Jalen Milroe pressed on origin of LANK slogan by Ryan Clark

LANK — or “Let All Naysayers Know” — became something of a catch phrase for Alabama during the 2023 season, one where the Crimson Tide made a run to the College Football Playoff. And it all got spawned by quarterback Jalen Milroe and then-cornerback Terrion Arnold.

But during an interview on “The Pivot” podcast, Milroe was pressed by host Ryan Clark about whether “naysayer” was the original word to fill in for the N in LANK. While it was never said out loud, the implication was similar to the one made by Pat McAfee on College GameDay during the infamous viral moment that left the desk laughing prior to the 2024 Rose Bowl.

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“I need the non-manicured, non-Heisman hopeful finish sixth in Heisman voting, I don’t want that dude,” Clark said. “I want the dude that cussed at the camera after he threw the ball in the Iron Bowl in the corner and said, ‘Give me the effing Heisman.’ I want the dude who I’m sure, if I was betting on it, replaced something else with the word ‘Naysayer.’ Because I know there wasn’t no way you and Terrion sitting — me and Channing sitting at the locker saying, ‘You know what Channing, Channing when we go out here, you feel me, I feel like we should let those naysayers know.’ 

Channing Crowder, another host of the show, then added his own bit to Clark’s query.

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“They’re going to have to let a naysayer know, RC!” Crowder said as they all laughed.

And after the laughter subsided, Milroe explained how LANK came to be “Let All Naysayers Know” and adopted at-large by the Alabama football program, which recently produced a film about the 2023 season titled “LANK.”

“So, for everybody watching, ‘Let All Naysayers Know,’ LANK, is something that was built in our offseason based off of 2022 season,” Milroe said. “From that season, we had to flip the page on external factors. Going into that season, we didn’t play to the standard of Alabama football. And so when it came to the offseason, transitioning and trying to prepare, it was all about us and all about the mindset and how we can approach the game and having doubters, having naysayers when we was approaching the game and things like that.”

And as Milroe delivered that answer, Clark was giving him a look as if to say ‘We both know you’re not saying what it originally was.’ Milroe had a good quick response.

“He doubting me right now!” Milroe said.

But whatever the original version of LANK might have been, once “Let All Naysayers Know” came into focus, Milroe and the Crimson Tide were off and running.

“How happy was y’all when they gave you naysayer?” Crowder asked.

“Ran with it,” Milroe said with a smile.