Indeed you are right, and not a bad thing either, i turned my 'cocky-youth-attitude' from the kid you knew at college years ago into something more positive, i took my head out of where the sun don't shine and seen that it was best to turn the dumb ego into what it was meant for and that was to use it for more confidence in playing as i believe more players should "channel it" as confidence is key in improvisation and playing.
self belief = not scared to go for it, from what i have found players who are not so shy or those who are sometimes full of themselves (as i used to be as a youth) tend to have stronger sax personalities and develop better than someone who is as quiet as a mouse or more timid, maybe true for 90% i found, esp when i was teaching/lecturing.