quote:
Why don't you read an article on the subject written by someone in the know?

ManymenandwomenespeciallysuccessfulonescometoacrossroadsonedayandhavetomakeachoiceInonedirectionisthesmoothsteadypathofcontinuingstraightaheadontheirjourneyTheotherwayislesscertainfrighteningtosomealluringtoothersEvenifthatpathhasanamecantheroadsignbetrustedSomepeoplereadthesignasPursuingADreamAvenuewhileotherslookatthesamesignandseeMidLifeCrisisRoadNoonequestionsthatScottCochranhasearnedtherighttomakethatchoiceInhismindandinthemindofmanyothershehasachievedjustaboutalltherewastoachieveasacollegestrengthandconditioningcoachanintegralpartinthemostpowerfulandsuccessfulcollegefootballmachineofthepastdecadeatAlabamaButthatsdifferentthandrivingthemachineCochranhashadaneyeonanonthefieldcoachingpositionforsometimenowItwasntanewshinyobjectthatKirbySmartdangledinfrontofhimtolurehimtoGeorgiawhereCochranwasformallyannouncedasthenewspecialteamscoordinatoronMondayItsapaththatCochranhasbeenconsideringforacoupleofyearsonethatalmostledhimtojoinLaneKiffinatOleMissforasimilaronthefieldopportunityFormerCrimsonTidesafetyandcurrentNFLStarHaHaClintonDixconfirmedviaTwitteronMondaythatCochranhadwantedtogetonthefieldforacoupleofyearsTherewasachorusofimmediatereactiontoCochransmovemuchofithailingKirbySmartforagrandmovethatwillhurtAlabamaandpossiblyhelpGeorgiatooTheresnoquestionaboutthePRvalueofhiringCochranawayfromNickSabanIfCochranwasarelentlessselfpromoterwhichhewasonehastonotethatAlabamausedthatimageforitsownbenefitwhichtheydidItmayhavebeenCochransdecisiontohosta5KorappearinabankcommercialbutitwasnthiscalltoputhimselfandhistrademarkYeah!Yeah!Yeah!ontheBryantDennyStadiumJumbotronbeforethefourthquarterofhomegamesButawardingGeorgiaaPRpointdoesntanswereveryquestionSomestilllingerFirstifCochranhasbeenlongingtobreakintoonfieldcoachingforacoupleofyearsdidthataffecthisperformanceinhisfulltimeoffthefieldjobDidSabantheEverDemandingpickuponhintshereandcluesthereWasthestrategicallyplacedreferencetoAlabamasnewsportssciencefacilityattheendofSabanspreparedstatementonMondaythereforareasonThatsnottosuggestthatSabanshovedCochranoutthedoorItmerelyraisesthequestionofwhetherthedoorwaslockedSecondandperhapsrelatedisthequestionofwhySabandidntsimplymoveCochranontothefieldifthatswhatwouldhavekepthimhappyinTuscaloosaThepointwasraisedinsomecirclesonMondaythatSabanwhohiresanarmyofanalystscouldhavefoundasimilarspotforCochranButifyouthinkaboutitsuchamoverunscountertotheestablishedpatternThementhatSabanusuallyplacesinsuchrolesarentnovicesIfanythingtheytendtobeultraqualifiedHisstaffincludesnotonenottwobutfiveformercollegeheadcoachestwoonthefieldKyleFloodandSteveSarkisianandfourmoresomewhereinthefootballbuildingButchJonesMajorApplewhitethenewlyhiredCharlieStrongandforallweknowtheghostofAmosAlonzoStagginabroomclosetPerhapsSabancouldhavemaderoomforCochrantospendacoupleofyearsinmeetingslearningtheropesbutitprobablywouldnthavebeenatCochransSandCsalaryanditcertainlywouldnthavescratchedhisimmediateitchCochransvalueasarecruitermaybehighasspeculationinsistsbuthesneveractuallybeenontheroadanddoneitSoSabandidntmakethatmoveThatswhyinthemidstofallthetalkaboutSmarttryingtomakeanewAlabamaormodelhimselfafterSabanthequestionsreallyshouldbewhywouldSmartdosomethingthatSabanwouldntandwillitworkoutinthelongrunFornowtherewillbespeculationthatthismovewillbethefirstpealofthechurchbellsonSabanscareerThatspeculationhasbeengoingfor12yearsnowandisnevergoingtostopbecausesomedaygiventhattimeisundefeatedthespeculatorswillbeabletosayItoldyousoCareersendbutImnotsureonemoveishowtheyendInthemeantimeScottCochrandeservesatipofthecapforajobwelldoneonethatmadehimthemostrecognizedstrengthcoachinthecountryHesnotastrengthcoachnowbutperhapshewillsucceedinhisnewpathandultimatelybeaheadcoachIfthathappenshewillhavetoughdecisionstomakeandtheperfectrolemodelformakingthemNickSaban.

Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or via Twitter, @cecilhurt

You'd have to be an Alabama fan to want to read all of that.

You'd have to be fan of another school to be able to read it.

Quite the conundrum.