EX UGA Coach Talks Addiction

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Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024

Tifton, Georgia

Your Local Digital Newspaper for Tifton and the Greater Tiftarea

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

Former UGA and Alabama football coach Scott Cochran, left, with Tifton Judge Herby Benson and Jeff Breedlove. Cochran and Breedlove have formed a national addiction recovery organization and met Tuesday with Benson at Tifton's Oasis Recovery Community Organization, which Benson helped get started.

EX UGA COACH ADVOCATES

FOR ADDICTION RECOVERY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

As the strength and conditoning football coach under the University of Alabama's Nick Saban, he was once called "The Voice That Helped Build Bama." The TV show "60 Minutes" once called him "one of the most unusual characters in all of sports. ... A man you have to hear to believe."

Scott Cochran was known for his enthusiam and his loud, gutteral shouting at practices and on college football fields. After 13 years at Alabama, Cochran joined his old buddy Coach Kirby Smart and became the special teams coordinator at the University of Georgia in 2020. Before he resigned from the UGA coaching staff this past February, Cochran had been a part of eight national championship teams.

At age 44, he was successful and was at the top of his game on the gridiron. He also was a drug addict.

On Tuesday, Cochran was in Tifton visiting the Oasis Recovery Community Organization (RCO) on Main Street. Cochran has teamed up with Jeff Breedlove, who has been a political operative for Gov. Nathan Deal and Congressman Bob Barr, and is also a recovering addict. The two of them have formed the American Addiction Recovery Association (AARA).

"We want to eliminate the whisper of addiction," Cochran said during an interview with the Tifton Grapevine. "Recovery is real."

Cochran is now a fulltime advocate for addiction recovery. His own addiction to painkillers began after severe headaches.

"I started getting migraines, basically from yelling; I stressed all the muscles in my body," he said.

After trying beta blockers and other remedies that didn't work, his doctor said, "Let's try OxyContin." The doctor cautioned that it could be addictive.

"I"m not going to get addicted to anything," Cochran thought. .

He eventually became hooked on opiates. "It got worse and worse," he said. Throughout his time at both Alabama and Georgia, Cochran was heavily using opiates, obtained through prescriptions as well as illegally.

When his wife found him lying unconscious, he went to a rehab facility. They kept it a secret. Unfortunately, he relapsed and went into rehab again. No one outside the family knew because it was during the pandemic. He then coached duing the 2020 season. But later, he felt a need to return to rehab, and, through a drug test, discovered his body was full of fentanyl. He was told that he was on the path to death.

Cochran said recovery is "definitely not easy."

He said he never shared with others what he was going through. "I was so embarrassed. We can eliminate that stigma, and open a door." Cochran said it's all right to admit "I have a problem, and I need help.'"

The response from his former coaching colleagues and players has been "all love."

The issue touches people of all walks of life. "There are 200 Americans a day dying of an overdose," Cochran said. "What if a 737 plane crashed every single day; what if a football team was lost every single day?" It would get attention, he said.

It's estimated there are 46 million Americans facing addiction but only 29 million in recovery.

Cochran said his ongoing recovery is different this time because "every day, I have tried to help someone else or another organization. The opposite of addiction is connection."

Cochran and Breedlove's AARA is working with Congressman Austin Scott, R-Tifton, and Tifton Judge Herby Benson and the local Oasis Recovery Community Organization (RCO) to bring a "community conversation" to Tifton on Oct. 2, 10 a.m.-noon, at the Tift County Recreation Department.

If one is facing addiction, or if a loved one needs help, Cochran advises: "Get to a meeting. Find a local RCO. There's a number you can call to get help immediately (844-326-5400).

"Know that you're not alone."

LET'S GET BACK TO CITY BUSINESS WITHOUT SIDESHOWS

This has been a difficult few weeks for Tifton City Council.

During a private executive session recently, Mayor Julie B. Smith and Councilman Lester Cromer Jr. apparently clashed. Cromer then filed an "official grievance" against the mayor to "uphold the principles of civility and respect."

Cromer sent a statement to local press and to social media sites noting his grievance, along with screen shots of a text exchange between him and Mayor Smith, who apologized for "cussing" at Cromer. In his text response, Cromer wrote that her "apology is meaningless."

The mayor responded, "One day, Lester, when you grow up you will see things differently."

Meanwhile, City Attorney Rob Wilmot sent Cromer a letter with the opinion that the grievance allegations do not violate the City Code of Ethics.

The issue formally spilled out into the public at Tifton City Council's meeting Monday night when Mayor Smith addressed it. She said Cromer was upset because he wasn't invited to an informal gathering with Downtown Development Authority and Tifton Urban Redevelopment Agency representatives.

Smith said Cromer had been invited to those agency's board meetings for six months but didn't respond. She admits that she told Cromer he wasn't invited to the latest gathering because he "does not answer his (expletive) phone."

Smith said Cromer "took great offense" at that. The mayor admits a "poor choice of words" and said she apologized. "Apologizing is what adults do when we make mistakes," she said.

The mayor said that Cromer insinuated that Smith "used a racial slur; I did not, and I would not," she said.

When Smith finished her statement, Cromer only said: "I will have a written response in the near future."

Whew! What's going on here?

It's time for everyone to take a deep breath, put these issues aside, and get on with conducting the city's business without these silly sideshows. In recent years, it was the city and the county trading barbs and accusations. Now, petty internal disagreements among City Council members are being aired.

This is not a good look for our city. We expect better from our elected officials.

'BEYOND THE T' AWARD

HONORS FIRST RESPONDERS

AT SCHOOL ACCIDENT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tift County Schools recently recognized first responders and those within the school system for their actions April 23 when a five-year-old boy was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street after leaving Len Lastinger Elementary School.

The boy was severely injured and spent nearly two months in the hospital. He is now recovering at home.

"In moments of crisis, every second counts. We are incredibly grateful for the first responders from our community partners and within our own system who understand this better than anyone," the school system said.

"Recently, we had the honor of recognizing these heroes with the 'Beyond the T' Award for their swift and courageous actions. ... Their commitment to the safety and security of our students and staff exemplifies the true spirit of service."

Those recognized were:

Tifton Fire Department: Carlos Martinez, Jennifer Carvana, Zach Neese, Bobby Bennett, Kiefer Daughtry, and Tyler Atkinson.

Tifton Police Department: Toni Gann, Ryan Kelly, Jhetaurius Cherry, Chris Spires, Jacob Stubbs, and Nick Ascani.

Georgia State Patrol: Gus Deanda.

Tifton Fire and Rescue: Ryan Pritchard, Thomas Carpenter, and Taylor Lambert.

Tift County School Counselors: Beth Sellars and Tammy Slaven.

Tift County Schools Security: Ana Torres.

Len Lastinger Staff: Patsy Shivers, Christy Cavanaugh, Carletha Parson, Gwen Robinson, Lisa Hill, Anna Ellerbee, Vanessa Patterson, Tiffany Lester, Chya-teau Walker, Melissa Wells, April Holmes, and Stacie Spann.

stopthehurtga.org

Pictured from left are Brent Conner, Exchange Club public safety chair; Tift fiirefighter Forrest Wilson; and Tift Fire Chief Jason Walker.

EXCHANGE CLUB AWARDS

TIFT COUNTY FIREFIGHTER

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Exchange Club of Tifton has presented the 2024 Public Safety Eagle Award for Tift County Fire & Rescue to Forrest Wilson, a part-time firefighter with Tift County.

Wilson came to the county fire department three years ago as a freshman at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and took courses at night to earn his certification. He is also working toward getting his EMT license.

Wilson is still a student at ABAC pursuing an agriculture degree.

Fire Chief Jason Walker said that Forrest is eager to learn and to offer help, assisting with extra jobs when a need arises.

“I love firefighting; I just can’t get enough,” Wilson said.

BLUE DEVILS HONOR COACH GENE BRODIE'S LEGACY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

A group of former Tift County High football coaches, players, and staff gathered Tuesday in the fieldhouse at Brodie Field to unveil a locker dedicated to the legacy of the late Blue Devils Coach Gene Brodie.

"This is a great addition to our locker room and something that all of our players can look back on. They will always remember Coach Brodie and the proud tradition he built here as a Tift County Blue Devil," said Tift County Head Football Coach Jeff Littleton.

As head coach, Brodie led the Blue Devils to the 1983 state championship, as well as to many other regional playoff games. He left Tift County with 131 wins, Brodie died in 2002, not long after the stadium was named in his honor.

Those in attendance Tuesday shared memories of Coach Brodie and his influence on Tift County athletics and the entire Tifton community.

Among those who paid tribute were Roy McWilliams, Mayo Tucker, Doug Clements, Emmett Bowers, Rusty Smith, Tommy Blackshear, Stacy Duckworth, Jonathan Jones, Richard Golden, Walter "Dawg" Burgess, and Dewey Sexton.

"Special thanks to Coach Duckworth for organizing this tribute, reminding us all that as Coach Brodie believed, 'If you don't have tradition, you don't have anything,'" Tift County Schools said on social media. "Coach Littleton is committed to reinstating the tradition in our program."

From left are Karen Mann, hospital medicine director at Tift Regional Medical Center; Chris Dorman, TRMC Foundation board member and Southwell CEO; Dr. Richard McCullough; Mandy Brooks, TRMC Foundation executive director; and Laura Stanton, TRMC hospital medicine practice manager.

SOUTHWELL DOC RECEIVES EXCEPTIONAL PHYSICIAN AWARD

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The 13th annual Exceptional Physician Award was recently presented to Dr. Richard McCullough at Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC).

An anonymous donor established this award through the TRMC Foundation, motivated by their passion for the healthcare field. The donor collaborates closely with physicians and wanted to honor them for their professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence in medicine and toward patients.

The $500 cash award is presented annually to a physician who exemplifies those qualities.

Board certified in internal medicine, McCullough practices with Southwell Medical Clinic in Tifton. He began his career at Tifton Medical Clinic, also known as Affinity Clinic. He was influential in laying the foundation for the facilities and healthcare of the medical practice.

“As an internist, Dr. McCullough specializes in adult medicine. He is skilled in disease prevention and the management of complex disorders of the body. He has been practicing medicine in Tifton since 1976,” said Mandy Brooks, TRMC Foundation executive director.

McCullough earned his medical degree from Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. He followed with a rotating internship and residency at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah.

Rusty Moorman, left, son of the late Renee Moorman; and Mandy Brooks, far right, director of the TRMC Foundation; present nursing student Madison Dixon with the Renee Moorman Scholarship.

NURSING STUDENT RECEIVES MOORMAN SCHOLARSHIP

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Renee Moorman Scholarship was recently awarded to Madison Dixon of Tifton by the Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) Foundation.

Dixon is a student at Southern Regional Technical College and is expected to receive her degree next May.

“Because Renee H. Moorman loved nursing, her family and Dr. Larry Moorman established this $1,500 nursing award in her memory,” said Mandy Brooks, TRMC Foundation director.

The annual scholarship is given to cover educational costs.

“Nursing, to me, is not merely a profession; it is a calling, a vocation deeply rooted in the desire to alleviate suffering, promote health, and foster resilience in individuals and communities," Dixon said.

"I am deeply passionate about nursing and committed to dedicating my career to serving others with compassion, integrity and excellence.”

Catherine Tift Porter, seated at center, attends the ceremony this past March honoring her grandmother Bessie Willingham Tift (wife of Tifton's founder) as a Georgia Woman of Achievement. She is surrounded by some of the descendants of Tifton's first couple, several of them from Tifton.

GRANDDAUGHTER OF TIFTON'S

FOUNDER DIES AT AGE 102

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Catherine “Tee” Tift Porter, the last surviving grandchild of Tifton's founder Henry Harding Tift, died Aug. 12 at age 102 in her home in Atlanta. Her funeral was Saturday.

Porter was a daughter of Catherine Hill Terrell and Thomas Willingham Tift, a son of Tifton's founder. Porter was also a great-niece of Nelson Tift, founder of Albany; and great-niece of Joseph Merriweather Terrell, a Georgia governor.

Last March, Porter attended a ceremony honoring her late grandmother Bessie Willingham Tift of Tifton as a Georgia Woman of Achievement for her role in saving Bessie Tift College, now part of Mercer University.

Porter had been a member of the Board of Directors of Tiftona and Piedmont Cotton Mills, and was an award-winning real estate agent in Atlanta for more than a decade.

She served as president of the Habersham Garden Club, chair of the Board of the Cerebral Palsy Center (Fraser Center) and member of Board of Trustees for the Children’s Rehabilitation Center. She was a member of the Atlanta Debutante Club, the Junior League of Atlanta, the Huguenot Society, the Mayflower Society, and the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America.

SGBC OPENS NEW SYLVESTER BANK

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

South Georgia Banking Co. (SGBC) opened a new banking center Monday in Sylvester. A ribbon cutting with the Sylvester-Worth County Chamber of Commerce is scheduled at 3 p.m. Thursday.

The North Main Street location encompasses 5,126 square feet in the heart of Sylvester.

“We are really excited to have everyone come out and see our brand-new location,” said Kevin Kicklighter, the bank's Sylvester city president. “This banking center is the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication to bring something great to Worth County residents.”

SGBC has a long history in Worth County going back to the late Pait Willis, one of the bank’s founders and former CEO and chairman who attended family reunions in Worth County.

In 2019, SGBC established a loan production office in Sylvester; in February 2020, a full-service banking center was established at a temporary site. Last summer, the company broke ground on the new location.

“With my family’s history in Worth County and the growth of our company, we knew we wanted to invest in Sylvester,” said Glenn P. Willis, son of Pait Willis. “We have continued to grow and expand in the five years there, thanks in part to the great leadership and outstanding customer service of our local team, and we are excited about this new chapter for both Worth County and South Georgia Banking Co.”

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Nefertiti" is looking for her new home. Come meet this green-eyed queen and see other pets available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

LARGE TOBACCO PLANT OPENS IN TIFTON

~ AUG. 20, 1920

Tifton's largest industrial plant at that time, the Imperial Tobacco Co.'s stemmery and re-drying plant, began operations Aug. 20, 1920. Tifton had become a center for the tobacco market in South Georgia.