Familiar Refrain: Tigers laugh, dance and win in underdog role

Tigers dance after Orange Bowl win.The dictionary says that one of the definitions of a “refrain” is “a comment or complaint that is often repeated.”

The Clemson Tigers are underdogs – heavy underdogs in most circles – to Alabama in next Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. The comment is a familiar refrain for the Tigers, but you won’t hear them complain. They embrace that role. It’s already worked wonders this season.

In case you’ve been living under a rock - one of the combatants in the game is riding a nation’s best 17-game winning streak and hasn’t lost a game in almost 14 months. That same team has won 14 games and has a chance at 15.…