Jimbo Fisher responds to N.C. State coach Dave Doeren's accusations that FSU players faked injuries
North Carolina State gave top-ranked Florida State all it could handle Saturday afternoon, but the defending national champs pulled away late in a 56-41 win in Raleigh. Since the final whistle sounded, a little war of words has emerged between N.C. State coach Dave Doeren and Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher.
After the game, Doeren told reporters he thought Florida State players were faking injuries when they couldn’t keep up with the Wolfpack’s up-tempo offense early in the game.
"The tempo we had (in the first quarter) was working until all the crazy fall-down things were going on and the clock kept stopping," Doeren said, per Warchant.com. "You know the refs can't do anything about that, but it's horrible the way the tempo gets slow downed by these injuries. We went fast in the first quarter, I guess there were no fake injuries."
Two days after Doeren made those comments, Fisher was able to respond Monday, and he did so emphatically.
“Well, I accuse him of not knowing what he’s talking about,” Fisher said. “They’re not fake injuries. No one faked injuries, and we wouldn’t do that. We’ll coach Florida State, and he can coach North Carolina State.”
According to Warchant, there were “several” FSU players who went down with injuries but returned later to the game. Doeren was asked about the issue again Monday and said Florida State was not the only team that has faked injuries against N.C. State this season.
"In all five games we've had multiple people fall down and limp off the field and two plays later they are back in there playing," Doeren said, per TheWolfpacker.com. "So it's a reoccurring thing. It's not just Florida State where it's happening. There's nothing the officials can do about it. There is not a rule in college football. But I think it's unsportsmanlike, personally. I just wish there was a rule that if a guy left he has to stay off for more than one play if he leaves with an injury.
“One of the players they stopped the game for Saturday, the guy walked off the field as slow as humanly possible, and he’s back in the game. I get it, if they are hurt, they’re hurt. I’m not going to say a guy isn’t hurt, but if they come back in the game then he might not have been hurt.”
With Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, the Wolfpack have improved dramatically on offense in Doeren’s second season with the program. The Wolfpack even jumped out to a 24-7 first half lead over FSU before the Seminoles were able to muster up a comeback.
Could these barbs between coaches spill over into a bit of contentiousness between the two programs? Only time will tell.
For more North Carolina State news, visit TheWolfPacker.com.
For more Florida State news, visit Warchant.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
