If you’ve attended the University of Alabama in the last five years, you have a lot to be thankful for.

Not only does our campus look straight out of a storybook, but this all, we had our largest freshmen class to enter, with 7,211 students. UA is a leader among public universities in National Merit Scholars, with more than 600 enrolled. Our institution also ranked in the top 50 public universities in the nation in U.S. News and World Report college rankings.

Scholarly accolades aside, the University of Alabama is also known for the obvious: our football team.

The Alabama Crimson Tide made millions of fans proud this year, not only by earning their spot in the Cotton Bowl College Football Semifinal Game but a chance at yet another National Championship title to sit pretty alongside their first 15.

So, 2015-2016 Crimson Tide, our students, faculty, alumnae and fans have some thanking to do.

Thank you for your tireless efforts in making us one of the best teams in the nation. Undoubtedly to us, you’re obviously the favorite to win every post-season game. We stand by that hard work of yours, and know that we support you all each and every step of the way.

Thank you for giving our University an enormous sense of pride. Anyone who has, does, or will attend the University of Alabama proudly wears that beautiful script A across our chests as we walk through airports, shopping malls and everywhere in between. We’re very prideful, and there’s a reason why.

While the wins are nice, and while being an amazing football team means the world to your fans, know this: we love our Crimson Tide for so much more than the wins.

We love our Crimson Tide because they’re great human beings. Our Crimson Tide is made up of people we’re proud of.

Our Crimson Tide is made up of people who give of themselves to other individuals, and this includes the fans.

Our Crimson Tide is made up of people who give back to our community.

Our Crimson Tide is made of people who fight; who strive each and every day to be better people than they were the day before.

Crimson Tide fans love to win. We’ve grown accustomed to winning. But know this: when we don’t win, we’re just as proud.

We are just as excited, prideful, and thrilled for our Crimson Tide.

Why? Because not only is our team (just this year) equipped with a Heisman Trophy, Maxwell, Doak Walker and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award recipient and includes four AFCA FBS All-Americans, but we also have a team of well-rounded individuals -- which, for the record, most football programs across the country probably cannot confidently say.

Thank you to our Crimson Tide. You’ve made us equally as proud on the field as you have off the field. Crimson Tide fans wish you nothing but the best of luck in the post-season...

...And as per usual, Roll Tide.