ESPN's Paul Finebaum saw enough from interim Auburn head football coach DJ Durkin in his first week leading the Tigers that he believes the defensive coordinator should be "seriously considered" to have the interim tag.
Auburn's offense had sputtered most of the season, but Durkin breathed life into the unit along with offensive coordinator Derrick Nix, in the Tigers' overtime 45-38 loss to No. 16 Vanderbilt in Nashville.
According to Finebaum, even though Auburn lost, the offensive turnaround in a five-day period was something he had never seen, so hiring Durkin full-time is "potentially the right thing to do" with how well the defense has played all season.
“[I]'ve rarely ever seen such a transformation," Finebaum said on WJOX FM's "McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning." "So, Cole, I think DJ Durkin ought to be seriously considered. And I know a lot of people get hung up on, well, he had to win the game. Well, in my opinion, that was a tremendous win for Auburn considering the difference in a seven-week period. I've never seen that type of turnaround."
"So, I think we need to watch it very closely," he continued. "And it's not because it's the convenient thing to do. It's just potentially the right thing to do. I'll leave it to Auburn for it, but I would put him in the serious consideration. I liked his demeanor. It was just completely ... I mean, I don't want to pour any more dirt on Hugh Freeze. But it's impossible not to see why this move should have been made. And the fact that Auburn has a pulse and played a top team down to overtime is, to me, a very positive and encouraging moment for Auburn.”
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