Florida State head coach Willie Taggart has accused Virginia Tech defensive players of faking injuries to slow down the fast pace offense of the Seminoles. Wednesday the first-year coach was on the ACC coaches teleconference explaining to reporters that fans noticed it and the boos from the crowd opened his eyes as well.
“It is what it is… I guess it’s part of football now,” Taggart said. When asked if he would like to see a rule change to prevent players the ability to slow the game down Taggart answered: ” I’m sure we will one day. Kind of like everything else, it comes when it starts happening. They’ll come up with something. Until they do, I don’t see why anybody wouldn’t do it.
Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente appeared on the conference call shortly after and was asked about Taggart’s accusation.
“I know this: Going into the game, we were severely concerned about our ability to handle the humidity and the weather, just coming from our climate down there,” Fuente said.
Mike Barber of the Richmond Times-Dispatch found two examples when Virginia Tech Players were injured during the game. “In one instance, defensive tackle Xavier Burke appeared to be heading up the field before suddenly dropping,” Barber wrote. “In another, defensive tackle Ricky Walker and safety Reggie Floyd clearly collide head to head with each other.”
This is not a new tactic, Florida State was accused of faking injuries in 2014 by N.C. State. The Hokies defeated the Seminoles 24-3 in Monday’s contest.