

Kiffin, currently in his fifth year as head coach at Ole Miss, was subject to heavy criticism during the early portion of the season for instructing his players to go down with a phantom cramp during crucial moments. He (and his staff) frequently used very obvious fake injuries to slow down an opponent’s offensive momentum and allow the defense to catch their breath, to force a substitution, or to get an extra timeout without actually calling a timeout.

One particular instance was especially egregious:

College football fans were furious with Kiffin. Even Rebels fans grew tired of the constant stoppages. However, it was a completely legal strategy that provided a tangible advantage.

And here’s the thing! Kiffin was intentionally exploiting a loophole that he actively wanted to close.

Lane Kiffin played the long game with Tennessee!

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 coaches were asked about how to stop the fake injuries. Josh Heupel did not have an answer. Kiffin presented a simple 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

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.

Kiffin wanted the rules to change but he did not get his wish… so if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.

The Rebels were not the only team to take this approach. They just received the most scrutiny.

Fake injuries got way out of hand in the SEC so Sankey finally put a new protocol in place at the beginning of November. Any play where a fake injury might’ve occurred will be submitted to the conference for review. Steve Shaw, the national coordinator of football officiating, will determine if it was indeed a fake injury. Any team that is found guilty of a fake injury will be punished accordingly:

  • First Offense: Head coach receives a public reprimand and a $50,000 fine
  • Second Offense: Head coach receives another reprimand and a $100,000 fine
  • Third Offense: Head coach receives another reprimand and will be suspended for his program’s next game

Huepel should soon receive a public reprimand from Sankey and a $50,000 fine. Tennessee very clearly faked an injury during a loss to Georgia in Athens on Saturday.

Lane Kiffin wanted to stop the Volunteers from faking injuries more than three years ago. He is very close to getting his revenge, assuming the SEC actually does what it said it is going to do. We’ll see!