Alabama Football embracing LANK mentality against Georgia

Alabama Football is a home underdog for the first time since 2007 as they prepare for Saturday night's highly anticipated matchup with Georgia. While rare, it's something being embraced by Kalen DeBoer and the rest of the Alabama team.

LANK was the rallying cry of last season's Alabama team after the early season struggles. The team lost to Texas at home and then sleepwalked through a road game against USF the following week, and the naysayers were out in full force.

Jalen Milroe, Terrion Arnold, and others built the rallying cry "LANK" - Let a Naysayer Know, and the team rallied behind it the rest of the year en route to running the table the rest of the regular season, beating Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, and making the College Football Playoff.

It's a rallying cry that fits this team perfectly, too. In the wake of Nick Saban's retirement in January, the naysayers were out like never before. The dynasty was finally dead, and big bad Alabama would be falling back to the middle of the pack.

The team has heard that noise all offseason and has heard it continue in the regular season. Despite being the defending SEC Champions, the headlines heading into the season were dominated by Georgia and Texas. Alabama, as talented as they still are, was more of an afterthought.

Saban contributed to the rat poison, perhaps intentionally, with he and other experts saying they need to see someone prove that they can beat Georgia. A curious statement, for sure, considering the Crimson Tide beat the Bulldogs the last time the two met in Atlanta last December.

In fact, despite Georgia's recent run of dominance and a pair of national titles, Alabama has consistently been the thorn in Kirby Smart's side. The former Tide defensive coordinator is just 1-5 against Alabama as a head coach.

There's much more than a single doubter that the Crimson Tide still has the goods to best Georgia without the GOAT walking the sideline. Those doubters won't change their minds until this team forces their hand. And being the lone unbeaten team to emerge from Saban Field on Saturday night would see that narrative get flipped on its head.

So for now, Alabama is fine being in the underdog role. It's a spot they've thrived in when the rare occasion has allowed for it. Let everyone else have the spotlight for now; we'll kick the door in soon enough.

In the immortal words of Malachi Moore, if they ain't wearin' Crimson....