After Saturday’s 31-28 win by Stanford over Washington, Huskies head coach Steve Sarkisian accused the Cardinal of faking defensive injuries in order to slow down the UW offense. Even more drastic, he accused defensive line coach Randy Hart by name of ordering players to drop.
Angry David Shaw counters Steve Sarkisian’s fake injuries claim
Hey, the Pac-12 just got a new head coaching rivalry.
Stanford stars Shayne Skov and Ben Gardner denied the charge, but Sarkisian stood by his comments on Monday.
Update: Washington fans have compiled alleged evidence. You be the judge:
During Tuesday’s Pac-12 teleconference Stanford coach David Shaw rebutted, at one point saying, “We didn’t [fake injuries] versus Oregon, so why in the world would we against UW? We are one of the most respected programs in the country, and I won’t put that on the line just to beat Washington.”
David Shaw opened Pac-12 conf. call with a statement at his request. Unleashed without prompting.
— AZ Desert Swarm (@azdesertswarm) October 8, 2013
David Shaw: "We don't fake injuries. We never have. We never will… I don't care what Steve Sarkisian thinks what he saw."
— ESPN Pac-12 (@ESPN_Pac12blog) October 8, 2013
David Shaw called Sark unprofessional for calling out his defensive coach by name.
— AZ Desert Swarm (@azdesertswarm) October 8, 2013
Shaw on whether he's had a conversation with Sarkisian, "No comment."
— ESPN Pac-12 (@ESPN_Pac12blog) October 8, 2013
David Shaw going HAM today
— Rule of Tree (@RuleofTree) October 8, 2013
David Shaw, coach of @StanfordFball: "The only asst coach I’ve ever known to order players to fake injuries coaches at Washington." more tk
— The Football Four (@TheFootballFour) October 8, 2013
That assistant to whom Shaw’s referring is likely Tosh Lupoi, the former Cal defensive line coach who was suspended in 2010 for ordering players to hit the deck.
Sarkisian’s response was similar to what he said on Monday:
Sark on Shaw: "We saw what we saw. We'll leave it at that. Two reasonable people can disagree on something and move forward."
— AZ Desert Swarm (@azdesertswarm) October 8, 2013
Later, Shaw kept going:
Shaw on saying only assistant who fakes injuries is at UW: "That's not calling a person out, that's stating a fact"
— David Lombardi (@DavidMLombardi) October 8, 2013
"Last year [UW] beat us, and it was tough to take. BUT, we took it… I shook [Sark's] hand and congratulated him" - David Shaw
— David Lombardi (@DavidMLombardi) October 8, 2013
"That's what coaches SHOULD do, handle it with mutual respect and dignity" - David Shaw on Sarkisian
— David Lombardi (@DavidMLombardi) October 8, 2013
"I'm not even angry at Steve. Steve an I have always gotten along. He just crossed the line." - David Shaw
— David Lombardi (@DavidMLombardi) October 8, 2013
"I can see Steve tomorrow and say hi. But I'm going to defend what we do here, because we do it the right way" - David Shaw
— David Lombardi (@DavidMLombardi) October 8, 2013
Of course, that “never have” phrase might be taking it a little too far, but you get Shaw’s point.
Only under Jim Harbaugh... http://t.co/fkxaMEYncg RT @ESPN_Pac12blog David Shaw: "We don't fake injuries. We never have. We never will…
— Jen Beyrle (@JenBeyrle) October 8, 2013
Entering Week 6, the biggest injury-faking story of the year concerned Northwestern’s defense against Cal.
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