Alabama football is not accustomed to doubts under the leadership of Nick Saban, but the 2023 season brought significant challenges. Throughout their run in the College Football Playoff, critics questioned the Crimson Tide’s place in the postseason after an early season loss to Texas and a surprisingly close match against South Florida.
Despite this skepticism, Alabama triumphed over Georgia in the SEC Championship and managed to take national champion Michigan to overtime in the Rose Bowl. The team adopted a mantra from quarterback Jalen Milroe, known as “LANK,” which stands for “let all naysayers know.” This phrase became the cornerstone of the team’s spirit in a season where they felt they had much to prove.
“LANK was something we built in the offseason,” Milroe explained to reporters in September. “There was a lot of doubt throughout the offseason, and we came together to make that our motto this year.”
Doubts and criticisms are common in college football, but the LANK mentality served as motivation for this Alabama team, especially as they were controversially selected over Florida State for a playoff position, despite having one loss compared to the Seminoles’ unblemished record.
The acronym gained recognition beyond the field, leading to a memorable exchange during “College GameDay” featuring Rece Davis and Pat McAfee.
The LANK acronym, crafted by the team, signifies “let a naysayer know.” While Jalen Milroe is often credited with its origin, it represented the entire team’s ethos in the 2023 season. The concept became a part of the players’ experience through NIL opportunities, including merchandise featuring signatures from Milroe and now-Detroit Lion Terrion Arnold prior to the Rose Bowl.
The significance of LANK was so profound that a documentary exploring its influence within Alabama athletics was released by the athletic department in August.
The LANK House is a tribute to the 2023 Alabama football squad, marking it as the last team coached by Saban. Funded by the Nick’s Kids Foundation for Habitat for Humanity, the house honors the team’s victory over Georgia in the SEC Championship. The foundation’s website states that this initiative marks the 20th Habitat for Humanity house sponsored by Nick’s Kids Foundation, aptly named “The LANK House,” celebrating the Tide’s remarkable season.