--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't just say, 'This team's going to…" description: "\"You can't just say, 'This team's going to win,' or 'This team's going to lose.' Anything can happen. So what you can control is winning your game as mu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/matt-nagy-17638_chance_you-can-t-just-say-this-team-s-going-to_2557289.jpg" --- # You can't just say, 'This team's going to win,' or 'This… ![“You can't just say, 'This team's going to win,' or 'This team's going to lose.' Anything can happen. So what you can control is winning your game as much as possible. If you don't do that, and then the other team has a chance to lose, and they lose, and you didn't go about it the right way, now…” quote by Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/matt-nagy-17638_chance_you-can-t-just-say-this-team-s-going-to_2557289.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/matt-nagy-17638_chance_you-can-t-just-say-this-team-s-going-to_2557289.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/matt-nagy-17638_chance_you-can-t-just-say-this-team-s-going-to_2557289.jpg) > “You can't just say, 'This team's going to win,' or 'This team's going to lose.' Anything can happen. So what you can control is winning your game as much as possible. If you don't do that, and then the other team has a chance to lose, and they lose, and you didn't go about it the right way, now you just let that slip.” [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The coach emphasizes focusing on controllable performance rather than outcomes, urging players to give their best effort regardless of predictions. **In simple terms:** Control effort, not results. Key Takeaway Focus on effort, not predictions. Themes sports mindset effort control team dynamics Mood determined motivational Type sports leadership When to use this quote - coaching sessions - team meetings - personal preparation - mental conditioning Key Concepts performance psychology agency mindset training Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes stay motivated when outcomes seem predetermined? - What practices help maintain focus on effort? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on control can ignore external factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Control Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-winning-1574999/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Going Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-win/) [Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose/) [Right way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-way/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Win Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-team/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Winning Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning-game-364807/) ## Related quotes > [The only thing I can control is winning on the basketball court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-laettner/the-only-thing-i-can-control-is-winning-on-the-basketball-court/) [Christian Laettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-laettner/) > [All we can control is what we do, winning matches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-greenwood/all-we-can-control-is-what-we-do-winning-matches/) [Alex Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-greenwood/) > [Congress should not be like the Super Bowl where you have to have one team that's going to win and another team that's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-breaux/congress-should-not-be-like-the-super-bowl-where-you-have-to-have-one/) [John Breaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-breaux/) > [For me, you understand that we always talk about a 'we' and not a 'me' thing. And we always talk as a team. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/for-me-you-understand-that-we-always-talk-about-a-we-and-not-a-me/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [When Jim Irsay called me five years ago, he told me, 'I want you to be our coach and help us win the Super…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/when-jim-irsay-called-me-five-years-ago-he-told-me-i-want-you-to-be/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [“Winning a game is good; but winning a game together with winning your rival’s heart too is brilliant and this is a real winning!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/winning-a-game-is-good-but-winning-a-game-together-with-winning-your/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I just go out and try to do my job the best I can. If that's playing defense as hard as I can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/i-just-go-out-and-try-to-do-my-job-the-best-i-can-if-that-s-playing/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [Would love to win, but someone else won for winning the game does suffer a little more love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/would-love-to-win-but-someone-else-won-for-winning-the-game-does/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“Because I cared more about knowing you than I did about winning another game.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/because-i-cared-more-about-knowing-you-than-i-did-about-winning/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [It's the best feeling after winning a game to score a goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timo-werner/it-s-the-best-feeling-after-winning-a-game-to-score-a-goal/) [Timo Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timo-werner/) > [There are times where maybe I don't have as many carries, and we still win the game, I'm going to be fine. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-veon-bell/there-are-times-where-maybe-i-don-t-have-as-many-carries-and-we-still/) [Le'Veon Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-veon-bell/) > [If he's averaging 25 points and I can contain him to 17, then I've won the battle. If he averages 12 assists and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/if-he-s-averaging-25-points-and-i-can-contain-him-to-17-then-i-ve-won/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I think winning Game 7s, it's an incredible feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-redick/i-think-winning-game-7s-it-s-an-incredible-feeling/) [J. J. Redick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-redick/) > [“The secret of winning in any game of life is love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anikor-daniel/the-secret-of-winning-in-any-game-of-life-is-love/) [ANIKOR Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anikor-daniel/) > [There's nothing easy about winning a game in the National Football League, let alone winning a championship, things that we've done in the past.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-harrison/there-s-nothing-easy-about-winning-a-game-in-the-national-football/) [Rodney Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-harrison/) ## More by Matt Nagy > [A quarterback has to trust the quarterback coach. And the quarterback coach has to trust him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/a-quarterback-has-to-trust-the-quarterback-coach-and-the-quarterback/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [You see the excitement on the players. I don't know... if they think, 'This coach is crazy,' or if they think that, 'No, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/you-see-the-excitement-on-the-players-i-don-t-know-if-they-think-this/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [We have to make sure as a staff, and I have to make sure as the staff learns, that we just really keep it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/we-have-to-make-sure-as-a-staff-and-i-have-to-make-sure-as-the-staff/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [I'll never forget the day I went home and told my wife, 'I'll never be a kindergarten teacher.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/i-ll-never-forget-the-day-i-went-home-and-told-my-wife-i-ll-never-be/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [There was a lot of reflection - I know that - wondering, 'What in the hell am I doing?' But it paid off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/there-was-a-lot-of-reflection-i-know-that-wondering-what-in-the-hell/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [Every running back has their own strengths and weaknesses. There are some that are better as pass receivers. There are some that are better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/every-running-back-has-their-own-strengths-and-weaknesses-there-are/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [I'm a big boy; I can handle criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/i-m-a-big-boy-i-can-handle-criticism/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [I normally don't get frizzled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/i-normally-don-t-get-frizzled/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [That's my nature: I'm going to be aggressive, but it has to be calculated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/that-s-my-nature-i-m-going-to-be-aggressive-but-it-has-to-be/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [Sometimes when you get out there and you want to just do your own thing, we have to reel that in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/sometimes-when-you-get-out-there-and-you-want-to-just-do-your-own/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [Even as a coach, sometimes you forget the little intricacies of the offense, the details of the routes, the timing of the footwork, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/even-as-a-coach-sometimes-you-forget-the-little-intricacies-of-the/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [I've always considered myself a leader, a leader of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/i-ve-always-considered-myself-a-leader-a-leader-of-men/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [When you fail to communicate, there are gray areas. And when there's gray areas, then bad things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/when-you-fail-to-communicate-there-are-gray-areas-and-when-there-s/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [If somebody comes out and has a poor game, it doesn't mean they're getting cut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/if-somebody-comes-out-and-has-a-poor-game-it-doesn-t-mean-they-re/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) > [The coach needs to understand, when he's not teaching something the right way or he sees something wrong, he's got to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nagy/the-coach-needs-to-understand-when-he-s-not-teaching-something-the/) [Matt Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) [Explore all 36 Matt Nagy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nagy/) ## More Chance quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [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/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) [Alejandro Taubas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-taubas/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/) [Howard A. Tullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-a-tullman/) > [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) [Browse all 12,460 Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't just say, 'This team's going to win,' or 'This team's going to lose.' Anything can happen. 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