Michigan Football Star Has Perfect Response To Bama News

Earlier this month, Nick Saban’s Alabama football program hired a familiar face for Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines: ex-Michigan linebackers coach George Helow. This week, we heard from Michigan football star linebacker Michael Barrett, who played under Helow’s direction until earlier this year, on the impact of this new hire from the Crimson Tide, and his response was nothing short of perfect ahead of the Rose Bowl.

Michigan football star Michael Barrett responds to Alabama football hiring George Helow

George Helow coached linebackers for Jim Harbaugh and the University of Michigan football program during two Big Ten title-winning seasons: 2021 and 2022. Earlier this year, Helow and Michigan parted ways, though with the Rose Bowl approaching quickly, Helow has found a new job… with the Wolverines’ coming opponent.

REPORT: #Alabama is hiring a former #MIchigan coach who was with the Wolverines in 2021 and 2022. Michigan parted ways with him earlier this year, and the hire comes just weeks before the Tide face U-M in the Rose Bowl. #GoBlue

READ: https://t.co/KevAaCvRDW pic.twitter.com/Vjj3C39RNg

— Blue By 90 (@bluebyninety) December 14, 2023

Even though his former coach will be on the other side of a College Football Playoff game, Michigan football linebacker Michael Barrett, a sixth-year senior, remains unconcerned — Helow and Alabama are just obstacles that the Wolverines must overcome en route to the national championship game.

“I mean, the first thing (I thought) was ‘it’s just another obstacle,'” Michael Barrett said Wednesday. “I mean, it feels like all year we have been facing challenges; things kind of knock us back. He’s just another obstacle in the way.”

Michigan locked in on Rose Bowl

Seemingly harsh, yet entirely true. George Helow, once a Michigan football coach for Barrett and others for a pair of Big Ten title and College Football Playoff runs, saw his ups and downs with the Wolverines. That said, on New Year’s Day, when Michigan and Alabama face-off in the Rose Bowl game, Helow will be wearing the wrong colors and standing on the wrong sideline.

For Michael Barrett and Michigan football, a former coach is not the biggest test they’ve faced all year, and it certainly won’t be the biggest if Michigan can advance past the Tide and play for a national title.

Throwback to Michael Barrett’s pick six against Rutgers last season 🔥

pic.twitter.com/aROUtL2z8C

— JD 〽️ (@MGoJDBlue) September 19, 2023

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!