On Thursday, word leaked out that Nick Saban and Alabama had hired George Helow, the former linebackers coach at Michigan, with immediate effect. Helow was Michigan’s coach in 2021 and 2022 before the two parties decided to separate before the 2023 campaign. Helow has some past with Alabama because he served as an intern there in 2012.
There could be infinitesimal to enormous consequences in this case, and we will never fully understand. Let’s examine this hire from three distinct perspectives today: the hiring’s effect on the field, the hiring’s influence on Alabama’s image, and the hiring’s impact on the Big Ten/NCAA and “competitive advantages”
Impact on the Field
Helow undoubtedly has extensive knowledge of this Michigan team’s personnel composition and coaching staff. After only a year out of the program, he is undoubtedly aware of innumerable player habits and inclinations. Given their little advantage, this might be crucial for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide coaching staff. Because he collaborated closely with both of Michigan’s coordinators, Helow is also probably familiar with their play-calling styles. More specifically, he probably knows a great deal about Michigan’s defensive philosophy and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s plan.
His information won’t be useful there because Michigan has probably changed their signage several times since Helow left the program, given the continuous drama surrounding sign-stealing. Moreover, he won’t be on the
It’s December 5th, 2009. We’re in Arlington, Texas for the Big 12 Championship Game. Down two, Texas is lined up for a field goal attempt that would punch their ticket to the BCS National Championship Game. For Nebraska, if this score holds then they’ll bring home their first conference title since 1999, while simultaneously throwing a major wrench into the BCS title race. So to better appreciate that, to understand what’s going through Colt McCoy’s head, to recognize the game-wrecking greatest of Ndamukong Suh, and to remember why we’ve still got this one tick on the clock, we need to rewind.
