Kirk Herbstreit offers strong reaction after Scott Cochran leaves Alabama for on-field job at Georgia

The biggest news of Monday (so far) is that longtime Alabama strength coach Scott Cochran is reportedly leaving the Crimson Tide to take an on-field coaching job at Georgia.

Cochran has been with Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa since Saban took the job in 2007, so this is a big-time loss for the Tide.

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit took to Twitter to wonder if this is the start of a “changing of the guard” in the SEC:

This is a SIGNIFICANT loss for Bama and ridiculous coup by Kirby and UGA!
Is this the first sign of a “changing of the guard” in the SEC??? https://t.co/4AOszAeRqS

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) February 24, 2020

Herbie added that this could be the first real crack in Saban’s tenure at Alabama:

For a season yes. I’m talking long term.
That was a result of an OUTSTANDING LSU team that would not be denied. This, has the potential, to be the first REAL cracks in the Saban era. This was his right hand. Assistants can come and go but not Cochran. This is a blow. https://t.co/FW8T54US2N

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) February 24, 2020

Alabama has a ton of talent and a top recruiting class coming in this fall, so it’s probably too soon to stick a fork in the Crimson Tide dynasty, but this loss definitely hurts.