Sign of relief as Michigan dismisses rumors that George Helow has joined the Alabama staff.

ANN ARBOR, Michigan — Some people within Schembechler Hall were taken aback by the news. Word broke out of Tuscaloosa last Thursday, as Michigan resumed practice in front of its Rose Bowl matchup against Alabama on January 1. Nick Saban had pulled off the ultimate coup.

George Helow, an unemployed college football assistant coach with connections to Alabama, the SEC, and—more importantly—Michigan, was hired by the head coach of the Crimson Tide.

Helow had worked with Jim Harbaugh for the previous two seasons, coaching the linebackers in 2021 and 2022, but the two sides decided to separate ways in February. As a result of the change, Helow is now essentially free agent this season, giving Saban the chance to sign his former intern.

“Who sent it to me? According to Junior Colson, a linebacker for Michigan, “I believe Mike Barrett sent it to me,” he told reporters this week. “I thought, ‘Well, maybe they are a little afraid.'” You never know.

Saban slyly downplayed the hire earlier this week, calling Helow a “special assistant” and telling reporters who cover the Crimson Tide that it was a clerical move to help Alabama prepare for No. 1 Michigan. He and his staff spent the better part of the prior week on the road recruiting, and Saban wanted someone who could “give us a good scouting report of what we need to know” about the Wolverines.

There might not be a better person available than Helow, who worked under Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter last season, is familiar with the inner-workings of the Wolverines’ scheme and personally coached Colson and Barrett, the team’s two starting middle linebackers.

“He’s got a job — I’m happy for him,” Colson continued. “When we go play them, I’ll probably go and say what’s up to him after the game.”

Minter repeated his congrats, pointing out that Helow was unemployed at the time. Similar to Saban, the Michigan coordinator minimized the possible effects of the decision, claiming that film already provides an opponent with all the information they need to know about the Wolverines’ defense.

Minter stated, “I don’t put a lot of stock in it.” “You might give someone who worked with (that personnel) a call once a week. I’ve made an effort to find out by trying to speak with a few people who could have had experience working with their coaches.