Every year, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney gives his team a word to live by. This year, in the face of championship expectations and a brutal opening test against LSU, the mantra is simple: One.
"We don't have to win 10. Let's just win the one," Swinney explained Tuesday. "How do we do that? It's the mindset of just this one meeting, this one meal, this one night's sleep, this one decision, this one practice, this one play."
The philosophy is designed to simplify the immense pressure that comes with playing on the national stage. Swinney wants his players to focus solely on the task at hand rather than get buried by the weight of the future.
"I think sometimes, especially with young people, you get so overwhelmed," Swinney said. "I want these guys to really be overjoyed in the opportunity that they have and not be overwhelmed... not be so burdened by what may never come."
One Team, One Goal
The "One" mantra extends beyond individual focus. After a season where Swinney felt the offense, defense, and special teams didn't always play in concert, he's emphasizing the need for the entire program to act as a single unit.
"We gotta be one," he stated. "As I said so many times last year, we just didn't complement each other... we just need all three phases of our team to be one group. A triple-braided cord is not easily broken."
This mindset will be critical against a talented LSU squad. When adversity strikes—and in a top-10 matchup, it always does—the focus will immediately shift.
"Hey, they hit a big play. Normal. Let's win this one right here," Swinney said, outlining the mentality. "Start stacking those moments... just try to just win the one. Who knows, maybe in the end, you'll be the one."