Former Auburn Tigers football coach Hugh Freeze gave his interim replacement, defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, a classy shoutout in his goodbye message to the fanbase on Sunday night, hours after his firing.
Freeze asked the fanbase to continue buying into the program under Durkin's leadership.
"To our players – thank you for your commitment, your heart, and your belief in the process and fight that you have shown each week. Watching you grow as athletes and men has been the most rewarding part of his job. To our staff – no one will ever know your tireless work behind the scenes but thank you for fighting for Auburn every day. And to our fans – your passion fuels us. You’ve stood by us through every high and low, and your loyalty never wavers. I humbly ask you continue to fully support these student-athletes as they seek to finish the season strong under Coach Durkin’s leadership," Freeze said.
Durkin's defense has been the team's backbone all season. It'll continue to be as the new play-calling structure is figured out under Derrick Nix and Kent Austin. Neither has been fired as of Sunday night.
It's unclear if Jackson Arnold or Ashton Daniels will be the priority under center. It might be worth giving Deuce Knight a few looks, too. Some sort of stability at the position moving forward is a priority for the new coaching staff.
Durkin now has three games to make an impression. Win out, and the Tigers are still a seven-win team and will have beaten two SEC contenders in the Vanderbilt Commodores and Alabama Crimson Tide.
DJ Durkin could be a candidate for Auburn's full-time head coaching job
Alabama-based ex-CBS Sports writer Jerry Hinnen sardonically predicted Durkin becoming the full-time head coach with an Iron Bowl win. That possibility is truly not far off if AU can first upset Vandy in Nashville.
If any of that happens, it will be with the talent Freeze recruited. Maybe, in another life, Freeze could've been (or still could be?) the program's GM, and a better X's and O's guy can call the plays and lead the locker room.
Durkin has a chance to do the latter as the program ponders its next move at offensive coordinator.