Alabama Hires Ex-Michigan Assistant Ahead of CFP Semifinal Matchup
Michigan and Alabama are set to play in the Rose Bowl, as the matchup presents one of the most anticipated games in the College Football Playoff era. Although the game is still two weeks away, the Crimson Tide appear to be participating in some gamesmanship ahead of time.
Alabama has hired former Michigan assistant coach George Helow to a role on its coaching staff this week, The Athletic first reported. Helow spent the 2021 and ’22 seasons as Michigan’s linebackers coach, but he and the team agreed to part ways ahead of the 2023 season. He spent this year away from college football but got his start in coaching with Alabama as an intern in 2012.
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Helow, in all likelihood, will provide Nick Saban and the Alabama coaching staff with inside information about how Jim Harbaugh and Michigan will approach the game. However, Helow will not be part of the on-field staff for the Rose Bowl.
The Wolverines enter the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 team in the country and are under pressure to finally reach the national championship game after semifinals losses in each of the past two seasons. Alabama, meanwhile, made its way into the Playoff by defeating Georgia in the SEC championship game, its seventh appearance in the Playoff since 2014.
Alabama (12–1) and Michigan (13–0) are scheduled to square off at 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif.