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Clemson coach Dabo Swinney felt it during his college days and he's feeling it now with his sixth-ranked Tigers - an expectation of success.
Swinney walked on to the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide, eventually working his way to scholarship status with the 1992 national champions. What set Alabama apart was the iron-clad belief that it would do what it took to win. No other outcome was acceptable.
Swinney sees the same notion taking hold at Clemson, which is 8-0 for the first time in 11 years after a 59-38 victory over North Carolina on Saturday. The Tigers (5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) try to move to 9-0 for the first time in 30 years since the school's 1981 national championship season at Georgia Tech this weekend.
Swinney has spent less time each week cultivating that can't-lose mentality. And it has shown in workouts and games.
''I'm starting to see an expectation in these guys. They practice the right way,'' Swinney said. ''That's all a product of winning.''
Few teams in Clemson history have won as much as these Tigers. Only three other squads - 1948, 1981 and 2000 - have come this far. The first two completed perfect seasons, including the landmark title team 30 years ago.
The 2000 team's run ended in game nine, unranked Georgia Tech pulling out a 31-28 victory that began a 1-3 finish for the then-fifth ranked Tigers.
The Yellow Jackets fell out of the rankings this week from No. 20 after their second straight loss while Clemson moved to its highest spot since 2000.
Don't talk to Swinney about rankings or omens from the past, something he's dealt with plenty In four seasons of facing Georgia Tech. Swinney's first game as Clemson's interim coach in 2008 was at Death Valley in a loss to Georgia Tech. The Tigers lost twice to the Yellow Jackets the next season, including a dramatic 39-35 loss in the ACC championship game.
''That stuff is really irrelevant,'' Swinney said Sunday. ''It's how we prepare this week.''
So far, Clemson has barely missed a beat in pregame preparations.
Tajh Boyd continued his stellar debut season as starting quarterback by tying the school record with five touchdown passes. Boyd also rushed for a touchdown in Clemson's 35-point third quarter, a feat only accomplished once before in Clemson history by the 1981 national champs in an 82-24 victory over Wake Forest .
''The best thing about the five touchdowns is they went to five different players,'' Boyd said. ''We've got a lot of weapons.''
Against the Tar Heels (5-3, 1-3), sophomore receiver DeAndre Hopkins was the most lethal. He had nine catches for career-high 157 yards and a touchdown, taking advantage as North Carolina tried to take star freshman Sammy Watkins out of Clemson's gameplan. Watkins settled for eight catches for 91 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown grab in the Tigers' big third quarter.
Defensive end Kourtnei Brown had a 20-yard interception return and a 26-yard fumble return, both for touchdowns. He was the first Tiger defensive lineman to accomplish that in 57 years.
Clemson's show came in front of the 1981 national champs, back at Death Valley to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their surprising run from 6-5 a year earlier to 12-0 the next season.
The Tigers run this year is equally stunning to many. They were 6-7 and Swinney's seat was hot - at least his computer screen was - with complaints about his tendency to meddle in the offense.
Just wait, Swinney promised anyone who'd listen, success was close at hand. Few figured it would happen this fast.
Swinney's taking nothing for granted, no matter how well his team has played. He says he and his staff will work the players just as fiercely as they have all season. He won't bring up polls, standings or the BCS rankings as the Tigers keep inching up in position to squeeze in should the country's powers fall, like Wisconsin and Oklahoma this past weekend.
Swinney watched some college football after Clemson's early afternoon victory, but won't talk at all to his team about where it stands.
''I don't allow myself any brain power considering that kind of stuff,'' Swinney said. ''There's just too much football to be played.''
