- ABC News
- November 1, 2024
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey sent a memo Friday to league athletic directors and head football coaches outlining the punishment if players continue to fake injuries in games. "As plainly as it can be stated: Stop any and all activity related to faking injuries to create time-outs," Sankey wrote in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN. He ended the memo by writing: "Play football and stop the feigned injury nonsense." Increasingly over the past few years, coaches have accused opposing teams and coaches of faking injuries to disrupt the rhythm and flow of offenses, especially those that are up-tempo and rarely huddle. Broadcasters have pointed out several obvious cases this season when players flopped to the ground near the sideline claiming to be injured just as the opposing offense was about to snap the ball. Each play where a fake injury might have occurred must be submitted to the SEC for review. Steve Shaw, the national coordinator of football officiating, will...