Quotes from Bear Bryant, One of College Football's Biggest Legends

Nick Saban once said, “I still think in my mind, he’s the greatest coach of all time,” of Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant. There are more than a few people who would agree that the legendary Bear Bryant deserves to hold that spot, as the greatest to ever coach in college football. During his career, Bryant became a larger than life figure who dominated the popular consciousness. Between his four head coaching stops, Maryland, Kentucky, Texas A&M, and Alabama, Bryant went 323-85-17. He won fourteen conference championships and they have claims on six National Championships.

During his life, the legendary Bryant was known for also being incredibly quotable. Here are the greatest quotes from Bear Bryant’s life and career:

10 Best Quotes From Bear Bryant

1. “When you make a mistake, there are only three things you should ever do about it: 1. Admit it. 2. Learn from it, and 3. Don’t repeat it.”
2. “The first time you quit, it’s hard. The second time, it gets easier. The third time, you don’t even have to think about it.”
3. “It’s not the will to win that matters—everybody has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.”
4. “I know what it takes to win. If I can sell them on what it takes to win, then we are not going to lose too many football games.”
5. “My attitude has always been…if it’s worth playing, it’s worth paying the price to win.”
6. “If a man is a quitter, I’d rather find out in practice than in a game. I ask for all a player has so I’ll know later what I can expect.”
7. “Football changes and so do people. The successful coach is the one who sets the trend, not the one who follows it.”
8. “Set goals-high goals for you and your organization. When your organization has a goal to shoot for, you create teamwork, people working for a common good.”
9. “It’s awfully important to win with humility. It’s also important to lose. I hate to lose worse than anyone, but if you never lose you won’t know how to act. If you lose with humility, then you can come back.”
10. “You boys were eight and ten years old last time Alabama was on top. That was before any of you were paying much attention to it. What are you doing here? Tell me why you are here. If you are not here to win a national championship, you’re in the wrong place. You boys are special. I don’t want my players to be like other students. I want special people. You can learn a lot on the football field that isn’t taught in the home, the church, or the classroom. There are going to be days when you think you’ve got no more to give and then you’re going to give plenty more. You are going to have pride and class. You are going to be very special. You are going to win the national championship for Alabama.”

Inspirational Quotes From Bryant

• “Winning isn’t everything, but it beats anything that comes in second.”
• “If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride -and never quit- you’ll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards.”
• “In life, you’ll have your back up against the wall many times. You might as well get used to it”
• “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.”

Leadership Quotes From Bear Bryant

• “Motivating people-the ingredient that separates winners from losers.”
• “No coach has ever won a game but what he knows; it’s what his players know that counts.”
• “Set goals – high goals for you and your organization. When your organization has a goal to shoot for, you create teamwork, people working for a common good.”
• “In a crisis, don’t hide behind anything or anybody. They’re going to find you anyway.”
• “Sacrifice. Work. Self-discipline. I teach these things, and my boys don’t forget them when they leave.”

Funny Quotes From Bear Bryant

• “He can’t run, he can’t pass, and he can’t kick-all he can do is beat you.”
• “A tie is like kissing your sister.”
• “If you want to walk the heavenly streets of gold, you gotta know the password, ‘Roll, Tide, Roll.”
• “There’s no use fussing on a boy who doesn’t have any ability.”

Team Attitude Quotes From Bryant

• “I don’t have to apologize for who I play. I’m trying to win the game.”
• “If they don’t have a winning attitude, I don’t want them.”
• “There is no substitute for hard work. None.”
• “At Alabama our players do not win Heisman Trophies, our teams win national championships.”
• “There’s no substitute for guts.”

Success Quotes From Bear Bryant

• “I’ll put you through Hell, but at the end of it all we’ll be champions.”
• “I ain’t won but one. My team won the rest in spite of me.”
• “I ain’t never been nothin but a winner.”
• “Don’t tolerate lazy people. They are losers.”