--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I had to go into a battle and I needed…" description: "\"If I had to go into a battle and I needed someone loyal and courageous to cover my blindside, I know damn well Woody would be my man. I know, too, that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37d/jack-tatum-30304_battle_if-i-had-to-go-into-a-battle-and-i-neede_1520478.jpg" --- # If I had to go into a battle and I needed someone loyal… ![“If I had to go into a battle and I needed someone loyal and courageous to cover my blindside, I know damn well Woody would be my man. I know, too, that God hasn't created a more generous, compassionate, or more understanding man than Woody Hayes.” quote by Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37d/jack-tatum-30304_battle_if-i-had-to-go-into-a-battle-and-i-neede_1520478.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37d/jack-tatum-30304_battle_if-i-had-to-go-into-a-battle-and-i-neede_1520478.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37d/jack-tatum-30304_battle_if-i-had-to-go-into-a-battle-and-i-neede_1520478.jpg) > “If I had to go into a battle and I needed someone loyal and courageous to cover my blindside, I know damn well Woody would be my man. I know, too, that God hasn't created a more generous, compassionate, or more understanding man than Woody Hayes.” [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker praises Woody Hayes for loyalty, courage, generosity, compassion, and understanding, deeming him an ideal teammate in battle. **In simple terms:** Woody Hayes is praised as loyal, brave, and kind. Key Takeaway Seek allies with those virtues. Themes loyalty courage generosity compassion understanding Mood respectful admiring Type celebratory personal When to use this quote - football games - military missions - business teams - emergency response Key Concepts Leadership teamwork character trust Questions to Reflect On - What qualities do you value most in a teammate? - How do you balance loyalty with critical judgment? A Different Perspective The description may idealize and overlook flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Compassionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate/) [Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous/) [Damn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damn/) [Damn Woody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damn-woody-5618485/) [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Loyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyal/) [Loyal Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyal-courageous-2852550/) [Man Woody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-woody-5618484/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Needed someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed-someone/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Woody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woody/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woody-hayes-228899/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [My dad was a big Woody Hayes guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urban-meyer/my-dad-was-a-big-woody-hayes-guy/) [Urban Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urban-meyer/) > [I have great admiration for Woody Hayes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-corso/i-have-great-admiration-for-woody-hayes/) [Lee Corso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-corso/) > [I judge a man by the way he treats people who don't count. Woody Hayes was nice to a lot of people he couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-corso/i-judge-a-man-by-the-way-he-treats-people-who-don-t-count-woody-hayes/) [Lee Corso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-corso/) > [I love Woody Hayes! If you really know me, you know Woody Hayes is in my top three of all-time coaches. I've read all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/i-love-woody-hayes-if-you-really-know-me-you-know-woody-hayes-is-in/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [It is a truism to say that the dog is largely what his master makes of him: he can be savage and dangerous, untrustworthy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranulph-fiennes/it-is-a-truism-to-say-that-the-dog-is-largely-what-his-master-makes/) [Ranulph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranulph-fiennes/) > [My dad played at Ohio State, my dad coached with Woody Hayes. Ohio State's always been Ohio State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/my-dad-played-at-ohio-state-my-dad-coached-with-woody-hayes-ohio/) [Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/) > [I needed someone really intense, but also somebody with a lot of theatrical credibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-needed-someone-really-intense-but-also-somebody-with-a-lot-of/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [ I knew I needed a partner. I needed someone who could focus on and spearhead the business side of things, and \[Neal Dodson\] was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-knew-i-needed-a-partner-i-needed-someone-who-could-focus-on-and/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [I've played a lot of roles I haven't wanted to play, either because they needed someone in the theatre or because they couldn't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mahoney/i-ve-played-a-lot-of-roles-i-haven-t-wanted-to-play-either-because/) [John Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mahoney/) > [Until the bitter end, the emptiness inside her was hers alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/until-the-bitter-end-the-emptiness-inside-her-was-hers-alone/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I got into musical comedy because of Shakespeare, not because of singing. They needed someone to understudy Richard Burton. I was also going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cullum/i-got-into-musical-comedy-because-of-shakespeare-not-because-of/) [John Cullum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cullum/) > [Can't find a reason why God gave you to me. But that's not a question to be asked. May be question is how did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-hoffman/can-t-find-a-reason-why-god-gave-you-to-me-but-that-s-not-a-question/) [Lisa Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-hoffman/) > [Nobody tells the history of marijuana and its prohibition like Russ Belville does. He has a special talent for presenting scholarship in a remarkably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-nadelmann/nobody-tells-the-history-of-marijuana-and-its-prohibition-like-russ/) [Ethan Nadelmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-nadelmann/) > [I believed we needed someone who would be able to build a team, lead and unite. I hoped that person would be Boris Johnson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/i-believed-we-needed-someone-who-would-be-able-to-build-a-team-lead/) [Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/) > [To answer the question, though: I didn't always want to direct. I just liked the idea of it. If a friend was making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/to-answer-the-question-though-i-didn-t-always-want-to-direct-i-just/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) ## More by Jack Tatum > [It always felt like I had to be a realist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/it-always-felt-like-i-had-to-be-a-realist/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [I like Ministry, but I'm probably never going to make a song that sounds like Ministry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/i-like-ministry-but-i-m-probably-never-going-to-make-a-song-that/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [My idea of a good hit is when the victim wakes up on the sidelines with train whistles blowing in his head... I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/my-idea-of-a-good-hit-is-when-the-victim-wakes-up-on-the-sidelines/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [It was like an exponential weed. And people treated me as if I was an established musician. I wasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/it-was-like-an-exponential-weed-and-people-treated-me-as-if-i-was-an/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [I make the music that I make because that's what naturally comes to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/i-make-the-music-that-i-make-because-that-s-what-naturally-comes-to-me/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [People quickly forget that people are people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/people-quickly-forget-that-people-are-people/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [I still write poetry from time to time, but my whole life is so music-oriented at this point that it's hard for me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/i-still-write-poetry-from-time-to-time-but-my-whole-life-is-so-music/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [I dabble in hip-hop, but my knowledge is so minimal, it's not even worth talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/i-dabble-in-hip-hop-but-my-knowledge-is-so-minimal-it-s-not-even/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [I don't place too much importance on words. It's always the last thing I do because I'm definitely more interested in mood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/i-don-t-place-too-much-importance-on-words-it-s-always-the-last-thing/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [I was a very private person. All of a sudden, to see myself all over the internet and be like, "Oh god, do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/i-was-a-very-private-person-all-of-a-sudden-to-see-myself-all-over/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/i-like-to-believe-that-my-best-hits-border-on-felonious-assault/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [I didn't try and say anything terribly meaningful. I'm definitely not a social commentator at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/i-didn-t-try-and-say-anything-terribly-meaningful-i-m-definitely-not/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [The fact that I fell into this seemed more like a stroke of good fortune than hard work. Not to say that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/the-fact-that-i-fell-into-this-seemed-more-like-a-stroke-of-good/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [Since I didn't spend a great amount of time on writing the lyrics, some people would argue that they're too vague or simplistic, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/since-i-didn-t-spend-a-great-amount-of-time-on-writing-the-lyrics/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [I did a lot of writing when I was in college, and that's what I thought I wanted to do; saying that I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/i-did-a-lot-of-writing-when-i-was-in-college-and-that-s-what-i/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) [Explore all 17 Jack Tatum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I had to go into a battle and I needed someone loyal and courageous to cover my blindside, I know damn well Woody would be my man. 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