DJ Durkin Appreciation Thread
There are some pretty immature, pathetic comments trashing Durkin in the threads below this one. You guys should be ashamed. Neg away, but I'd rather appreciate Durkin for helping turn this defense into one of the country's best. God forbid he leave for a raise and a promotion somewhere else (and god forbid he offers some of our other staffers raises and promotions as well).
You wanted a good program? This is what you get. This is how you build a coaching tree. Every other DC candidate takes notice that after good work under Harbaugh, your career is in good shape.
Thanks, Coach Durkin. It was a great year, and we appreciate your work.
December 3rd, 2015 at 11:24 AM ^
Disappointing Coach D.J. may not finish the season with us. It is his career though, and obviously he has a lot going for him. I did enjoy having him as our DC for 10.5 months. Understand its a huge payday. IMHO, No poaching should be allowed of our newly put together staff unless blessed by Coach Harbaugh. None. You don't come in as part of a rebuild, interview to leave to another team in your division before biggest game of season, then try to take recruiting infrastructure with you unless blessed by your boss. Not comparable to Smart leaving Alabama (where he won 3 NC's, had long run, and returning to his alma mater. Maryland unlikely a final destination for Coach Durkin). That said, if Coach Durkin kept Coach Harbaugh in the loop on everything, I wish him well, except when we play Maryland.
December 3rd, 2015 at 4:56 AM ^
Durkin is a fool. He is also an ass for interviewing during OSU week, and he will fail at Maryland. If he were smart he would stay in AA. After Harbaughs current contract is up, I fully expect him to go back to the NFL. He will be about 58 at that point and it will be his last shot to get a SB Ring which he wants badly. Durkin could hitch his wagons to that train and become the next J. Ira and Nicki Harris Head Coach at the University of Michigan.
He blew that op however, and has put himself in a position where he will surely fail. He would have been better off starting at a school like Bowling Green such as Urban did and build them up quickly, then make a jump to a stronger program than Maryland could ever possibly be.
December 3rd, 2015 at 10:14 AM ^
OK, you guys do know there's a 99.99% chance that Harbaugh gave Durkin his blessing to interview for the Maryland job that week right? And Maryland is a good job for Durkin, he's in a power 5 conference with a school that really wants to improve their program and has some good money behind it. And he's a a good recruiting area.
What was Durkin supposed to do? He's coached for Uran and now Harbaugh, now he has a chance to run his own team. It's a great situation for him that he worked hard for. HC position at MD > than an assistant coach position anywhere, period.
That being said, poaching Partridge or anyone else is slimy. When Narduzzi left MSu he had an agreement with Dantonio not to take any coaches with him. As for recruiting, Durkin is going to try to poach every recruit he has a relationship with, that's what he should do, this is a big boy industry.
December 3rd, 2015 at 11:40 PM ^
December 5th, 2015 at 8:14 AM ^
December 5th, 2015 at 1:52 PM ^
No problem with Durkin pursuing a promotion. Doubt Harbaugh blessed the attempted poaching of Partridge by Durkin. Given the circumstances and the fact Partridge has not yet had his chance yet to finish his first assignment of closing season 1 ( 2016) recruiting, that imho was wrong and is more of a tell of how Durkin views his 10.5 months at Michigan than anything he might say. Actions speak louder than words.