9. Channel a competitive spirit.

Clemson may be the only university in America to list “win championships” as an official institutional goal, but a healthy level of competition is part of Clemson’s DNA.

A major athletics capital improvement campaign, increased investments in Vickery Hall student-athlete enrichment center, higher student-athlete grade-point-averages and graduation rates, a “Solid Orange” campaign to raise school spirit to new levels, and a culture of compliance are a few of the outcomes. Not to mention conference and national championships, Coach and Player of the Year awards, trips to the College World Series and NCAA Final Four, or alumnus Lucas Glover’s winning the U.S. Open.

Athletics hasn’t cornered the market on competitive zeal. Clemson has also won two consecutive Concrete Canoe national championship, a Student Steel Bridge national championship, six straight Pershing Rifle championships and the Habitat for Humanity National Chapter of the Year award.