Syracuse football’s Steven Clark on Louisville injuries: ‘I’m sure some of them were fake’
Jessica Sheldon | Photo Editor
There were many instances of Louisville players taking to the ground with apparent cramping injuries throughout the game.
As soon as Louisville defense lineman Chris Williams hit the turf, the Carrier Dome crowd erupted in a chorus of disapproving boos.
Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey approached Williams and turned the lineman over from his facedown position. It was unclear whether he was trying to get Williams to get up or if he was checking on his opponent. Either way, running back Dontae Strickland rushed over to Dungey and pulled the QB away.
Syracuse had just gotten a first down at Louisville’s 14-yard line and was driving with its no-huddle offense. But Williams grabbed his right leg as a trainer worked on stretching it out, the fourth time in the game that a Cardinals defender halted SU’s pace with an injury timeout and the third time it happened while the Orange was in the red zone.
“You guys look at your watches,” Syracuse head coach Dino Babers said after the 62-28 loss to No. 13 Louisville that lasted nearly four hours. “How long did the game take? It might have been shorter if we wouldn’t have had so many people like that.”
The first time it happened was on Syracuse’s third drive of the game. Dungey slipped a pass to running back Moe Neal who took it to Louisville’s 17-yard line. As the Orange tried to lineup for another snap, a Louisville defensive lineman remained on the ground.
Referees stopped the play and Babers ran down the sideline yelling in their direction, throwing his hands in the air and charging all the way to the 10-yard line.
“I can’t talk about officials,” he said after the game. “They’re going to fine me and do all that kind of stuff.”
The next time, Syracuse was at Louisville’s 19 and had just gotten a first down off a 22-yard pass to Ervin Philips. Cardinals defensive end Drew Bailey was on the ground smacking the back of his left leg.
“Lock him up,” an SU fan yelled as the trainers came out. Fans started yelling for Syracuse players to “fall down” during Louisville drives.
“I’m sure they cramped sometimes,” defensive linemen Steven Clark said. “I’m sure some of them were fake. It is what it is. They’re not conditioned like we are.”
Even during a timeout a few plays later, cornerback Shaq Wiggins had his leg stretched out. Babers was tightlipped regarding the validity of the injuries.
“That’s about as far as I go,” he said after his comment about the time. “Hopefully I didn’t get hit with a fine for that.”
Published on September 10, 2016 at 1:55 am
Contact Jon: jrmettus@syr.edu | @jmettus
