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D.J. Durkin gets emotional speaking about character of Auburn players: 'Every coach in the country is calling these guys'

Danby: Daniel Hager7 hours agoDanielHagerOn3
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In its first game with interim head coach D.J. Durkin leading the charge, Auburn fell to No. 16 Vanderbilt 45-38 Saturday night in Nashville. Durkin, who had been Auburn‘s defensive coordinator for the past two seasons, stepped up as interim head coach following Hugh Freeze‘s firing last Sunday.

Following the loss, Durkin got emotional when discussing his team. He also revealed that coaches from all across the coaches have been calling their players, trying to lure them into the Transfer Portal.

“I just want to say, those kids,” Durkin started as he began to get emotional. “It was a lot on them this week and we challenged them. 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.”

After entering the game as 5.5 point underdogs, Auburn tied the game up with 5:27 remaining in regulation courtesy of a 23-yard passing touchdown from Ashton Daniels to Cam Coleman (with a successful two-point conversion). It then got the ball back with just under a minute remaining, but was unable to score.

In overtime, Vanderbilt scored on three plays. Auburn had its chance to respond, but was held scoreless, thus ending the game. With the loss, the Tigers fell to 4-6 (1-6) and will miss a bowl game for the second consecutive season unless it can knock off No. 4 Alabama in the Iron Bowl.

“It was great to see our guys respond,” Durkin continued. “They kept battling. Sure there were ups and downs throughout that entire game and we talked about them. There’s gonna be, but our guys never flinched. They battled.”