What Auburn football players said about 'mixed emotions' of Hugh Freeze firing
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AUBURN — For the first time in nearly three years, Hugh Freeze was not in attendance for Auburn football practice.
The program and Freeze parted ways over the weekend, following the Tigers’ 10-3 loss to Kentucky. Defensive coordinator DJ Durkin is filling Freeze’s shoes in the interim. But for the first time since the move, Auburn‘s players discussed the program’s third head-coaching change in the last five years Tuesday, Nov. 4.
It was evident the firing brought “mixed emotions,” as wide receiver Perry Thompson described it, but it was also clear the locker room’s not trying to let the change become an off-field distraction.
“We have been through so much adversity that I feel like we just take it day-by-day,” defensive lineman Keldric Faulk said. “My guys know the message: We’re still here to compete. We’re still here to finish the season out strong.”
Here’s a rundown of what the Tigers said about Freeze’s firing and Durkin’s promotion.
How Auburn football players reacted to Hugh Freeze firing
“Some people were high, some people were down,” Thompson said when the team learned of the news Sunday, Nov. 2. They’re also trying to maintain what he called a “positive narrative.”
“We had meetings, and everybody’s now level-headed,” he said. “Everybody’s just now focused on going and winning at Vanderbilt.”
Edge rusher Keyron Crawford said the news was sad, but the group think was similar: “We have to finish our season.”
“The energy is still the same,” running back Jeremiah Cobb said. “We still have the same mission, so it’s been the same. Heads up and we’re just ready to play football.”
What Auburn football players said about interim head coach DJ Durkin
Durkin’s first team meeting as interim was met with excitement, Faulk said.
“We love Durkin, everybody thinks a lot of Durkin,” he said. “He’s a great guy, great motivator and a great teacher.”
Crawford said Durkin was one of the best coaches on Auburn’s staff, describing him as, “always enthusiastic, always bringing the energy, always have the effort that you want as a head coach or as a defensive coordinator. He’s just a great person in general.”
Would Crawford want Durkin to land the full-time job? “We’re just going to leave that to the administration,” he said.
Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at acole@gannett.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter.To support Adam’s work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football players react to Hugh Freeze firing, coaching change
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