Tag: Alabama Crimson Tide football

Tua Tagovailoa on impact of Scott Cochran leaving for Georgia: ‘It’s going to be hard’

Former Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa discussed how important new Georgia football assistant Scott Cochran was to Nick Saban and the Tide program

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On Monday, Georgia hired Nick Saban’s longtime head strength coach Scott Cochran to come serve as the special teams coordinator in Athens.

On Monday night, we highlighted some tweets from former Alabama players who understand just how important Cochran was to Saban and the Crimson Tide program.

But maybe one of the most important players in Alabama history, Tua Tagovailoa, was one of the first to stand behind a podium and speak publicly on Cochran’s departure and what it means for Alabama going forward.

While at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Tagovailoa went into more detail about Cochran.

“He was a special guy. He doesn’t get as much credit as people give him,” Tagovailoa said. “He’s been the backbone for the organization at Alabama.

“It’s going to be hard. Alabama is definitely going to miss him.”

Kirby Smart and Cochran remained close since their days of coaching together in Tuscaloosa, and you may remember Smart actually tried to bring Cochran with him to Athens when he was given the head coaching position at Georgia.

Having been at Bama since 2007, Cochran has seen hundreds of Tide players come and go, but based off of the testimonies of multiple different former players, Cochran impacted the lives of every student-athlete to come through those doors.

“Off the field, he’s someone who develops relationships with guys,” Tagovailoa said. “Brings guy over and cooks meals for guys who aren’t able to go home for Christmas.”

Former Alabama players tweet thoughts on Scott Cochran leaving for Georgia football

former Alabama players tweeted their thoughts on Scott Cochran leaving Bama for a job with Georgia football.

On Monday, Georgia football was able to make one of the biggest offseason splashes when it hired Nick Saban’s longtime strength coach Scott Cochran away from Alabama.

At Georgia, Cochran will serve as Kirby Smart’s special teams coordinator. The two coaches remained close ever since their days of working together in Tuscaloosa and you may remember Smart unsuccessfully trying to bring Cochran with him to Athens when he was first hired at UGA.

Alabama fans understand just how big of a blow this is to Saban’s program. Cochran has been in Tuscaloosa since 2007 and was considered Saban’s right-hand man, having been on staff for all six of his national titles, including in 2003 at LSU.

Related: Kirk Herbstreit on Georgia hiring Scott Cochran: ‘Significant loss for Bama’

Related: Alabama fans have Twitter meltdown with news of Scott Cochran to Georgia

Related: Report: Scott Cochran not allowed to address Alabama players prior to leaving for Georgia

But it’s just not Bama fans who are in panic mode. There have been multiple former players take to Twitter to express just how much Cochran means to the Tide program, including Raiders running back Josh Jacobs.

Having been there since 2007, Cochran helped coach and physically develop hundreds of Alabama players, who all understand Cochran’s value to the program.

There’s a reason why this is as big of news as it is. I mean, how often does a strength coach leaving make as big of headlines as it did on Monday?

Click on to the next page to see a few more tweets from former players.

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Report: Scott Cochran not allowed to address Alabama players prior to leaving for Georgia

On Monday, Georgia football officially announced the hiring of Scott Cochran, Nick Saban’s longtime head strength coach. Cochran, who has remained close with Kirby Smart since their time together in Tuscaloosa, has left Bama to become Smart’s new …

On Monday, Georgia football officially announced the hiring of Scott Cochran, Nick Saban’s longtime head strength coach.

Cochran, who has remained close with Kirby Smart since their time together in Tuscaloosa, has left Bama to become Smart’s new special teams coordinator in Athens.

Alabama fans did not react well to the news on Twitter, going into meltdown mode, while Georgia fans erupted with excitement. 

The salt levels in Bama are high right now, and that apparently goes beyond just the fans, as Kyle Henderson of Rivals is reporting that Saban may be a bit salty about Cochran’s departure as well.

Per Henderson’s report, Saban held a team meeting at 3 p.m. Central time today, but Cochran, who the meeting revolved around, was not present.

However, it was not by choice.

Seeing as how Cochran has been at Alabama since 2007, you’d think he’d receive a bit more love on his way out than he’s been show so far.

Coaches come and go, that’s how college football works. For Saban not to allow his right hand man to say goodbye to the team just shows me that he is really not happy with this move.

Which in turn only makes Georgia fans even happier with the hire.

Kirk Herbstreit on Georgia hiring Scott Cochran: ‘Significant loss for Bama’

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit offered a strong reaction to Georgia football hiring away longtime Nick Saban assistant Scott Cochran from Alabama.

Georgia football made the biggest assistant coach hiring of the offseason on Monday when it announced that Scott Cochran, Nick Saban’s longtime head strength coach, is leaving to become Kirby Smart’s new special teams coordinator in Athens.

Georgia fans erupted in excitement while Alabama fans quickly went into meltdown mode on Twitter.

According to these tweets from ESPN’s college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit, both fanbases had every right to react the way that they did.

Herbstreit called this a “significant loss” for Alabama, adding that “assistants can come and go but not Cochran. This is a blow.”

Herbstreit ponders whether or not the departure of Cochran will be “the first real cracks in the Saban era.”

Here is more from our coverage on Cochran to Georgia:

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Georgia football officially announces hiring of Scott Cochran from Alabama

Georgia football officially announced the hiring of longtime Bama strength coach Scott Cochran.

On Monday, reports began to swirl that Kirby Smart and Georgia were expected to hire Nick Saban’s longtime head strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran away from Alabama.

After a few hours of both Georgia and Alabama fanbases holding their breaths, the Georgia Twitter account officially confirmed all reports with a tweet, announcing the hiring of Cochran as UGA’s new special teams coordinator.

You’ve likely seen videos of the high energy Cochran leading an Alabama strength drill in the weight room or getting his players energized on the sideline both during and before games.

Cochran and Smart have remained close since their time coaching together in Tuscaloosa, and Smart tried to bring Cochran with him to Athens when he was hired as head coach.

Cochran also worked with the New Orleans Hornets from 2004-06, where he assisted with the exercise and strength conditioning programs to help players achieve and maintain optimal fitness throughout the NBA season. With the Hornets, he worked with NBA standouts Chris Paul, Baron Davis, David West and Tyson Chandler.

Alabama fans have Twitter meltdown with news of Scott Cochran to Georgia

Alabama football fans had a meltdown on Twitter after news broke that Scott Cochran was likely joining the Georgia Bulldogs staff.

On Monday, it was reported by Cecil Hurt of Tuscaloosa News that Kirby Smart is expected to hire Alabama’s Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Scott Cochran to an on-field coaching position at Georgia.

Chris Low of ESPN shortly followed up that report with one of his own, noting that Cochran would be Georgia’s new Special Teams Coordinator.

Cochran, who has served as Alabama’s Head Strength and Conditioning Coach since 2007, is one of the most important assistant coaches in all of college football. He has been a member on each of Nick Saban’s six national title staffs, including 2003 at LSU.

When Smart left Alabama to takeover at Georgia in 2016, Cochran was a coworker that he tried to bring with him but was unsuccessful in doing so. Alabama fans praised Cochran for his loyalty to the program at the time, showing just how important he was to the Tide’s success.

Now, with the report out that he is leaving for Athens, Alabama fans took to Twitter to express their frustration over the change.

https://twitter.com/CrimsonClio/status/1232042211392528386?s=20

 

Twitter reacts: Georgia football adds Alabama’s Scott Cochran to staff

Scott Cochran is reported to join the Dawgs’ staff after turning down a 2015 offer to join colleague Kirby Smart in Athens.

Following the departure of strength and conditioning coaches Jamil Walker and Ed Ellis, the Georgia Bulldogs have reloaded the weight room staff in just about the most unbelievable fashion imaginable.

Scott Cochran, legendary head strength coach at the University of Alabama for upward of a decade, is reported to join the Dawgs’ staff after turning down a 2015 offer to join colleague Kirby Smart in Athens.

Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News was the first to report this story.

Known for his energy and audible-from-the-nosebleeds pregame hype speeches, Cochran once quipped, prior to 2008’s infamous contest at Georgia, “they’re wearing black because they’re going to their own [expletive deleted] funeral.”

Cochran and Smart previously worked together at LSU under Nick Saban before reuniting at Alabama in 2007.

It is worth noting that, following 2019’s coaching turnover, the Bulldogs have one on-field coaching slot remaining. If Cochran is named to a position outside the weight room, it is likely that he would be placed somewhere within Kirby Smart’s elite defensive staff.

Shortly after the news broke, Georgia fans on Twitter exploded with joy.

Here’s a look at Twitter reactions:

 

Report: Key Alabama staffer expected to join Georgia football

A key Alabama staffer is expected to join Kirby Smart and the Georgia football program.

One of Alabama’s most important staffers is expected to join Kirby Smart’s program at Georgia.

Scott Cochran, who has served as Alabama’s Head Strength and Conditioning Coach since 2007, is one of the most important assistant coaches in all of college football. He has been a member on each of Nick Saban’s six national title staffs, including 2003 at LSU.

Per a report from Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, Cochran is expected to join former coworker Kirby Smart at Georgia, where he is will reportedly serve in an on-field coaching capacity.

You’ve likely seen videos of the high energy Cochran leading an Alabama strength drill in the weight room or getting his players energized on the sideline both during and before games.

Cochran and Smart have remained close since their time coaching together in Tuscaloosa, and Smart tried to bring Cochran with him to Athens when he was hired as head coach.

Cochran also worked with the New Orleans Hornets from 2004-06, where he assisted with the exercise and strength conditioning programs to help players achieve and maintain optimal fitness throughout the NBA season. With the Hornets, he worked with NBA standouts Chris Paul, Baron Davis, David West and Tyson Chandler.

We will continue to update this story when more information is available.

Georgia football offers five-star Tommy Brockermeyer, make his top six

The Georgia Bulldogs have offered a football scholarship to 2021 five-star recruit Tommy Brockermeyer of All-Saints Episcopal High School.

The Georgia Bulldogs have offered a scholarship to 2021 five-star recruit Tommy Brockermeyer. Brockermeyer plays high school football for All-Saints Episcopal. He’s from Forth Worth, Texas.

Kirby Smart and his staff are hitting the recruiting trails hard for the class of 2021, which has been offered numerous scholarships in recent weeks. Georgia will look to close out the class of 2020 with a strong National Signing Day this February.

When UGA offered Brockermeyer he immediately added the Dawgs to his top schools:

Brockermeyer is the third-rated recruit in his class per 247sports. The 6’6″ 285lbs five-star offensive tackle put the Alabama Crimson Tide, the LSU Tigers, the Auburn Tigers, the Clemson Tigers, and the Texas Longhorns in his top schools this December:

Now, UGA is joining the mix. Brockermeyer is rated as the best offensive tackle in his class.

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Georgia football among DE Jeremiah Alexander’s top three

The Georgia Bulldogs made the top three to 2022 defensive end Jeremiah Alexander. Alexandes’s top three are LSU, Bama and UGA.

The Georgia Bulldogs made the top three to 2022 defensive end Jeremiah Alexander. Alexander is from Alabaster, Alabama and plays his high school football at Thompson High School. He’s rated as a four-star recruit in his class, but there’s lots of time for that to change.

Alexander announced his top three via Twitter:

Alexander is picking between the three biggest powerhouses in the SEC at the moment: LSU, Alabama, and Georgia. Alexander would be an excellent fit an any other these schools with his excellent burst off the edge.

Georgia currently doesn’t have a commitment in the class of 2022. Despite this, the Dawgs have a very young commit from the class of 2023 in Treyaun Webb.

In 2020 SEC recruiting news, Auburn has boosted their class big-time following their win over Alabama. Georgia still needs to add around ten commitments to their 2020 class.

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