Nick Saban addresses Michigan sign-stealing, potential changes ahead of Rose Bowl
Michigan has rolled on through the 2023 season with a big cloud over its head. The sign-stealing scandal still looms, with questions likely to be answered during the offseason. But for now, the Wolverines want to go out and win a national championship, with Alabama in the Rose Bowl being the first test.
A few coaches have not held back about Michigan regarding the sign-stealing. One of them was Purdue‘s Ryan Walters, making his thoughts on the operation clear. Nick Saban decided to go the opposite route when asked if Alabama would have to change any of their signs ahead of the Jan. 1 game in Pasadena.
“Not really,” Saban said. “We always change things up a little bit. We’re focused on what we have to do to try to get good execution. We’re not really concerned about any of that stuff.”
Alabama will have some extra time to change up its signals. Their last game came on Dec. 2 in the SEC Championship against Georgia — the result that got them into the College Football Playoff. Usually, there is just a week span to get the signs changed. Saban has nearly a month between then and the Rose Bowl vs. Michigan.
However, he seemingly does not plan on doing anything special for Michigan. From the sign-stealing perspective, Alabama will treat the Wolverines as they would any other opponent.
Looking bigger picture though, Saban has spoken on the sign-stealing throughout the season. He is an advocate of putting radios in the quarterback’s head. This would eliminate the need for coaches to stand on the sideline and give hand signals to players. Instead, they could read out a play to the quarterback who would then relay the information to everyone else.
“I do think the helmet communicator is probably a real powerful thing for the game,” Saban said back in October. “Everybody should — you can’t steal signs or do any of this stuff if you have a helmet communicator and I think it’s, I think it would be a good thing.
“It’s worked out well in the NFL and I also think it’s good to have one guy on defense that you could tell that guy what the call is without having to go through all this signaling process.”
In October, The Athletic reported on college teams being allowed to test radio helmets during bowl season. Saban did not mention if Alabama would be making a switch but you have to believe being in the College Football Playoff, he does not want to mess with what they have done all season.