JC Latham says Alabama doubters serve as motivation this season: 'That's a slap to the face'

A simple question was presented to Alabama offensive lineman JC Latham at SEC Media Days. He was asked if he thought the Crimson Tide was being doubted in his opinion. Latham’s answer was a pretty straightforward one.

“Yes, definitely,” Latham said when speaking to Peter Burns of the SEC Network. “100%.”

Latham went on to explain how that mindset motivates not just him but the entire Alabama team. Everyone in Tuscaloosa is ready to prove the narrative wrong, showing they are still the kings of college football.

“It motivates me,” Latham said. “Our group, as a whole — we don’t like that. Guys try to say our culture has changed or our dynasty is over with. We say that’s a slap to the face because people think we’re not out there to be the best. We’re going to silence it all this year and we’re going to take each game in stride and understand what our goal is. There are guys out there who don’t think we are who we once were.”

Usually, this type of mindset has to be manufactured in Tuscaloosa. Previous SEC Media Days have had Alabama coming to town as defending national champions. In that scenario, nobody is really doubting the direction of the program.

But back-to-back national championships from Georgia have people questioning where not only Alabama but Nick Saban is going. Kirby Smart has become the class of the SEC and college football due to two consecutive seasons of dominance.

When the SEC preseason media poll comes out later in the week, LSU may sit at the top of the SEC West, not Alabama. An experienced team coming back to Baton Rouge plus last season’s head-to-head win may give Brian Kelly‘s squad may give them the nod. Rarely in the Saban era have they not been picked to win the conference, let alone the division.

Latham is likely looking for more than just a division title. Baseline expectations in Tuscaloosa are winning national championships on a yearly basis. He personally has not won one yet, being a member of the 2021 recruiting class. To this point, every recruiting class in the Saban era has earned a title. Latham is hungry for his.

If Alabama is not one of the final four teams this season, it would mark the first time they have ever missed back-to-back College Football Playoffs. Latham is going to personally make sure that stat does not come to fruition.