Born on May 22, 1944 near Dawson, Alabama, Cochran was a 1962 graduate of Crossville High School where he lettered four years in three sports. He made All County and All District in Basketball – All State as a junior, All State and All American as a senior. He was a three time Academic All SEC fullback and linebacker at Auburn University. He was chosen as a College Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Earl “Red” Blaik Scholar Athlete in 1965. Cochran played in the 1964 Orange Bowl, 1965 Liberty Bowl and 1965 Blue/Gray game. He received a NCAA Post Graduate Fellowship and attended Auburn and the University of Texas, earning a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering at the latter institution. He joined the faculty at Auburn in 1969 and while a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering also served as Associate Director of Athletics from 1981 to 1984.
