Clark Lea reacts to SEC implementing fines for feigned injuries

Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Clark Lea shared his reaction to the memo sent to teams by SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey that called for fines against coaches whose teams are caught faking injuries.

Lea emphasized that he feels positively about Sankey’s leadership and understanding of football. He also went on to explain that he doesn’t think it’s going to be impactful to Vanderbilt because that’s not how he coaches his teams to play.

“Sounds like I need to read it,” Clark Lea said. “No, I have not. First of all, I’ve got the utmost respect for the commissioner and his leadership. I’ve said this a number of times in the SEC meetings and media days, but I’m always blown away at the opportunity to hear him talk, his perspective on the game, and what an incredible person to be leading our conference in this era of change.”

For Vanderbilt, there shouldn’t be a major impact on the Commodores. As Lea explained that while Vanderbilt coaches situational football, faking an injury isn’t something that they would do and in some cases, the goal is to actually get off the field without the clock stopping.

“I’m most effective when I put my attention on the things that are going to have a direct impact on our performance and there’s no part of our program that tries to game the rules around feigning injury. So, it’s not going to affect us,” Lead said.

“Now, we absolutely coach situationally, if you’re an offense…that if I’m a defensive player and I’m not able to perform in the next snap or I need to come off of the field, for whatever reason, we teach our players not to try to run off the field in a moment where there’s a shoulder issue or there’s an ankle issue or there’s something where they’re maybe able to hobble to the sideline but it’s important that we don’t create that level of — with an injury — we don’t create that level of chaos. That’s standard operating procedure. Same vein, at the end of games, when on defense you maybe don’t want to create a situation where you’re giving the offense a timeout. It’s get off the field at all costs and we have to have everyone focused in that moment and understanding of the fact that, you know, we’re not trying to do the offense a favor by stopping the clock and allowing them to get themselves together.”

There are a few different reasons why a team might feign an injury on defense. Typically, it is to get a stoppage against tempo, throwing an offense out of rhythm. In that way, it can create a competitive advantage and be difficult to prove.

“Those things are understanding within the game how to handle yourself when you’re hobbled. On the whole and even in those situations, there are times when Bradley [Mann] tears his ACL in the game on Saturday. Ain’t nothing you can do about that…that’s something that, unfortunately, is always going to be a part of that game, but with respect to what we coach or teach our players is the understanding and the awareness that when you’re hurt and you can’t continue to play, you’re to go down and stay on the ground. You’re not to try to drag yourself off the field,” Lea said.

“There’s never a situation where we tell someone to fake an injury in order to somehow impact the operation. So, they need to be aware of the things that are set in motion to get a substitute and make sure there’s time to make sure they’re healthy. Those are all things we coach and teach but never do we cross the line of trying to game the system.”

In the memo that Sankey sent to SEC coaches, fines were the primary form of discipline noted for the issue. That includes a public reprimand and fine of $50,000 for a first offense, $100,000 on a second offense, and a potential head coach suspension on a third offense.