--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because, they're only thinking about one…" description: "\"Because, they're only thinking about one team when that game's over. Before the game, they're talking about two football teams. When the game's over, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/don-shula-11263_football_because-they-re-only-thinking-about-one_3150842.jpg" --- # Because, they're only thinking about one team when that… ![“Because, they're only thinking about one team when that game's over. Before the game, they're talking about two football teams. When the game's over, there's only one winner.” quote by Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/don-shula-11263_football_because-they-re-only-thinking-about-one_3150842.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/don-shula-11263_football_because-they-re-only-thinking-about-one_3150842.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/don-shula-11263_football_because-they-re-only-thinking-about-one_3150842.jpg) > “Because, they're only thinking about one team when that game's over. Before the game, they're talking about two football teams. When the game's over, there's only one winner.” [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus shifts from multiple teams to a single winner after a game ends. **In simple terms:** After a game, only one team matters. Key Takeaway Prioritize long-term goals over short-term competition. Themes sports competition strategy teamwork focus Mood determined analytical Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - coaching - team meetings - season planning - player motivation Key Concepts win‑or‑lose mindset post‑game analysis Questions to Reflect On - What lessons persist beyond the final score? - How can teams stay collaborative after a loss? A Different Perspective Winning can eclipse broader development and learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football Teams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-teams-264667/) [Game Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game-winner-484605/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-football-423212/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Team game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-game/) [Teams Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teams-game-3533087/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winner/) ## Related quotes > [In life's brief game to be a winner A man must have...oh yes, above All else, of course, someone to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/in-life-s-brief-game-to-be-a-winner-a-man-must-have-oh-yes-above-all/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [I guess you could say I'm the redemption of the fat man. 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Marcus playing the part of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-dallas/my-life-had-become-some-sort-of-sick-twisted-game-and-the-winner/) [Kirsty Dallas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-dallas/) > [Everything in the world is a game, thinking you lost if you give up in the middle. Youre stupid. The one who lasts till…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everything-in-the-world-is-a-game-thinking-you-lost-if-you-give-up-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are certain moments that mean more, but hitting a game-winner is just the best feeling in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luka-doncic/there-are-certain-moments-that-mean-more-but-hitting-a-game-winner-is/) [Luka Doncic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luka-doncic/) > [How you respond to the challenge in the second half will determine what you become after the game, whether you are a winner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/how-you-respond-to-the-challenge-in-the-second-half-will-determine/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [If you've had a good time playing the game, you're a winner even if you lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/if-you-ve-had-a-good-time-playing-the-game-you-re-a-winner-even-if/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [If the looser smiles after loosing the game, then the winner looses the thrill of his victory! such is the power of a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-ngr/if-the-looser-smiles-after-loosing-the-game-then-the-winner-looses/) [Simi Ngr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-ngr/) > [Really, I learned a long time ago that in the National Football League, paper doesn't mean anything. Football teams are created on the football…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/really-i-learned-a-long-time-ago-that-in-the-national-football-league/) [Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/) > [I think first and foremost, you've got to be able to run the football to be successful in college football. Some teams have thrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/i-think-first-and-foremost-you-ve-got-to-be-able-to-run-the-football/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [“Football teams that lost their matches can have many other chances to play in successive seasons; but a soul that is lost through death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/football-teams-that-lost-their-matches-can-have-many-other-chances-to/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [This may sound arrogant, but I believe that if we'd done teamship better, we'd still be there. Where we fell down was the inability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-campbell/this-may-sound-arrogant-but-i-believe-that-if-we-d-done-teamship/) [Alastair Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-campbell/) > [I see other teams playing aggressive, attacking football, they are games I switch on and watch. They are the football teams I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-postecoglou/i-see-other-teams-playing-aggressive-attacking-football-they-are/) [Angelos Postecoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-postecoglou/) ## More by Don Shula > [You can't play enough golf or do any of those other things that fill that kind of excitement that coaching gave me in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/you-can-t-play-enough-golf-or-do-any-of-those-other-things-that-fill/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [Peyton Manning is doing things that I think no other quarterback in the history of the league has done at the line of scrimmage...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/peyton-manning-is-doing-things-that-i-think-no-other-quarterback-in/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [Failure isn't fatal, and success isn't final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/failure-isn-t-fatal-and-success-isn-t-final/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [As a coach, your high standards of performance, attention to detail and - above all - how hard you work set the stage for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/as-a-coach-your-high-standards-of-performance-attention-to-detail-and/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [I'm not going to worry about the critics until some of my peers start saying I'm a softie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/i-m-not-going-to-worry-about-the-critics-until-some-of-my-peers-start/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [I have no magic formula. The only way I know to win is through hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/i-have-no-magic-formula-the-only-way-i-know-to-win-is-through-hard/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [I never felt I knew it all. I always felt there's something new to learn, something new to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/i-never-felt-i-knew-it-all-i-always-felt-there-s-something-new-to/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [He wants to be his own man and be recognized for what he's done. He's not asking for anything because of his name. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/he-wants-to-be-his-own-man-and-be-recognized-for-what-he-s-done-he-s/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [Leadership implies movement toward something and convictions provide that direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/leadership-implies-movement-toward-something-and-convictions-provide/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [Success is not forever, and failure is never final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/success-is-not-forever-and-failure-is-never-final/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [If you're going to take gambles, you must have one thing: self-confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/if-you-re-going-to-take-gambles-you-must-have-one-thing-self/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [The ultimate goal is victory. And if you refuse to work as hard as you possibly can toward that aim, or if you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/the-ultimate-goal-is-victory-and-if-you-refuse-to-work-as-hard-as-you/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [I don't know any other way to lead but by example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/i-don-t-know-any-other-way-to-lead-but-by-example/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [And then to end up with a total of 347 wins, averaging 10 regular season wins for 33 years and the best winning percentage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/and-then-to-end-up-with-a-total-of-347-wins-averaging-10-regular/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [Sure, luck means a lot in football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/sure-luck-means-a-lot-in-football-not-having-a-good-quarterback-is/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) [Explore all 60 Don Shula quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Because, they're only thinking about one team when that game's over. 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