--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One day, fearing that I was coming down…" description: "\"“One day, fearing that I was coming down with the flu, I stopped by Bowerman’s office to say that I wouldn’t be able to practice that afternoon. “Uh-hu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/phil-knight-3238_best-time_one-day-fearing-that-i-was-coming-down-w_1453775.png" --- # One day, fearing that I was coming down with the flu, I… ![“One day, fearing that I was coming down with the flu, I stopped by Bowerman’s office to say that I wouldn’t be able to practice that afternoon. “Uh-huh,” he said. “Who’s the coach of this team?” “You are.” “Well, as coach of this team I’m telling you to get your ass out there. And by the way…” quote by Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/phil-knight-3238_best-time_one-day-fearing-that-i-was-coming-down-w_1453775.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/phil-knight-3238_best-time_one-day-fearing-that-i-was-coming-down-w_1453775.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/phil-knight-3238_best-time_one-day-fearing-that-i-was-coming-down-w_1453775.png) > ““One day, fearing that I was coming down with the flu, I stopped by Bowerman’s office to say that I wouldn’t be able to practice that afternoon. “Uh-huh,” he said. “Who’s the coach of this team?” “You are.” “Well, as coach of this team I’m telling you to get your ass out there. And by the way . . . we’re going to have a time trial today.” I was close to tears. But I held it together, channeled all my emotion into my run, and posted one of my best times of the year. As I walked off the track I glowered at Bowerman. Happy now, you son of a—? He looked at me, checked his stopwatch, looked at me again, nodded. He’d tested me. He’d broken me down and remade me, just like a pair of shoes. And I’d held up. Thereafter, I was truly one of his Men of Oregon. From that day on, I was a tiger.”” [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A coach pushed a hesitant athlete beyond perceived limits, turning fear into performance and forging a stronger identity. **In simple terms:** Coach forced athlete to overcome fear and improve. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to grow stronger. Themes determination resilience mentorship identity performance Mood intense reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - sports training - career setbacks - personal growth - team building Key Concepts psychology of motivation coach-athlete dynamics personal transformation Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when authority challenges you? - What can you learn from discomfort? A Different Perspective Success may require harsh pressure that can feel punitive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-time/) [Coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach/) ## Related quotes > [The coach is the team, and the team is the coach. You reflect each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-royal/the-coach-is-the-team-and-the-team-is-the-coach-you-reflect-each-other/) [Darrell Royal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-royal/) > [For me, it's important to have a team and coach and manager that I know, and they know me, so they are not coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelique-kerber/for-me-it-s-important-to-have-a-team-and-coach-and-manager-that-i/) [Angelique Kerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelique-kerber/) > [I wanted to go somewhere I could be more part of the team and where the coach really trusts me. At Schalke it wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teemu-pukki/i-wanted-to-go-somewhere-i-could-be-more-part-of-the-team-and-where/) [Teemu Pukki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teemu-pukki/) > [Roy Hodgson is a fantastic coach. I first knew him when I was playing in Switzerland and he was national team coach. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joachim-low/roy-hodgson-is-a-fantastic-coach-i-first-knew-him-when-i-was-playing/) [Joachim Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joachim-low/) > [I want to be able to help the coach and team as much as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luka-modric/i-want-to-be-able-to-help-the-coach-and-team-as-much-as-i-can/) [Luka Modric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luka-modric/) > [So you get two good hours on the field about every day, you get about an hour and a half in the meeting room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/so-you-get-two-good-hours-on-the-field-about-every-day-you-get-about/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [Coach, what about your team's execution out there today?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mckay/coach-what-about-your-team-s-execution-out-there-today/) [John Mckay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mckay/) > [Jerry Sloan was a guy that I always respected, but I thought he was mean. Like, he was a guy that was just no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/jerry-sloan-was-a-guy-that-i-always-respected-but-i-thought-he-was/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [“Wooden often said a coach only made four or five real decisions during a game. “It disgusts me to see all these cartoons of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-davis/wooden-often-said-a-coach-only-made-four-or-five-real-decisions/) [Seth Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-davis/) > [I know I get a lot of grief about some of the things I've said about Coach Saban, but working under him was like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-kiffin/i-know-i-get-a-lot-of-grief-about-some-of-the-things-i-ve-said-about/) [Lane Kiffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lane-kiffin/) > [“Excuse me if I feel skeptical,' I said. 'Coach's foot fell off. How exactly do you propose to cure that? Superglue?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-harris/excuse-me-if-i-feel-skeptical-i-said-coach-s-foot-fell-off-how/) [Carrie Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-harris/) > [“Great,” I said. “Now get out.” “It’s my coach.” “The deal was only for kicking. It did not prohibit slapping, punching, biting or cutting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/great-i-said-now-get-out-it-s-my-coach-the-deal-was-only-for-kicking/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [Rick Tocchet is what I call a warrior. He really brings a lot to a team because he really believes in team play. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-bowman/rick-tocchet-is-what-i-call-a-warrior-he-really-brings-a-lot-to-a/) [Scotty Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-bowman/) > [The more better players we have at Barcelona, the better it is for the team and coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-busquets/the-more-better-players-we-have-at-barcelona-the-better-it-is-for-the/) [Sergio Busquets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-busquets/) > [Luckily for me, Hereford restarted their youth team. I trained a few times with the first team before my first stroke of luck, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarrod-bowen/luckily-for-me-hereford-restarted-their-youth-team-i-trained-a-few/) [Jarrod Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarrod-bowen/) ## More by Phil Knight > [A shoe dog is somebody that really loves shoes, and that was me. I was a runner... that became important to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/a-shoe-dog-is-somebody-that-really-loves-shoes-and-that-was-me-i-was/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [Perception can be changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/perception-can-be-changed/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [Dare to take chances, lest you leave your talent buried in the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/dare-to-take-chances-lest-you-leave-your-talent-buried-in-the-ground/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“Why is it always so hard to get started?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/why-is-it-always-so-hard-to-get-started/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [Play by the rules, but be ferocious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/play-by-the-rules-but-be-ferocious/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“Life is growth, You grow or you die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/life-is-growth-you-grow-or-you-die/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“If my life was to be all work no play, I wanted my work to be play.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/if-my-life-was-to-be-all-work-no-play-i-wanted-my-work-to-be-play/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“he was all the colors of an Easter egg.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/he-was-all-the-colors-of-an-easter-egg/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“what I knew that morning in March 1977 as we settled around the conference table. I wasn’t even sure how these guys reached us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/what-i-knew-that-morning-in-march-1977-as-we-settled-around-the/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“When you make something, when you improve something, when you deliver something, when you add some service or product to the lives of strangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/when-you-make-something-when-you-improve-something-when-you-deliver/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“It’s possible that we were never closer, maybe because our relationship had been reduced to its primal essence. He was my dad, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/it-s-possible-that-we-were-never-closer-maybe-because-our/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“Oneness—in some way, shape, or form, it’s what every person I’ve ever met has been seeking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/oneness-in-some-way-shape-or-form-it-s-what-every-person-i-ve-ever/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [We wanted Nike to be the world's best sports and fitness company. Once you say that, you have a focus. You don't end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/we-wanted-nike-to-be-the-world-s-best-sports-and-fitness-company-once/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“You tell yourself that you’re running toward some goal, chasing some rush, but really you run because the alternative, stopping, scares you to death.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/you-tell-yourself-that-you-re-running-toward-some-goal-chasing-some/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“I wanted to win. No, that’s not right. I simply didn’t want to lose. And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/i-wanted-to-win-no-that-s-not-right-i-simply-didn-t-want-to-lose-and/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) [Explore all 120 Phil Knight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) ## More Best time quotes > [I say this about everything: when I was on 'Neighbours,' I said, 'These are the best years of my life!' When I was filming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-robbie/i-say-this-about-everything-when-i-was-on-neighbours-i-said-these-are/) [Margot Robbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-robbie/) > [The one thing I absolutely hate about social media are the people who abuse it. Whenever I see a person who constantly posts negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-garcia/the-one-thing-i-absolutely-hate-about-social-media-are-the-people-who/) [Jazmin Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-garcia/) > [I relish the time I have when there are no interruptions. Most often the best time for writing is late at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-relish-the-time-i-have-when-there-are-no-interruptions-most-often/) [Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/) > [A Relationship Doesnt Shine By Just Shaking Hands In Best Times.. But, It Blossoms By Holding Hands Firmly In Critical Times..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-relationship-doesnt-shine-by-just-shaking-hands-in-best-times-but/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“My favorite unit of time is the hour, because I collect them and store as many as 10 new and unused ones each night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/my-favorite-unit-of-time-is-the-hour-because-i-collect-them-and-store/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Being close to my friends. I like to spend time alone as well, but the best time is with friends around when you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chace-crawford/being-close-to-my-friends-i-like-to-spend-time-alone-as-well-but-the/) [Chace Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chace-crawford/) > [“Wintertime is the best time of the year to get really fat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/wintertime-is-the-best-time-of-the-year-to-get-really-fat/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [The best time to write is when your life is in the toilet. Writing offers an escape from your problems, so if you force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-jeffries/the-best-time-to-write-is-when-your-life-is-in-the-toilet-writing/) [Sabrina Jeffries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-jeffries/) > [I have never heard anyone say This is it. I know right now is the high point of my life. It will never get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-carroll/i-have-never-heard-anyone-say-this-is-it-i-know-right-now-is-the-high/) [Jonathan Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-carroll/) > [Some other people are very lucky and always get in to the very best teams at the very best times and therefore go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leslie/some-other-people-are-very-lucky-and-always-get-in-to-the-very-best/) [David Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leslie/) > [“My studio team and I approached the creation of this series with enthusiasm, wit, sincerity and sometimes more than a dash of humour. Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waswo-x-waswo-2/my-studio-team-and-i-approached-the-creation-of-this-series-with/) Waswo X Waswo > [Don't stop moving - the best time of your life is just around the corner!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-austin/don-t-stop-moving-the-best-time-of-your-life-is-just-around-the-corner/) [Denise Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-austin/) > [The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago. The second-best time to plant a tree is today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree-was-25-years-ago-the-second-best-time/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [From my point of view, this is the best time of the year. I don't love heat. I'm a winter guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lukashenko/from-my-point-of-view-this-is-the-best-time-of-the-year-i-don-t-love/) [Alexander Lukashenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lukashenko/) > [Even the best of us are at least part-time bastards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/even-the-best-of-us-are-at-least-part-time-bastards/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) [Browse all 568 Best time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“One day, fearing that I was coming down with the flu, I stopped by Bowerman’s office to say that I wouldn’t be able to practice that afternoon. “Uh-huh,” he said. “Who’s the coach of this team?” “You are.” “Well, as coach of this team I’m telling you to get your ass out there. And by the way . . . we’re going to have a time trial today.” I was close to tears. But I held it together, channeled all my emotion into my run, and posted one of my best times of the year. As I walked off the track I glowered at Bowerman. Happy now, you son of a—? He looked at me, checked his stopwatch, looked at me again, nodded. He’d tested me. He’d broken me down and remade me, just like a pair of shoes. And I’d held up. Thereafter, I was truly one of his Men of Oregon. 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