Well, this is one way to sustain an injury as a coach. Georgia State head coach Shawn Elliott told reporters he suffered a torn bicep during the Panthers’ game against NC State last weekend. The cause? Why, celebrating a GSU touchdown with a fist pump on the sideline, of course:
Also, Georgia State HC Shawn Elliott told us he tore his right bicep in an aggressive fist bump after their TD at NC State last week. will need surgery next week. He laughed telling us he isn't stoic on the sideline. Can't wait to see his passion Fri night on @espn vs Memphis
— Olivia Harlan Dekker (@Olivia_Harlan) September 12, 2018
Naturally, I decided to try and find the moment when this happened, and thanks to the clever work of my colleague, Richard Johnson, I think we’ve found it. Georgia State’s only touchdown during Saturday’s 41-7 NC State victory came early in the first quarter. After the score, Elliott could be seen viciously fist pumping in celebration:
Coaches sustaining injuries on the sidelines isn’t all that uncommon. Former Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio injured his leg after a player collision, and New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton did the same in 2011. Charlie Weis got his legs taken out from under him and suffered a torn ACL and MCL. But a coach suffering an injury from fist pumping? That has to be a first.
We’ve seen an injury from celebration happen to a player before — in 2001 Arizona Cardinals kicker Bill Gramatica infamously tore his ACL after celebrating this field goal:
Hopefully Shawn Elliott takes it easy when celebrating TDs on the sideline from now on. The Panthers face Memphis on the road Friday at 7 p.m. ET.