Alabama Football preseason rankings motivate a team with something to prove

The Alabama Football program has something to prove. Crimson Tide players have something to prove. Kalen DeBoer and his staff have something to prove. If there was a 'something to prove' contest among FBS teams, the Alabama Crimson Tide would win it going away.

Such is life in Tuscaloosa after Nick Saban. Unless I've missed it, no one involved in the Alabama Football program is complaining.

Speaking to Chris Low in February, Kalen DeBoer discussed Crimson Tide-level expectations. "I look at it as a privilege, and not pressure, to be able to come to a place like this. I understand that there are expectations that are extremely high."

DeBoer added that he shares something with Alabama's players, "I think there's maybe a common chip on our shoulder. Our players here at Alabama fell an overtime short of playing for the national championship last year. We were one step away from winning the national championship at Washington. Let's take that next step together."

Alabama Crimson Tide 'Chip'

The Alabama Crimson Tide collective chip on shoulders is not going away anytime soon.

Unintentionally, national college football pundits are fueling the Crimson Tide's 'chip' mentality. A wave of post-spring Top 25 rankings were recently published. Alabama players have good reason to feel disrespected.

College Football News and 247Sports were the most bullish on the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama was No. 5 in each ranking. Joel Klatt ranked Alabama at No. 7, below SEC teams Georgia (No. 2), Texas (No. 3) and Ole Miss (No. 5). The worst slap in Crimson Tide faces came from ESPN who ranked Alabama at No. 9.

Rather than being offended by the rankings, a more productive response would be to carry that chip burden through the regular season and the Playoffs to a National Championship. Believing a point must be proven is far better motivation than complaining about the perceptions of others. In a way, the 'not sold on the Tide' group is doing Alabama Football a big favor.

The rankings continue last season's theme of "Let all naysayers know" and possibly gives the mantra added power of motivation for the 2024 season.