Why in the world would Alabama or anyone willingly associate themselves with DJ Durkin right now?
Alabama never sent out a release with the headline “DJ Durkin to join Crimson Tide in consulting role.”
You’ll never see that release. Ever.
You probably shouldn’t see the words “DJ Durkin joins Team X” in any way for at least a few years. At least that’s what should have been the case after Durkin was fired as Maryland’s head coach in October for his role in allowing what ESPN reported was a “toxic culture” surrounding the program, which was investigated in the wake of the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair.
The headline you probably did see Thursday was this:
Former Maryland coach D.J. Durkin, who has been off the radar since getting fired in October, has been helping Alabama behind the scenes this past week in a consultant-like capacity, per sources https://t.co/cclk5dph2K
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 13, 2018
“Per sources.”
Yeah, you bet your you-know-what that was only coming from a reporter doing some digging.
In Alabama’s perfect world, there’s no way Durkin’s status with the team ever sees the light of day. He probably doesn’t ever step foot on campus, wear team gear or heck, knowing the way Alabama handles lawsuits over using the letter ‘A,’ the program probably prevents Durkin from even saying the letter.
That’s because there’s no way on God’s green earth that someone should be associated with Durkin right now.
The coach who an investigative team found would make his team watch horror movies while eating as “motivation” should not have any role in college athletics right now. Period.
It’s baffling that Alabama, which has consultants and analysts as far as the eye can see, decided to roll the dice on Durkin roughly 6 weeks removed from his disgraceful exit. Say what you want about Butch Jones, Lane Kiffin or Steve Sarkisian, but even to get help from someone with Durkin’s past that soon is a worse look than any reclamation project Nick Saban has ever taken on.
And for what? Why is Durkin so valuable that he’s worth the negative attention? Durkin’s defense ranked No. 120 of 130 FBS schools in scoring in 2017. Call me crazy, but I doubt that Durkin’s “expertise” is going to dig up the secret to stopping Kyler Murray.
Even if Saban had Durkin do mindless busy work to prep for the Orange Bowl, what’s the point of that? There are thousands of other qualified people who could do that, and none was fired 6 weeks ago for a multi-month investigation into a culture of “bullying, verbal abuse and humiliation directed at players.”
This sends the ultimate “win by any means necessary” message that, quite frankly, Saban doesn’t need heading into the Orange Bowl. You don’t bust out your cell phone at a funeral, and you don’t secretly team up with the guy who was just fired after an ugly national scandal/investigation aired the dirty laundry of his bullying ways.
I thought that Paul Finebaum brought up a great point in reacting to this news on Thursday:
"I think it is an absolutely terrible, embarrassing look for Nick Saban." – @Finebaum, on reports of ex-Maryland coach DJ Durkin consulting at Alabama. pic.twitter.com/Y6tj4IZhhT
— Outside The Lines (@OTLonESPN) December 13, 2018
Saban is the best college coach of all-time, and this is the best program in college football. His team won every game this year, and all but 1 game by at least 22 points. His defense is fourth in the country in scoring.
Shouldn’t that be enough?
Like, if Durkin showed up at Saban’s door begging for an opportunity, there’s no scenario in which the Alabama coach should say, “sure, we’ll bring you on board for the postseason.” It baffles me that those conversations about Durkin joining Alabama — probably not directly with Durkin and Saban — ever existed. Oh, to be a fly on that wall.
Maybe Saban and Alabama actually believed Durkin’s help could be kept quiet. Or perhaps the thinking was even if it did come out, who would dare question Saban’s decision-making? He has hired coaches with checkered pasts, and he’ll probably do so again. Saban probably has Urban Meyer’s windbreaker size all ready for when he takes that offensive analyst job next year.
It’s somewhat sad that the news about Durkin’s role with Alabama wasn’t really a surprise. After all, Saban wanted to hire Hugh Freeze but got rejected (twice, apparently). Saban looked past Mike Locksley’s sketchy history, which dating to his days as a head coach at New Mexico, included an altercation with an assistant coach and a lawsuit for discrimination against an administrative assistant.
The surprising headline would be “Nick Saban: We’re done hiring anyone with a checkered past.” As long as none of that happened at Alabama, Saban will continue to turn a blind eye if it can help him win football games. I’m not sure how Durkin helps Alabama wins football games, though.
So I guess in a way, Thursday’s headline actually was a surprise when you think about it. Whatever upside Durkin provides will be overshadowed by the embarrassment it brings Alabama. At a time when the last thing Saban wants is a distraction, he just took one on.
Six weeks was way too soon for Alabama to be associated with Durkin in any capacity. When would it have made sense?
I don’t know. How about never.
Saban’s quoted he’d hire Sandusky if he wasn’t in jail.
Hunger Strike That Sh!t!
What’s the quote? When did he say it? Is there a YouTube video or an article somewhere?
Nick Saban don’t care. Show him a 4-star Defensive Tackle with domestic abuse problem, who’s looking for a new team. Saban will take him, because Saban don’t care.
The only reason why Hugh Freeze isn’t the OC right now, is because those with the most power in the SEC office, said no.
I don’t like this look but you don’t know a thing Rupert. Go back to the hole you crawled out of.
That’s right, does your butt still hurt
“because those with the most power in the SEC office, said no.”…. Wait a minute, according to you leg humpers the only reason that Bama beat the hell out of you inbreds the past two seasons is because they have the SEC in their back pocket.
Shocked Tim came over here to take a shot at the GOAT Saban. Don’t you have some Alabama ‘lite’ articles go to peruse?
It isn’t a good look for Bama. I think Saban feels he is beyond reproach, or at least should be. He is a great coach, but he doesn’t need to save everyone. He should have at least waited until next season.
Not a good look for Bama, but I’m sure they don’t care. As long as they keep winning, Saban can do whatever he wants.
And your coach can’t? Do I like it? No but who are you to judge?
Everyone gets to play judge. That’s the beauty of college football.
CNS is beyond your reproach for sure, thanks for playing tho
Saban being Saban.
Yep, do you like it, want some more?
Win at all cost
Ding ding we have a loser
Of all the things that happened under his watch, the one thing you cite is making players watch horror movies while eating? Oh, no! Throw him in jail! Now! I don’t understand the hire myself considering everything that happened and came to light about the program he ran but surely you could’ve used a different example than that.
Very odd indeed.
Odd compared to what?
Odd compared to all the more egregious things that happened under Durkin’s watch.
Had it been described like the USA Today described it (“the coaching staff would show ‘videos of serial killers, drills entering eyeballs, and bloody scenes with animals eating animals’ during team meals.”) the writer would’ve been more effective at getting his point across. The way this writer reports it doesn’t make it seem like that big of a deal compared to all the other things that happened.
Hey, here’s a different perspective. We don’t know everything and it truly none of our businesses. He was cleared to go back to head coach and the next day fired. Wonder what that was about. Vick kills dogs and he got a second chance. DT from UGA with DA was given a second chance with zero tolerance. Same DT was thrown off team after accused again. The record will show that she recanted and faced charges for filling false report. Wonder if she lied the first time. I may not like the look but again, not my business.
Alabama is a public university. That makes it the public’s business.
LSU is a public failure. Still fanning the flames of that public beatdown Bama gave you publically?
Just stating facts. I’ll lesve the failures to you.
What DT are you referring to?
I think he is talking about Jonathan Taylor who was kicked off of UGA for domestic abuse and then immediately picked up by Bama who then kicked him off their team once he was accused for a second time.
They don’t call him Nick Satan for no reason. Coaches ask and Satan gives…with a soul exchange, of course.
Pretty sure you’re the only person I’ve ever heard call him that.
I’ve heard Saint Nick, which seems slightly sacrilegious, but c’est la vive.
Your mom called, said you missed your adderall script today
Why Nick? This isn’t Lane Kiffin or Butch Jones who lost their jobs primarily because of unacceptable win-loss records. If I had a son playing football, I wouldn’t want the Maryland coach in the same town as my son’s team.
I’m sure Saban wouldn’t want your son anywhere near his team if he was didn’t want to play for a coach that made practices too hard.
I bet no other school in the SEC would hire Nick Saban if he was available. Heck, I doubt Alabama would hire him again.
Wonder how many schools, especially the other three in the playoffs, think he should be fired immediately?
As a Kentucky fan, the school who currently has the ‘Coach of the Year’ in the SEC, wouldn’t want to hire him. I bet Auburn wouldn’t hire him or LSU either.
The guy apparently can’t manage a football program worth a d-mn!
All the decisions concerning the ALABAMA program should be filtered through Paul Finebaum, the fans of all the other fan bases in the other conference schools and of course, the posters on here.
When Bama falls to the status of your school, comment then.
Dumbest post in the history of this website.
Im not sure if you are delusional, psychotic or just drunk….Maybe its a drug induced psychosis. Dumbest. Post. Ever.
Lmao, nice post for a 10 year old
Saban has how many championships? Yeah nobody would want those nasty things at their school. Gross!!!
Daggum people, read the post again. It reads very sarcastic. Some of you must be just a hoot to be around with your quick negative reactions and insults thrown in for good measure. Chill.
Was definitely sarcasm..
Smear campaign by 4th and 11 a week before early signing period. Rich Rod (fired by Arizona over supposed sexual misconduct)came by a few weeks ago. Lots of former coaches come visit Bama. Can’t beat CNS on game day or win an election over whoever so go to the internet and stir up s#%$. Paul Barner been doing it for as long as I can remember. Football is like chess. Saban is the Bobby Fisher of college football. ROLL TIDE BIT@&^#
The answer to your question, Mr. O’Gara, is Jimmy Sexton.
Look, it is a bad look. There is no denying that. There is also no need for him at Alabama. Alabama is good without him. So the logical question I ask myself is if Bama doesn’t need him nor is he given duties that quite frankly mean nothing then why did bama do it? The AD had to agree as well as Saban. Did the interview tell them something that would oppose the bad that surrounds Dirkin? Was he guilty at Maryland, personally I think he is guilty but like any story in life it’s usually very intricate and who knows what all comes out in the next few months. One thing to remember is the Board of Regents at Maryland wanted him back and in fact reinstated him. Why would they do that if they though he was the sole reason a player had died. They could have hired somebody else, quickly, like Locksley. They obviously had reason to doubt Dirkins part to play in this issue. I think we are making a big deal out of this and rightfully for so, if that was my son at Maryland I would like to see the entire Maryland coaching staff banned from the sport. However, some had more to do with it than others. I trust Saban though. I dont think he is this evil guy. I think he brings in players with rough backgrounds like all SEC teams do and usually turns them into good men. At least they seem to improve at Bama. Rolando McClain never once got in trouble at Bama and you saw what happen after he left the guidance of the Bama program, he fell into trouble every which way he turned. I just think people need to allow this thing to settle and see what stories come out about Durkin in the future, he may not be what everybody thinks he is. If he is, I will be very disappointed that Bama did this.
My word! Thats too much to read.
Dude you had to run out of words! That is a dissertation. Maybe Durkin didn’t have any direct relation to what happened to the kid there. But, the program was under his watch, therefore he is responsible. My question is, what possible value can Durkin add to “Ala-freakin-bama”!
The Bama guys defending their team from trolls on here is one thing but this isn’t defensible. This is not a good look or good thing for Nick.
As a Bama fan I refuse to entertain anything from trusted sources. So Until coach Saban or the University confirms that Durkin is on the payroll, this situation is a dead issue. Nothing to see here folks
What big ten J A said Alabama has a ‘ perfect world ‘. Nick is just trying to help out a B1G reject, thay well may well have been another B1G scape goat.
Maybe he was brought in for his extensive, intense, and extremely recent experience with an NCAA investigation regarding XYZ. Perhaps Alabama is trying to prepare for some possible future exposure.
I know it seems far fetched, but how else could he possible help Saban?
Exposure for what? I think Saban would be more concerned with hiring qualified lawyers if the NCAA was sniffing around. He wouldn’t hire Durkin if the NCAA was sniffing as it’s already a bad look. Also, from what I remember about all the reporting, Maryland’s Board of Regents and an outside firm did the investigation. Not the NCAA. I agree the hire is strange but I doubt that’s the reason.
I come here for the comments. They make me laugh a lot. Rarely read the crap. The “rumored”, “bold” predictions are “stories” and “click bait”. These guys are pitiful. The OC search story about J Pruitt was insulting to him, the UT family and FFPF. This is NOT a sports news site. I’ll stop by regularly to check on G and RBU. LMFAO 2nd and 26 4th and 11 waa,waa. We didn’t prepare for the backup QB. waa, waa, waa, waah
The controversy surrounding Durkin aside, can anyone tell me what this guy is bringing to Alabama from a football standpoint?
Is he actually working with Saban? Nothing has been confirmed. It’s just an article from a reporter…
Two words: Jimmy Sexton