ARLINGTON, Texas -- Alabama fans were nervous.

They'd just lost their defensive coordinator to Georgia, but that wasn't the source. Reports indicated strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran was considering joining Kirby Smart in Athens. The cult hero -- easily the most recognizable man with his title -- created some anxious moments around the state.

A week after Smart's introduction, however, Alabama announced Cochran would return. His $420,000 annual salary will be going up. On Tuesday, Cochran reflected on the decision to remain in Tuscaloosa instead of following his close friend to Georgia.

"Man, that whole decision was humbling, exciting," Cochran said. "To be wanted is really, you know, I wasn't a recruit coming out. That was cool. But at the same time, I know Coach Smart is going to do an awesome job. No doubt about that because he knows we've done this together for a long time. There are things that are behind the scenes that I know he's going to do. It's going to be very successful so I know he'll do great.

"But I also work for Coach (Nick) Saban. He gave me my shot. He gave me my chance. I was a GA for him at LSU, then I was an assistant in the NBA. To be pulled from the NBA to do this job ... whew!"

Cochran, like Smart, is an original member of Saban's Alabama staff. He grew into a statewide celebrity with his sideline energy that eventually landed him on video-board announcements and local TV commercials. His "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" catchphrase is also the namesake for a Tuscaloosa charity 5K that drew more than 600 participants this September.

"That's why it's so cool. To take my position that 90 percent of the country knows nothing about but Alabama fans and Coach Saban have created this brand for me that's just a lot of fun."

Cochran declined to get into the specifics of the discussions that kept him at Alabama. Fans approached him in that week of speculation, hoping to help sway him toward staying. He just told them the focus was on Thursday's Cotton Bowl.

"You know I'm built on The Process," he said. "Come on, baby!"

Players were happy to know the weight-room spark plug wasn't leaving.

"I love the man," said defensive lineman Daron Payne, a true freshman who went from 340 pounds in the spring to 315 by August.

After the playoff run, the offseason conditioning program will begin. That's Cochran time. But he'll also have to adjust to a football complex without his good friend Smart around.

"You know who the man is," Cochran said. "Yes, it will be different. But you know who it is. He's Coach Saban. He would win without me. He'd win with me. I know that. I'm a piece in the puzzle and my piece is not that big."