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Shane Beamer was asked after Saturday’s loss to Ole Miss if it was hard to find an offensive rhythm in a game that was constantly being stopped for injured players requiring assistance on the field. He pursed his lips and you could just tell there was an internal dialogue that couldn’t be spoken aloud.
Beamer scratched his forehead, sharply exhaled, and began by saying he hopes all the players who required assistance were fine.
“It’s fascinating to me how many injuries occur for them after the opposing offense makes a first down or has a big play,” Beamer said. “You go back and watch the Wake Forest game, it happens a lot. You watch the Kentucky game, it happens a lot.
“… They had a big injury report (last) week and I’m sure it’ll be another big one this week as well. We’ll look at it. There’s not much the officials can do during the game, but certainly it’s a thing that we’ll discuss with the people above us. I’ve got my own problems on our own team right now, but the timing of some of the injuries, it’s a really bad look for college football and it’s not what this game’s about.”
Shane Beamer on all the Ole Miss injuries that led to lengthy pauses:
“I hope they’re okay… It’s fascinating to me how many injuries occur for them after the opposing offense makes a 1st down… The timing of some of the injuries, it’s a really bad look for college football.” pic.twitter.com/98Acsy9uPG
— Matt Dowell (@MattDowellTV) October 6, 2024
The issue Beamer is highlighting — players seemingly faking an injury to slow or stop the other side— is not unique to Ole Miss. It’s happening all over the sport and with greater frequency. And more and more people are starting to call it out.
“Matt Jones, fortunately, survived to walk off the field,” ESPN’s Sean McDonough said sarcastically during the game Ole Miss game against Kentucky 2 weeks ago. “Just a blatant fake injury.”
During the Oklahoma-Tennessee game, Kirk Herbstreit called the practice “unethical as hell.”
Officials are in a tough spot. Given the nature of the sport, every injury has to be treated as a serious one. But common-sense rules will certainly need to be discussed going forward. Beamer isn’t the only coach who has spoken out on the issue, and he won’t be the last.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
