The Atlantic Coast Conference has reprimanded Syracuse football following its upset win over Clemson on the road on Saturday, Sept. 20.
The Orange were fined $25,000 and received a public reprimand from the ACC for violating NCAA rules regarding ‘feigning’ injuries by players during their 34-21 win over Clemson in Clemson, South Carolina.
The ACC cited actions by two Orange players, along with ‘concurrent action’ by the coach in the team area, as a ‘clear attempt to gain an unmerited advantage by stopping the game in order to secure an injury timeout.’
According to the conference, the action occurred with 9:25 remaining in the game with the Tigers trailing 34-14, the conference determined that what Syracuse did was “unethical and contrary to the spirit of the rules.” Action was stopped several times, frustrating Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik.
‘Props to them, they stopped us on some third downs in certain times, then they have an ‘injury’ or something like that when we really got going,’ Klubnik said, via Greenville Online, part of the USA TODAY Network. ‘That’s up to them if they want to be honest about that.’
Clemson scored a touchdown three plays later — all passes — including a 23-yard completion and 9-yard touchdown reception with 9:00 left in the game.
In April, the NCAA announced changes approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which require a team to be charged an injury timeout if medical personnel have to enter the field to examine an injured player after the ball is spotted.
This was in response to teams encouraging players to ‘fake injuries’ in an attempt to stop high-tempo offenses from playing fast and allowing the defensive team to make substitutions to match up and keep players fresh.
Syracuse will pay the fine ― the maximum allowed by the league’s bylaws ― which will be paid to the Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship account.