In His Own Words: Durkin on another close loss to Alabama

Interim head coach DJ Durkin addressed the media following his team's loss, expressing disappointment despite strong preparation and a statistical advantage. The team outgained their opponents 411 to 280 yards and limited them to 122 passing yards but struggled with turnovers and penalties. Durkin acknowledged a slow offensive start with multiple three-and-outs and praised the team's resilience in adjusting their approach during the game. Dropped passes and penalties were highlighted as key issues, with Durkin noting the competitive nature of his players.

Durkin discussed a critical drive in which the opponent converted two fourth downs, attributing the breakdowns to missed tackles and lost defensive focus. He commended his team's second-half performance and belief in their ability to win, despite turnovers in the red zone. Team leaders like Keldric Faulk and quarterback Ashton Daniels were praised for their leadership and performance, with Daniels performing well in both passing and rushing. The coach emphasized the need for better ball security and acknowledged the challenge of running against the opposing defense