Major Head Coach Exposes Troubling Truth About Fake Injuries in College Football

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer once again expressed his growing frustration over the rising issue of fake injuries in college football.

The Gamecocks had a strong season, finishing 9-4 — their best since 2017 — in Beamer’s fourth year as head coach. However, their 27-3 loss to Ole Miss, which ended any hopes of making the College Football Playoff, sparked accusations that fake injuries were being used to disrupt the game.

Speaking out about the detrimental impact of fake injuries, Beamer reflected on his earlier comments after that game and shared a concerning observation. “It absolutely does (impact the game),” he told Pete Nakos of On3. “A team that we played this season — it’s amazing how many times they had an injury on defense after the opposing offense made a first down on an explosive play and had some momentum. There’s certainly something to that, and you have to be able to overcome it as a team.”

These comments come in the wake of Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss having to address similar accusations following their win over the Gamecocks on Oct. 5. Later, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey issued a memo to schools warning about the possible penalties for faking injuries.

Beamer continued, emphasizing the negative impact of the practice. “We’re not perfect, don’t get me wrong,” he said. “But certainly, that is what some people are using it for. One, to slow momentum, or two to catch their breath. If a team is going fast and they need a minute to catch their breath. It’s not what the sport intended for.”

The issue has garnered enough attention that the NCAA Football Rules Committee is set to meet in late February in Indianapolis to discuss potential changes. One proposed solution, from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), which includes Beamer, suggests that any player who receives medical attention for an injury should be required to sit out for the remainder of the possession. The proposal would exclude players who are injured by a hit or those with helmet communication systems. Teams could still keep a player in the game by using a timeout.

Currently, the rule mandates that injured players miss only one play.

Beamer continued to condemn the practice, describing some situations as “absolutely embarrassing” for the sport. “There’s no question that it’s a bad look for everyone involved,” Beamer stated. “Look, there were some absolutely embarrassing, blatant faking of injuries that we saw this season. And it’s not what’s best for the game. There’s no question about it. The teams don’t want to see it. The fans don’t want to see it.”