Alabama football coach Nick Saban addressed the role former Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin has been performing recently in Tuscaloosa.
On Friday, the Crimson Tide opened their on-campus workouts for their Dec. 29 showdown against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl national semifinal. Saban did not comment on Durkin in a news conference but rather through a released statement.
"D.J. Durkin is spending a few days with our staff in Tuscaloosa from a professional development standpoint," Saban said. "He has not been hired in any capacity at the University of Alabama. He is simply observing our operation as many other coaches have done through the years."
Durkin, who served as Florida's defensive coordinator during the 2013-14 seasons, was put on administrative leave at Maryland in August after an investigation into the program that followed the death of Terrapins offensive lineman Jordan McNair during the spring. McNair died after being overcome by heat in a conditioning drill, and the university not only accepted responsibility but admitted Durkin's staff had not shown McNair proper care.
After Durkin was reinstated in October, which resulted in swift backlash for school officials, he was promptly fired.
It is not uncommon for Saban to bring in former head coaches to observe aspects of his program. He invited fired Southern California coach Lane Kiffin to meet with his staff after the 2013 regular season and wound up hiring Kiffin as offensive coordinator several weeks later.
Saban is scheduled to meet with the media Monday.
Sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was spotted at Friday's practice doing some dropping back in the pocket, but he was limited. Tagovailoa sustained a high-ankle sprain during the Southeastern Conference championship win over Georgia on Dec. 1.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.