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Portrait of Bear Bryant

Bear Bryant

(1913–1983) American Football Player

130 quotes in 564 categories

Bear Bryant stresses that small details can decide a game and that setting high goals builds teamwork. He admits he learns by borrowing ideas rather than inventing them, and he values humility in both winning and losing. He also jokes about quitting and how the first time is hard but later becomes easier.

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Bear Bryant was an American football player, best known for Bear.

Quick Facts About Bear Bryant

Born: September 11, 1913
Died: January 26, 1983
Profession: American Football Player
Notable works: Bear

About Bear Bryant

During his 25‑year tenure he won six national championships and 13 conference championships. When he retired in 1982 he held the record for most wins (323) as a college head coach. The Paul W. Bryant Museum, Hall, Drive, and Saban Field at Bryant–Denny Stadium are all named in his honor.

Quotes by Bear Bryant

Football changes and so do people.

Change

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I ain't never been nothin but a winner.

Alabama football

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Don't tolerate lazy people. They are losers.

Laziness

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I'm no genius, but I'm a damn good football coach.

Coach

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If we'd beaten 'em, I wouldn't be going out.

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The idea of molding men means a lot to me.

Basketball

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Get the winners into the game.

Basketball

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It's kind of hard to rally around a math class.

Class

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Sacrifice. Work. Self-discipline. I teach these things, and my boys don't forget them when they leave.

Alabama football

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At Alabama, our players don't win Heisman Trophies. Our teams win National Championships.

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The Lord expects you to do some things for yourself.

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They say I teach brutal football, but the only thing brutal about football is losing.

Brutal

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When you play defense you have to storm the fort or play cover - you can't do both.

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I always want my players to show class, knock'em down, pat on the back, and run back to the huddle.

Basketball

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When you win, there's glory enough for everybody. When you lose, there's glory for none.

Alabama football

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You have to be willing to out-condition your opponents.

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Sure, I'd love to beat Notre Dame, don't get me wrong. But nothing matters more than beating that cow college on the…

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Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things.

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Never quit. It is the easiest cop-out in the world. Set a goal and don't quit until you attain it. When you…

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All I know is, I don't want to stop coaching, and I don't want to stop winning, so we're gonna break the…

Alabama football

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Nearly every coach I've talked with tells me that the attention you get from media and other people is the thing you…

Attention

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I've had many a player tell me all through high school and right up until signing day that they were coming to…

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But it's still a coach's game. Make no mistake. You start at the top. If you don't have a good one at…

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If wanting to win is a fault, as some of my critics seem to insist, then I plead guilty. I like to…

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You have to learn what makes this or that Sammy run. For one it's a pat on the back, for another it's…

Basketball

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I have had players who are good, and who know they are good; I have had players who are bad and know…

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I didn't care if we ever quit practicing. I loved it. The only other guy I ever knew who loved it as…

Care

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I've never recommended anybody go into coaching, 'cause if they have enough on the ball, if they can do without coaching, they…

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The biggest mistake coaches make is taking borderline cases and trying to save them. I'm not talking about grades now, I'm talking…

Basketball

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First there are those who are winners, and know they are winners. Then there are the losers who know they are losers.…

Encouraging

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My approach to the game has been the same at all the places I've been. Vanilla. The sure way. That means, first…

Approach

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People who are in it for their own good are individualists. They don't share the same heartbeat that makes a team so…

Basketball

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I have always tried to teach my players to be fighters. When I say that, I don't mean put up your dukes…

Adversity

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If you want to coach you have three rules to follow to win. One, surround yourself with people who can't live without…

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What are you doing here? Tell me why you are here. If you are not here to win a national championship, you're…

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The old lessons (work, self-discipline, sacrifice, teamwork, fighting to achieve) aren't being taught by many people other than football coaches these days.…

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Scout yourself. Have a buddy who coaches scout you.

Basketball

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Hell, no! A tie is like kissing your sister!

Alabama football

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Here's a twenty, bury two.

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Recognize winners. They come in all forms.

Football

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Bear Bryant by topic

Football (57) Leadership (41) Coaching (37) Winning (36) NBA (30) Basketball (30) Sports (26) Alabama football (26) People (19) Games (18) Inspirational (16) Wrestling (12) Winner (12) Team (12) Men (11)