What we saw and heard from a DJ Durkin practice at Auburn
Tuesday's practice was the first full-fledged one under the interim head coach. What did we learn as Auburn gears up for Vanderbilt?
AUBURN — Tuesday was the first time Auburn football opened the doors to a practice since the firing of Hugh Freeze and the promotion of defensive coordinator DJ Durkin to the interim role.
Throughout the viewing window, not much looked different for the Tigers from any of the recent Tuesday practices under Freeze. The structure was the same. The drills were also largely the same from the previous week, before the 10-3 loss to Kentucky.
After practice, players didn’t exactly communicate a sense of drastic change.
“We still have the same mission,” running back Jeremiah Cobb said. “So, it’s been the same. Heads up, and we’re just ready to play football.”
The most noticeable difference might have been the music playlist, at least at the beginning of practice.
Media members usually go out to practice during an early stretching period. Under Freeze, the music playing over the sound system would often be a modern worship song. The screens the indoor field usually displayed a slide of Freeze’s theme for the week. It had phrases that dealt with character traits or spiritual themes.
On Tuesday, the slide was replaced by a picture of the Auburn helmet and a simple phrase about the team. At the start of the stretching period, the music over the sound system was quite different: It was “AHHH HA” by Lil Durk, a rap song that has been referenced in edits of Durkin on social media from Auburn defensive players.
“They’ve been doing that since like the beginning of the season. We’ve seen it in the group chats and everything. We think it’s funny — Coach Smurk,” wide receiver Perry Thompson said, referencing another Lil Durk track.
So who decided to play the song to start practice Tuesday?
“I’m pretty sure it was Coach Durkin,” Thompson said with a smile.
Auburn has to make a quick transition from the post-firing feelings and straight into a road matchup against Vanderbilt, which still has a chance to make the College Football Playoff if it wins out. Last season, the Tigers lost to a rising but less-accomplished Commodores team, 17-7, in a home matchup.
The last three games of the season won’t be easy, especially given everything Auburn is going through with the coaching change. But this team has refused to stop fighting, and the Tigers want to keep that going the rest of the way.
“We’re still here to compete,” defensive end Keldric Faulk said. “We’re still here to finish the season out strong.”
With that in mind, here’s everything we saw and heard from Auburn football practice —including some injury updates and personnel shakeups — on Tuesday as preparation for the trip to Vanderbilt began in earnest.
