Auburn named D.J. Durkin as its interim head coach for the remainder of the season after Hugh Freeze was fired on Sunday.
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Earlier in the week, Tigers athletic director John Cohen named Durkin as a candidate for the permanent coaching gig.
Durkin’s first game as the interim head coach came against No. 16 Vanderbilt on the road on Saturday. Auburn battled hard after an emotional week, but fell 45-38 to the Commodores in front of 35,000 fans at FirstBank Stadium.
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During his postgame news conference, Durkin told reporters that rival college football coaches have been trying to urge Auburn players to enter the transfer portal (otherwise known as tampering).
Durkin was proud of the way his players responded on Saturday, given the challenges surrounding the program.
“I just want to say, those kids, it was a lot on them this week and we challenged them,” Durkin said via Daniel Hager of On3. “They responded. This is Auburn. We didn’t come here to get close or make the game close or fight to the end. We came here to win championships and that’s what we’re gonna do.”
“We build our program to win championships, and that’s the first step you gotta take. But I’ll tell you what… there’s some character in that room. Every coach in the country is calling this team trying to drag them into the portal or into different directions. Those guys stuck together for one another.”
Durkin was reportedly emotional during the news conference.
For good reason, the program has had plenty of turmoil since Freeze was fired following a 10-3 loss to Kentucky in Week 10.
Durkin and his players have had to focus on playing a ranked opponent while the sharks are circling, trying to take advantage of the Tigers’ misfortune. Rival schools and coaches are not allowed to contact players until they enter the transfer portal.
That could land some programs in hot water if Durkin’s suggestions are proven.
Auburn has two more games remaining in the regular season, and it needs to win both to become bowl eligible. The Tigers will host Mercer on Nov. 22 before playing at home against No. 4 Alabama on Nov. 29.
For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.
