Nick Saban in favor of helmet communicators amid Michigan sign-stealing probe
Nick Saban didn't have much to say about the Michigan sign stealing investigation, but he is in support of a helmet communicator being added to the college game to prevent issues with stealing signs.
"I do think the helmet communicator is probably a real positive thing for the game," Saban said Wednesday. "You can't steal signs and do any of this stuff if you have a helmet communicator. I think it would be a good thing. I think it has worked out well in the NFL, and I also think it would be good to have one guy on defense you could tell that guy what the call is and not have to go through all this signaling process."
Reports have emerged recently that a Michigan staffer allegedly purchased tickets to a variety of games in not only in the Big Ten but also the SEC and other places to scout the opponents in person and film them. Alabama was one of the opponent games cited in reports for which Connor Stallions, of the Michigan staff, purchased tickets. It's against NCAA rules to scout future opponents in person.
"First of all, I didn't know anything about anybody coming to the SEC Championship Game or whatever," Saban said. "I don't have a lot of information or background on all this sign stealing stuff. I'm focused on our team. I know back in the old days when I was in the NFL, there was a time you could send out scouts, scout a game, personnel and that type of thing. I don't think it was geared toward sign stealing. That was allowed. They changed that rule."
Helmet communicators coming to college football, like in the NFL, would allow coaches to communicate plays directly to a player on the field rather than signaling in the call, whether it be on offense or defense.
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Nick Kelly covers Alabama football and men's basketball for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Nick Saban supports helmet communicators amid Michigan sign-stealing probe
