What does the hiring of George Helow at Alabama mean? Opinion
Is this another evidence of the NCAA’s and Big Ten’s hypocrisy?
On Thursday, it was announced that Nick Saban and Alabama have hired former Michigan linebackers coach George Helow, who will start immediately. Helow coached at Michigan for the 2021 and 2022 seasons before parting ways ahead to the 2023 season. Helow has a connection to Alabama because he interned there in 2012.
The implications here could range from minor to major, and we’ll never know for sure. Today, we’ll look at this hiring from three perspectives: the field impact, Alabama’s perception as a result of this hire, and the Big Ten/NCAA and “competitive advantages.”
On-Field Impact
Helow is well-versed with the composition of the Michigan roster and coaching staff. With only one year out of the program, he is well aware of numerous player quirks and behaviors. This could be crucial for Nick Saban and the Alabama coaching staff since it provides them a slight advantage. Helow is also likely to be familiar with the play-calling patterns of both of Michigan’s coordinators, having worked alongside them. He’s probably quite aware with defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s scheme and how Michigan wants to defend.
Given the continuing sign-stealing controversy, Michigan has probably altered their signage numerous times since Helow left the program, thus his information won’t be useful there. He will also not be on the field at the Rose Bowl because he was not hired as a coach at Alabama.
Perception of Alabama’s Hire
Some may call Alabama’s hiring desperate. This is, in my perspective, an expert hire at gamesmanship. It’s the closest thing to hiring away a present coach. I have no objections because it is within the guidelines. There’s no reason why this shouldn’t be permitted. Helow should not be denied work based only on who is on the schedule for a given club. That would be a disastrous precedent to set. Saban is the maestro of this kind of game, and I admire him for it.
Perception of the NCAA/Big Ten
To me, this is another item on the laundry list of reasons why the Big Ten and NCAA investigations into Michigan and the advanced scouting scheme are a farce. To be clear, I have no issue with Alabama hiring a former Michigan coach. I also have no issue with advanced scouting. The fact that one is within the rules while the other is not is asinine at best.
You can’t with a straight face tell me that iPhone footage from 100 feet away provides more of a “competitive advantage” than hiring a coach who worked for an opposing program less than a year ago just weeks prior to facing them. The NCAA rulebook is laughable at this point, especially in the NIL era.
If George Helow’s hiring tells us anything, it’s that every college coach is doing whatever they can to gain a competitive advantage. To reiterate, I have no issue with what Alabama is doing. My issue is with the sport as a whole using a rulebook from the 1990’s full of cost-cutting measures in a sport that brings in billions of dollars annually.
What do you think about George Helow’s hiring at Alabama? Will it have any tangible effects on the Rose Bowl? Does his employment last past January 2nd, 2024? Does the hire provide more or less “competitive advantage” than what Connor Stalions allegedly did?
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