AUBURN — For the first time in nearly three years, Hugh Freeze was not in attendance for Auburn football practice.

The program and Freeze parted ways over the weekend, following the Tigers' 10-3 loss to Kentucky. Defensive coordinator DJ Durkin is filling Freeze's shoes in the interim. But for the first time since the move, Auburn 's players discussed the program's third head-coaching change in the last five years Tuesday, Nov. 4. NOTEBOOK: Observations and updates from first Auburn football practice under interim coach DJ Durkin

It was evident the firing brought "mixed emotions," as wide receiver Perry Thompson described it, but it was also clear the locker room's not trying to let the change become an off-field distraction.

"We have been through so much adversity that I fee

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