--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing we found out was, when you get…" description: "\"The thing we found out was, when you get to a Super Bowl, both teams are treated the same, talked about in glowing terms. But when the game is over, on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/don-shula-11263_about_the-thing-we-found-out-was-when-you-get_1562949.jpg" --- # The thing we found out was, when you get to a Super Bowl… ![“The thing we found out was, when you get to a Super Bowl, both teams are treated the same, talked about in glowing terms. But when the game is over, only the team that won matters.” quote by Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/don-shula-11263_about_the-thing-we-found-out-was-when-you-get_1562949.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/don-shula-11263_about_the-thing-we-found-out-was-when-you-get_1562949.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/don-shula-11263_about_the-thing-we-found-out-was-when-you-get_1562949.jpg) > “The thing we found out was, when you get to a Super Bowl, both teams are treated the same, talked about in glowing terms. But when the game is over, only the team that won matters.” [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. Winning teams dominate narratives while losers are quickly forgotten, highlighting bias toward success. **In simple terms:** Success overshadows failure. Key Takeaway Recognize and value all participants. Themes sports media bias recognition Mood reflective critical Type observational commentary When to use this quote - team celebrations - post‑game analysis - media coverage - fan discussions Key Concepts celebrity culture competition dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor effort beyond victory? - What narratives persist about losing teams? A Different Perspective Even winners receive fleeting praise; lasting impact requires more than a win. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Both](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both/) [Bowl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bowl/) [Bowl Teams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bowl-teams-5449677/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Glowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glowing/) [Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over/) [Same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/same/) [Super](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/super/) [Super bowl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/super-bowl/) [Talked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talked/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Team Won](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-won-305798/) [Teams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teams/) [Teams Treated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teams-treated-5866683/) [Terms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terms/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Treated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treated/) [Won](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/won/) [Won Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/won-matters-3362645/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [“Colonel Graff: We won! That's all that matters. Ender Wiggin: No. The way we win matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/colonel-graff-we-won-that-s-all-that-matters-ender-wiggin-no-the-way/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [After attending a banquet honoring the 1974 BYU team that won the Western AthleticConference and went to the Fiesta Bowl. It was the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lavell-edwards/after-attending-a-banquet-honoring-the-1974-byu-team-that-won-the/) [LaVell Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lavell-edwards/) > [I think the one commonality between the two Super Bowl teams I've been on is great, great teammates. I can honestly say that guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/i-think-the-one-commonality-between-the-two-super-bowl-teams-i-ve/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [When you're 0-2 in the Super Bowl, they say unkind things about you. They say, 'He can't win the big one.' And that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/when-you-re-0-2-in-the-super-bowl-they-say-unkind-things-about-you/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [Losing a Super Bowl destroys all the good things that happened to get you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/losing-a-super-bowl-destroys-all-the-good-things-that-happened-to-get/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [I had team-mates who didn't care if the team won or lost because they were not playing. I never wanted to be like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/i-had-team-mates-who-didn-t-care-if-the-team-won-or-lost-because-they/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [The worst team in baseball's history won only 55 games. The best team ever won 110 out of 160, so you're virtually guaranteed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lasorda/the-worst-team-in-baseball-s-history-won-only-55-games-the-best-team/) [Tommy Lasorda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lasorda/) > [“And he made a home run, and his team won the state championship. The greatest thing about this story is that every time my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/and-he-made-a-home-run-and-his-team-won-the-state-championship-the/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [When I heard of United's interest, I thought, 'Wow.' This is a team that has won a lot of leagues in the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-mata/when-i-heard-of-united-s-interest-i-thought-wow-this-is-a-team-that/) [Juan Mata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-mata/) > [I don't want to go to a team that's only won a few amount of games, but it doesn't have to be a contender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/i-don-t-want-to-go-to-a-team-that-s-only-won-a-few-amount-of-games/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [The credit to them, the better team won and there's nothing we can do about that now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/the-credit-to-them-the-better-team-won-and-there-s-nothing-we-can-do/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [Now that I've had a chance to play for a team where we won 30 or 35 games, you understand how special winning is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-armstrong/now-that-i-ve-had-a-chance-to-play-for-a-team-where-we-won-30-or-35/) [B. J. Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-armstrong/) > [When you have a team that has won for 20 years, the mentality is strong. When you don't play well, you still know you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-mancini/when-you-have-a-team-that-has-won-for-20-years-the-mentality-is/) [Roberto Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-mancini/) > [If we have given everything we can, you are not settling for mediocrity because the better team won. Sometimes you have to have that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alun-wyn-jones/if-we-have-given-everything-we-can-you-are-not-settling-for/) [Alun Wyn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alun-wyn-jones/) > [In over 160 years of recorded baseball history, no team had ever won a championship this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thorn/in-over-160-years-of-recorded-baseball-history-no-team-had-ever-won-a/) [John Thorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thorn/) ## 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 About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The thing we found out was, when you get to a Super Bowl, both teams are treated the same, talked about in glowing terms. But when the game is over, only the team that won matters.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Don Shula" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/the-thing-we-found-out-was-when-you-get-to-a-super-bowl-both-teams/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/the-thing-we-found-out-was-when-you-get-to-a-super-bowl-both-teams/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/don-shula-11263_about_the-thing-we-found-out-was-when-you-get_1562949.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/don-shula-11263_about_the-thing-we-found-out-was-when-you-get_1562949.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/don-shula-11263_about_the-thing-we-found-out-was-when-you-get_1562949.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thing we found out was, when you get to a Super Bowl, both teams are treated the same, talked about in…” — Don Shula", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Don Shula", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The thing we found out was,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/the-thing-we-found-out-was-when-you-get-to-a-super-bowl-both-teams/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/the-thing-we-found-out-was-when-you-get-to-a-super-bowl-both-teams/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```