Why 'LANK' Shirts are Spreading Throughout Alabama and the NFL
PASADENA, Calif. — There have been very few times over the last 15 years that Alabama has truly been the doubted, the underdog or the unproven. In fact, Monday's matchup against No. 1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl will be just the fifth time since 2009 that the Crimson Tide hasn't gone into a game as the favorite.
But this season, Alabama has had plenty of doubters, and it's part of the reason why the team has fully rallied around the LANK (Let All Naysayers Know) mantra.
It was something that Jalen Milroe and Terrion Arnold came up with in the offseason, but took on a whole new meaning for the team after the loss to Texas in Week 2 and poor performance at USF in Week 3.
Even though it was originally Arnold and Milroe's thing, it quickly spread throughout the whole team. A few days before Christmas, the tight-knit duo wanted it to be something the whole team could profit off as well. Along with Athlete's Thread, Milroe and Arnold gifted the whole team LANK shirts with their name and number on the back.
"I feel like with all the adversity we’ve endured and coming together as a team, it was something that united us," Arnold said. "And it was another thing that just brought us closer together, especially with everything we’ve seen with the criticism in Week 2. Us really buying into the LANK, it was something that me and J-Mil wanted to give the team as a gift."
Not only were the players personally given a shirt, but the customized shirts for each player are now online for each player to sell and receive NIL money from.
"We’re a family," Milroe said. "We love our B Psi Phi. Basically we want other guys to market off their names and create a brand for themselves off of LANK because it’s a group effort. It’s something we built in the offseason for us to get where we are right now.”
Milroe said the idea was a collaboration between him, Arnold and Athlete's Thread. The moment the players received their shirts went viral with their reaction.
"It was a great moment," said freshman defensive back Tony Mitchell. "Those guys do a lot for our team. They’re both leaders for us, and we look up to them because they all do the right thing and they motivate us to become great.”
Arnold said the reaction was about what he was expecting because of how much his teammates have embraced LANK, but it was still a surreal moment. Freshman wide receiver Jalen Hale said it meant a lot to him. Emmanuel Henderson described it as a "wholesome" moment. Since it came on Dec. 21, a few players shared that it was their first Christmas gift of the holiday season.
For some players, especially starters at skill positions like Milroe and Arnold, NIL deals are a lot easier to come by. But the LANK shirts with every name and number provide each player an opportunity to generate revenue based on their name and likeness, which was the original intent of NIL.
"It was very thoughtful of them," senior defensive back Malachi Moore said. "It was around the holiday season, too. That says a lot about their character. They want to allow their teammates to make profit off their LANK and the name, image and likeness. And I think that’s a good thing, that’s a big thing. It shows that they’re not selfish with what’s coming in for them."
Even the coaches got LANK shirts, well some of them did according to defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson.
"They gave them to some of the coaches– not to everybody," Robinson said. "I had to backtrack and get one. I don’t think he gave me one at first."
Not only has LANK spread across the current Alabama players, but it has now made its way throughout the NFL with players like Mack Wilson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch and Jalen Hurts sporting LANK shirts this week at NFL facilities.
(Check out Hurts in the Eagles' video below around the :06 mark.)
"The people who we partner with at Athlete’s Thread, they do a great job of reaching out to different guys in the NFL, and they were more than eager to wear them," Arnold said with a smile. "We appreciate their support and are very grateful for them."
Alabama fans have been able to buy LANK shirts for a few weeks now, and they have started popping throughout Bryant-Denny and all over social media. Arnold knew it was something the team could accept, but he has been surprised at just how far LANK has spread with the fans.
And Alabama will once again be looking to let the naysayers know when the Crimson Tide takes the field as an underdog against the Wolverines Monday at 4 p.m. in the Rose Bowl with a spot in the national title game on the line.
"It’s a good battle cry," Robinson said. "Those guys, they embraced it. Our team embraced it. Coach Saban embraced it and allowed them to embrace it. And it’s working for us. We’ll continue to do that and see what happens."
