Kornacki: Cochran's Big Moment Fulfilled Lifelong Dream

By Steve Kornacki

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- It was an instant when a father's great joy for a son's moment in the sun brought all the emotion either could handle. Brad Cochran tried to fight back the tears when Tyler Cochran forced and recovered a fumble in one motion against Rutgers kickoff returner Tre Avery, and Tyler held the pigskin trophy high for all in Michigan Stadium to see and roar their approval.

"I tried to hold back the tears but they just came out," said Brad, an All-America cornerback on the nation's top defense at the University of Michigan in 1985. "Tyler has put in a lot of work, coming in as a walk-on and having to compete with scholarship guys. I know how happy he was, and I was so happy for him for sure."

He hugged his wife, Leslie, and later, outside the stadium, they rushed to their son.

"I gave him a big hug after the game," said Tyler. "He doesn't say a lot, but Dad was definitely happy. It was really cool."

Leslie said, "It was a true testament to how hard Tyler's worked."

The sparkle in the son's eyes told how special it all was.

Twenty years ago, the father and 18-month-old son had posed for a photo outside Schembechler Hall during the 1999 Reunion of Champions with Bo Schembechler, the legendary coach. Tyler was wearing a little blue Michigan jersey then, and now he had just done something big in a for-real game, dreams fulfilled.

The past came back in other ways, too.

Wolverine head coach Jim Harbaugh was the star quarterback of that 1985 team that finished No. 2 in the polls, and he also roomed with Brad, tight end Paul Schmerge, right guard Clay Miller, placekicker Todd Schlopy and Mike Reinhold -- a tough middle guard who endured a painful knee injury -- in an old, two-story house with a big front porch not far from the football practice fields.

"We had a really good house at 812 Packard (Street)," Harbaugh said with a smile. "Good memories."

Brad said, "I remember that place. We put it on the map (laughter). Jim was a great guy and a real competitive guy, too. That was a competitive household. It was a lot of fun."

The old teammates shared in Tyler's big moment, one from the sideline and the other up in the stands.

Tyler had reached in and taken the ball from Avery, who ended up on a pile of players. Tyler showed the ball to officials, but they ruled Avery had been down, and a video review was required to get the call right.

"When they were reviewing it," said Brad, "I said, 'C'mon, give him one.' But there was one view that showed it was a recovery."

Harbaugh asked Tyler if he thought it was a fumble and was informed that he thought it was, and the coach sought out the officials for a challenge only to learn one had already begun.

"Earlier in the game on a kickoff I had reached for the ball and it almost came out," said Tyler, "but it didn't. The guys were kind of giving it to me on the sidelines, and I had a chance again and pulled it out.

"It was just a really good feeling, having all my teammates give me high-fives, and being able to make a big play, and we ended up scoring seven points on it (when Christian Turner reached the end zone three plays later). I felt like I finally did something to really contribute, and that's been my goal all along."

Harbaugh added, "We're going to make Tyler a (special teams) captain next week. He was one of our top special teams players last year, and in the top three at least the entire season. Making that heads-up play (against Rutgers) and having that hustle show up. You talk about energy, and energy finds the ball.

"Personally, it was so great. I played with his dad. That's always been cool from day one."

Harbaugh mentioned each of the other sons of former teammates he's coached at Michigan, including current quarterback Michael Sessa, who rooms with Tyler. Mike Sessa was a wide receiver when Harbaugh played. Defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson, offensive linemen Jon Runyan and Dan Jokisch, defensive back Caden Kolesar and Sessa's younger brother, tight end Will, also are the sons of Wolverines.

"A lot of guys whose fathers play at Michigan want to play at Michigan," said Tyler. "It's exciting to have that bond. To hear the other guys talk about their dads, that's cool."

Brad Cochran started 36 consecutive games, 1983-85, and made 189 tackles with 12 interceptions that still rank tied for fourth most for a Michigan career.

Brad Cochran (left) and son Tyler as Wolverines.

"Brad was a physical corner," said Harbaugh. "Sometimes corners can cover well but it's not like having 11 on the defense when it comes to tackling. But Brad was ahead of his time as a big, physical corner. Today's game would be more suited for Brad than when he played."

Brad's framed black-and-white All-America photo is right next to Harbaugh's on the wall Tyler and his teammates pass in walking from the locker room to the meeting rooms and dining hall.

"There are photos of his and mine from middle school and high school where you can't even tell us apart," said Tyler. "Everyone tells me I look like my dad."

Brad was highly recruited out of Birmingham (Michigan) Brother Rice, where he now serves as the freshman football coach.

His son was part of two state championship football and track and field teams at Orchard Lake St. Mary's, another suburban Detroit powerhouse, but said his college possibilities came down to playing for Air Force, Ivy League schools, small colleges or walking on at Notre Dame or Michigan.

"I really liked Air Force," said Tyler. "But my dad played here and that's the only reason I came here. I've loved Michigan for as long as I can remember, and wanting to come here since I was little was the reason. We've had Michigan season tickets since forever, and I was a huge Denard Robinson and Mike Hart fan. I could've walked on at Notre Dame, too, but I wanted to play where my dad played."

His father added, "Notre Dame was nice to him and came in early on him. But Tyler said, 'I can't sing the Notre Dame fight song. I grew up singing 'The Victors.' He was just so excited for Michigan and is doing a great job there. It's been a great experience for him and he's enjoyed it."

Tyler's only action for the first two seasons came in practice, but he got onto special teams for 2018, in addition to playing safety on defense. Chris Partridge coaches him in both areas.

"Coach Partridge is the guy who gave me a shot," said Tyler. "I appreciate that a lot, and enjoy working with him. All I wanted was a shot, and I got it thanks to Coach Partridge.

"The first couple years, it was fun to be on the team. But when I was finally able to step on the field in a game (at Notre Dame in 2018), I realized my dream since I've been 4 years old. I have a picture with Coach Bo Schembechler holding me, and all my baby pictures have me in a Michigan jersey. Being able to accomplish that and live the dream I've had has been awesome."

He wore Dad's No. 30 until recently switching to No. 28 because freshman safety and special teams standout Daxton Hill also had No. 30.

"We can't have the same number," said Tyler. "But getting to wear it was pretty cool."

Schembechler and the Cochrans Current Wolverine defensive back and special teams standout Tyler Cochran, then 18 months old, attended the 1999 Reunion of Champions at Schembecher Hall with legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler and his father, Brad Cochran, an All-America cornerback in 1985 (Leslie Cochran photo)

His father was a third-round draft pick by the Oakland Raiders, but his career was ended by a serious back injury suffered in the fourth and final preseason game in 1986.

Brad now manages apartments he rents along with wife, and has a cemetery flower business. He's also always found time to coach his son individually and sometimes coach for Tyler's football, track and hockey teams as well.

"He was like my personal coach," said Tyler. "He was my strength trainer, everything. Motivation was his biggest thing. He's also been a great dad, a great role model I've wanted to emulate in sports and as a man."

Brad said, "I've coached and trained a lot of kids, but none have worked harder than Tyler."

Tyler is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. He's in the Ross School of Business, and could return for a final season of eligibility in 2020 as a graduate student in business or law.

"I'm probably going to do something in finance," Tyler said, "and then I have a goal to be in politics and government."

The father drove the son to Ann Arbor to begin football practice in 2016, and 812 Packard was a brief stop.

"My dad drove me by the house where he lived with Coach Harbaugh and other teammates," said Tyler. "That was special."

The son knows the stories, knows the tradition and knows what it takes to succeed in the same maize and blue his father wore.

And on Saturday (Oct. 5), before facing Iowa in a game between top-20 opponents, Tyler will trot to the center of the field for the coin toss just as his father, a co-captain in 1985, did back then.

Count on some more tears.