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Clemson Football: Tigers’ mentality the difference in this season

By Andrew Boardwine

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 02: Kelly Bryant #2 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates with the MVP trophy after defeating the Miami Hurricanes 38-3 in the ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 02: Kelly Bryant #2 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates with the MVP trophy after defeating the Miami Hurricanes 38-3 in the ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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What will lead Clemson football to a National Championship in 2018? It has to be their focused mentality coming into the season.

Many have asked what the difference is in this 2018 Clemson football team.

Obviously, you have a talented defensive front. You also have many explosive pieces on the offensive side of the ball. You have the perfect balance of experience and talent.

While all of that talent will carry the Tigers to a very successful season, I think there’s something else that may be the difference between this season and that of last year.

It’s the mentality of the players.

A Championship Mentality…

I’m not here to “bag” on last year’s team. Last year’s team was very talented and it was clear that they wanted to excel.

But, I don’t think anyone would argue that many key players from last year’s team were more focused on getting money in the NFL rather than winning a National Championship.

The mentality is different this year.

Guys like Christian Wilkins, Austin Bryant, and Clelin Ferrell wouldn’t have returned if their sole focus was money.

Instead, they returned because they have something to prove. The loss to Alabama didn’t sit well in the minds of these players. They returned for one purpose and one purpose only: To win a National Championship.

We’ve seen their focus so far.

Those guys are leading in the weight room and pushing the other Clemson football players to get better. That loss to Alabama back in January may very well be the circumstance that the Tigers needed to win a National Championship this coming year.

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I think you’re going to see a more focused and electrifying team in 2018. I don’t think you’re going to see them go through the motions like they did many times last season, but instead they very well may prove to be a dominant force from the beginning to the end.

And if they do, it will be because of their championship mentality.

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