What does George Helow’s hiring at Alabama mean?
What does George Helow’s hiring at Alabama mean?
Is this even more proof of the hypocrisy at the NCAA and Big Ten?
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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 hiring from three distinct perspectives today: the hiring’s effect on the field, the hiring’s effect on Alabama’s image, and the hiring’s effect on the Big Ten/NCAA and “competitive advantages.”
On-Field Impact
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.
He also won’t be on the field at the Rose Bowl as he was not hired in a coaching role at Alabama.
Perception of Alabama’s Hire
Some could describe Alabama’s hiring as desperate. This is a masterful hire in terms of gamesmanship, in my opinion. It’s the closest thing you can come to firing a present coach. Since it complies with the guidelines, I have no problems with it. Honestly, I don’t see why this shouldn’t be permitted. Helow shouldn’t be denied a job opportunity based only on who is scheduled for a particular squad. Setting that as a precedent would be disastrous. I appreciate Saban because he is the maestro of this kind of gamesmanship.
Perception of the NCAA/Big Ten
This is just one more thing, in my opinion, that shows how ridiculous the NCAA and Big Ten investigations into Michigan and the advanced scouting scheme are. To be clear, I have nothing against Alabama hiring a coach that was formerly at Michigan. Furthermore, I have no problem with advanced scouting. It is, at best, absurd that one is following the rules and the other is not.
You can’t honestly tell me that employing a coach who worked for the other team less than a year ago, just weeks before you faced them, offers a greater “competitive advantage” than seeing iPhone footage from 100 feet away. The NCAA rulebook is ridiculous these days, particularly in light of the NIL.
Should the appointment of George Helow teach us anything, it is that college coaches are making every effort to obtain a competitive edge. To be clear, I don’t disagree with anything Alabama is doing. The use of a 1990s-era rulebook chock full of cost-cutting techniques in a sport that generates billions of dollars in revenue annually is what bothers me about the sport as a whole.
How do you feel with Alabama employing George Helow? Will the Rose Bowl see any noticeable changes as a result? Does he continue to work after January 2, 2024? Is the hiring offering a greater or lesser “competitive advantage” than what Connor Stalions is said to have done?