The Alabama Crimson Tide attempted to use a fake injury during the clash against Tennessee to avoid an incoming penalty.
The Crimson Tide attempted to substitute players onto the field despite the referee not showing the signal to allow a substitution. The announcers summarized that coach Kalen DeBoer sent his players out to substitute out of spite because he should have been allowed to do so. After a few seconds of doing so, an Alabama player quickly dropped before the flag was thrown onto the field, in an attempt to halt play.
Many fans may not have noticed that the injury was fake at first, but the announcers were quick to catch on. Shortly after the illegal substitution penalty was announced, the play was shown again and it became obvious the player purposely dropped to avoid the penalty. Unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, the fake injury did not save the team from the incoming penalty.
Alabama with the worst fake injury of all time.
This is embarrassing #CollegeFootball pic.twitter.com/ZZFy0hPLcA
— Locker (@PlayLockerLive) October 19, 2024
Alabama Fakes a injury but still gets the penalty for illegal substitution pic.twitter.com/mwdsK7KuHp
— HEWY (@NBAWHOLE) October 19, 2024
Alabama went on to lose the game, 24-17, after the offense failed to do much of anything in the fourth-quarter of play. The Crimson Tide have now dropped to 5-2, with a 2-2 conference record that could come back to bite the team. The next game for Alabama will come against Missouri, who narrowly escaped a loss today to the Auburn Tigers.
Alabama Crimson Tide Attacked on Social Media Following Bad Attempt at Faking Injury
Once the fans noticed the play, they were quick to respond to the Alabama Crimson Tide and provide plenty of criticism towards the team.
Faking an injury, while it is not illegal, has been greatly frowned upon and there is language in the rule book suggesting to avoid such a practice.
However, faking injuries has been an epidemic lately across the college football landscape, with Ole Miss being the poster boy. The Rebels have had 29 injury stoppages in play across the past three power-four games for the team. While the Rebels also have some serious injury issues, the fake injuries have been consistent and blatant.
No fake injury attempt was quite as blatant as the attempt the Alabama Crimson Tide had against the Tennessee Volunteers. Fans were particularly upset because an Alabama staff member yelled at and pushed the player before he went down. The combination of actions sealed the clear and obvious malicious nature of the fake injury.
This is awful. Lol
— Adam Smith (@AdamSmith45885) October 19, 2024
That coach and player should be suspended for at least a week
— 33gles (@33gles) October 19, 2024
The sidelines are a dangerous place.
— ScrubtheHub (@favescrub) October 19, 2024
Alabama faking injuries. Cowardly cheating. Should be 15 yard penalty and player is out for the drive.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 19, 2024
An Alabama coached just pushed his player down to fake an Injury….
This is getting embarrassing
— SullenSerf (@SullenSerf) October 19, 2024
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