Alabama’s LANK Mantra Leads Team Through Challenging Season

In an unpredictable twist during the 2023 College Football Playoff season, the Alabama Crimson Tide football team faced a barrage of skepticism yet emerged resiliently against all odds. Despite initial setbacks, including an early loss to Texas and an unexpectedly close encounter with South Florida, many critics questioned Alabama’s rightful place in the postseason brackets. “There were those who said the team didn’t belong in the postseason all year,” noted an ESPN analyst.

In defiance of the doubters, Alabama showcased their prowess by defeating Georgia in the SEC Championship, an achievement accompanied by their competitive showing against Michigan, forcing a tense overtime in the Rose Bowl. The team’s journey was marked by a distinctive mantra encapsulated in the acronym LANK, famously adopted by quarterback Jalen Milroe. “LANK” stands for “let all naysayers know,” a battle cry that the entire team embraced from the offseason, as highlighted in their team-statement, “We came in as one unit to think of a motto to push our team. There was a lot of doubt throughout the offseason. We came together and made that our motto this year.”

The phenomenon of motivating athletes by rallying against perceived doubt is not unfamiliar within college football circles. Indeed, Kirby Smart‘s Georgia program has successfully used similar psychological tactics to inspire players. Nevertheless, Alabama’s adoption of the LANK mentality notably aided in their selection over Florida State for a playoff spot despite a loss in their record, which sparked debates due to Florida State’s undefeated status during the regular season.

LANK gained attention beyond the football field, providing entertainment on ESPN’s “College GameDay” during a humorous exchange between Rece Davis and Pat McAfee. The acronym, while often credited to Milroe, was a sentiment deeply woven into the 2023 season’s team dynamics. The players also creatively harnessed the LANK vibe for name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements, featuring merchandise co-signed by Milroe and Terrion Arnold in Pasadena prior to the Rose Bowl.

Such was the cultural impact of LANK that the University of Alabama athletic department released a documentary in August, chronicling how this mantra has permeated Alabama sports. The culmination of the team’s remarkable journey was honored through the erection of “The LANK House,” funded by Nick’s Kids Foundation for Habitat for Humanity, as a tribute to the 2023 Alabama football team’s legacy. This final season, coached by the legendary Nick Saban, saw Alabama not only triumphant in the SEC Championship but also etched in history through charitable contributions in his and his wife, Terry Saban’s, name.