Current Maryland coach DJ Durkin was a defensive assistant and defensive coordinator on current South Carolina coach Will Muschamp’s staff with both were with the Florida Gators.

In fact, Durkin took over as the Gators’ interim coach in 2014 when Muschamp was fired, so it’s safe to say the two coaches are very close.

So, as Durkin finds himself embroiled in an ugly situation amid claims of a “toxic culture” following the death of OL Jordan McNair, Muschamp came to his defense on Saturday. At the crux of Muschamp’s defense was ESPN’s use of anonymous sources in the two damning reports (via 247Sports):

“There’s no credibility in anonymous sources. If that former staffer had any guts, why didn’t he put his name on it? I think that’s gutless,” Muschamp said. “In any business, in any company and any football team, especially right here in August, you can find a disgruntled player who’s probably not playing, so I think it’s a lack of journalist integrity to print things with anonymous sources.

“And I know D.J. Durkin personally. I know what kind of a man he is. I talked to him this morning and I don’t think it’s right.”

Obviously, having a personal relationship with someone doesn’t preclude them from doing bad things, so hopefully Muschamp doesn’t come to regret his comments.

For now, though, the investigation continues at Maryland, and we should have more answers in the coming days and weeks.