Indefensible, but, technically, no rule against it

IOWA CITY -- Mark Dantonio is sticking to his story.

During Tuesday's Big Ten teleconference, the Michigan State coach was asked about the number of players who ended up on the turf late in the Spartans' victory at Iowa last week.

"They [injuries] were legit," Dantonio said. "Believe it or not, they were legitimate injuries."

As many as five to seven Michigan State players left the field with injuries late in the third quarter to mid-way through the fourth last week. At least three of those players re-entered the game after sitting out one play.

That was hardly the story of the game. Michigan State dominated from start to finish. The number of injuries did catch the attention of several Hawkeyes, including coach Kirk Ferentz.

He said Tuesday there is a video on his desk noting the injuries, but he doesn't plan on sending it in. Of course, Tuesday really is Monday for the Hawkeyes (6-4, 3-3 Big Ten) in their preparation for Purdue (5-5, 3-3). The Hawkeyes will try to break a five-game regular-season road losing streak and they'll try to do it at a place where they're 1-4 since 1998.

"What good it would do?" Ferentz said. "I don't know, it's a really complex issue, and it didn't decide the game, certainly, but I know it's been talked about, not in a high degree but talked about a little bit. I think the real challenge is who makes that determination."

Oregon, which thrives on a machine-gun no-huddle offense, started seeing the injury tactic last season. It came to a head in a game at Cal, when seemingly able-bodied defensive players hit the deck with mysterious leg injuries.

Injuries result in an official's timeout. Once he stops the clock, the official must make sure the player leaves the game for at least one play (unless it's the end of a quarter). If he believes a team has shown poor sportsmanship by feigning injury, the referee may include that in his game report.

The NCAA rule book does mention feigning injury under "coaching ethics,'' calling the teaching of it "indefensible,'' but there is technically no rule against it. A referee can't call delay of game or unsportsmanlike conduct.

Officials aren't doctors. And if they are, that's not their job when they put on the stripes.

"It's kind of like a concussion, how bad is a concussion, who makes the determination?" Ferentz said. "At the end of the day, it really didn't impact the game, but it's one of those . . .  I don't want to call it a hot topic, but it's going to be a topic that's out there for sure."

The New York Giants put it out there in early September, when a pair of defensive linemen blatantly faked injury to allow the Giants to match personnel against the St. Louis Rams in a goal-line situation.

Of course, older Iowa fans are very much aware of this tactic.

In 1953, Notre Dame's Frank Varrichione pretended to faint in order to give his the Fighting Irish enough time to run an extra play to tie the score against, yes, Iowa. This led to the term, maybe known only around these parts, "Fainting Irish."

Varrichione confessed years later.

“I faint dead to the world,” Varrichione said. “Naturally, everybody gets suspicious. But what other choice does the ref really have? So he blows his whistle.”

Yup.

A Big Ten official told The Gazette on Sunday night that the conference isn't looking into the matter and wouldn't have a comment.

"I'm sure it'll be the subject of out-of-season discussion and they'll probably come up with some formula, probably hold a player out for a play or two, something like that," Ferentz said. "But it's just one of those things."

Iowa players were reluctant to comment, but the consensus was it was not a tactic that they would consider.

"I just have more respect for the game," senior defensive end Broderick Binns said. "Coming here, it's just not something that you're taught to do. You get up and you play the next play no matter what happens."

Said free safety Tanner Miller, "It's nothing we'd do. We know how we're supposed to play."

Like the rule book says, it's "indefensible," but technically . . .

"If it's within the rules, you do what you can to win, I guess," Ferentz said.

Dantonio said he expects his team to be 100 percent physically as it goes for a share of the Legends Division title at home against Indiana.

"We did have some guys go down. They got back up and played some more," Dantonio said. "Our guys will be ready to play come Saturday and, physically, I think we'll be prepared as well."