NCAA rules committee exploring changes to limit faked injuries in college football - The Athletic
National director of officials Steve Shaw told The Athletic on Monday that faking injuries is going to be “a big topic” at the next meeting of the NCAA Football Rules Committee on March 1. This is a rule-change year, meaning the group can put forth its recommendations for immediate consideration from the NCAA's Playing Rules Oversight Panel.
“Obviously, we want to take feigning injuries out of the game,” Shaw said. “It’s a bad look for the game. It’s an integrity issue. If you have a feigned injury, it garners an unmerited timeout for your team. We’re really looking at: What’s the next step to move away from that?”
The sport knows it has a problem. Some defenses are willing to take whatever measures they can to offset up-tempo offense, and the appearance of an unnecessary stoppage can draw complaints from coaches and fans alike. Last season, multiple high-profile games featured a partisan crowd booing at a suspected fake injury while the home team had the ball; the fallout from one such controversy in Iowa's win over Penn State compelled both Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz and Nittany Lions coach James Franklin to comment on the situation in the days after the game. Administrators have said for years it’s an issue, but they haven’t found an effective way to combat it yet.
National director of officials Steve Shaw told The Athletic on Monday that faking injuries is going to be “a big topic” at the next meeting of the NCAA Football Rules Committee on March 1. This is a rule-change year, meaning the group can put forth its recommendations for immediate consideration from the NCAA's Playing Rules Oversight Panel.
“Obviously, we want to take feigning injuries out of the game,” Shaw said. “It’s a bad look for the game. It’s an integrity issue. If you have a feigned injury, it garners an unmerited timeout for your team. We’re really looking at: What’s the next step to move away from that?”
The sport knows it has a problem. Some defenses are willing to take whatever measures they can to offset up-tempo offense, and the appearance of an unnecessary stoppage can draw complaints from coaches and fans alike. Last season, multiple high-profile games featured a partisan crowd booing at a suspected fake injury while the home team had the ball; the fallout from one such controversy in Iowa's win over Penn State compelled both Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz and Nittany Lions coach James Franklin to comment on the situation in the days after the game. Administrators have said for years it’s an issue, but they haven’t found an effective way to combat it yet.