--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was an athlete in college - a…" description: "\"I was an athlete in college - a quarterback, a leader - so people telling me what to do doesn't work.\" — Rakim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/rakim-1390_college_i-was-an-athlete-in-college-a-quarterbac_1368698.jpg" --- # I was an athlete in college - a quarterback, a leader - so… ![“I was an athlete in college - a quarterback, a leader - so people telling me what to do doesn't work.” quote by Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/rakim-1390_college_i-was-an-athlete-in-college-a-quarterbac_1368698.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/rakim-1390_college_i-was-an-athlete-in-college-a-quarterbac_1368698.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/rakim-1390_college_i-was-an-athlete-in-college-a-quarterbac_1368698.jpg) > “I was an athlete in college - a quarterback, a leader - so people telling me what to do doesn't work.” [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authority is ineffective when the audience resists; authenticity matters. **In simple terms:** Leaders must earn respect. Key Takeaway Lead by example, not commands. Themes leadership authenticity authority Mood reflective assertive Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - team management - coaching - creative collaboration Key Concepts music hip‑hop culture Questions to Reflect On - How do you gain trust as a leader? - When is direct instruction necessary? A Different Perspective Some situations need clear direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [There's far more that goes into being a professional athlete than being a college athlete. So many differences that people don't realize. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-griffin-iii/there-s-far-more-that-goes-into-being-a-professional-athlete-than/) [Robert Griffin III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-griffin-iii/) > [A year and a half ago, there were people who questioned whether Vince Young could be a major college quarterback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mack-brown/a-year-and-a-half-ago-there-were-people-who-questioned-whether-vince/) [Mack Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mack-brown/) > [Dez Bryant isn't a quarterback. He's not a leader. He's a talented, high-maintenance wide receiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/dez-bryant-isn-t-a-quarterback-he-s-not-a-leader-he-s-a-talented-high/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [I know perfection in this game is very hard to do and pretty much impossible, but it's what I strive for because I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-webb/i-know-perfection-in-this-game-is-very-hard-to-do-and-pretty-much/) [Davis Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davis-webb/) > [Why does everyone always assume the quarterback is the leader?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martellus-bennett/why-does-everyone-always-assume-the-quarterback-is-the-leader/) [Martellus Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martellus-bennett/) > [The quarterback is the leader of the team and the quarterback is the one that has the ball in his hands every single play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dalton/the-quarterback-is-the-leader-of-the-team-and-the-quarterback-is-the/) [Andy Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dalton/) > [I was not an athlete in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bullock/i-was-not-an-athlete-in-college/) [Steve Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bullock/) > [I was never on a mission to be an NFL quarterback. I wanted to be a good high school player, and I worked hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-manning/i-was-never-on-a-mission-to-be-an-nfl-quarterback-i-wanted-to-be-a/) [Peyton Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-manning/) > [I'm always studying. I probably wrote the most papers of any college quarterback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-griffin-iii/i-m-always-studying-i-probably-wrote-the-most-papers-of-any-college/) [Robert Griffin III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-griffin-iii/) > [I think, as a quarterback and a leader, it's not necessarily what you do in the limelight. Obviously, you want guys handling themselves in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-foles/i-think-as-a-quarterback-and-a-leader-it-s-not-necessarily-what-you/) [Nick Foles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-foles/) > [There's something to be said with your quarterback your leader being there on Day 1.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-witten/there-s-something-to-be-said-with-your-quarterback-your-leader-being/) [Jason Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-witten/) > [I think rap was a better move for me but football's been my love since I learned how to walk. I was gonna be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-think-rap-was-a-better-move-for-me-but-football-s-been-my-love/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [I don't think forcing an athlete to stay in school does anything for the athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-williams/i-don-t-think-forcing-an-athlete-to-stay-in-school-does-anything-for/) [Jay Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-williams/) > [Common sense is the guy who tells you that you ought to have had your brakes relined last week before you smashed a front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/common-sense-is-the-guy-who-tells-you-that-you-ought-to-have-had-your/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [You look at Matt LaFleur and where he's been. It seems like successful quarterback play follows him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mcvay/you-look-at-matt-lafleur-and-where-he-s-been-it-seems-like-successful/) [Sean McVay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mcvay/) ## More by Rakim > [I love Jay-Z, I love Kanye, and I praise the way he's been able to bring more business out of the jungle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-love-jay-z-i-love-kanye-and-i-praise-the-way-he-s-been-able-to/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Feed me hip-hop and I start tremblin'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/feed-me-hip-hop-and-i-start-tremblin/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [To me, sometimes things outside of rap inspire me to rap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/to-me-sometimes-things-outside-of-rap-inspire-me-to-rap/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Elements burst, gave birth the the verse, get the pen from the nurse, but hook the mic up first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/elements-burst-gave-birth-the-the-verse-get-the-pen-from-the-nurse/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [I got a lot of vinyl, a lot of music in general in the house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-got-a-lot-of-vinyl-a-lot-of-music-in-general-in-the-house/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Whenever I write a song I see the whole song anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/whenever-i-write-a-song-i-see-the-whole-song-anyway/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Sometimes I feel I'm the luckiest rapper in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/sometimes-i-feel-i-m-the-luckiest-rapper-in-the-world/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [I think rap was a better move for me but football's been my love since I learned how to walk. I was gonna be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-think-rap-was-a-better-move-for-me-but-football-s-been-my-love/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [There are certain things that I wish people knew - certain things that I feel I started and certain things that I'm responsible for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/there-are-certain-things-that-i-wish-people-knew-certain-things-that/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [So I start my mission- leave my residence Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/so-i-start-my-mission-leave-my-residence-thinkin-how-could-i-get-some/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [My approach to writing rhymes went hand in hand with the music. I'd try to make different rhythms with my rhymes on the track…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/my-approach-to-writing-rhymes-went-hand-in-hand-with-the-music-i-d/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [My whole thing is if it wasn't for people like ya'll and people like them I wouldn't be me. I love every minute of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/my-whole-thing-is-if-it-wasn-t-for-people-like-ya-ll-and-people-like/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [My son plays football so I coach a couple of his teams. My youngest son just started playing last year and I assistant coached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/my-son-plays-football-so-i-coach-a-couple-of-his-teams-my-youngest/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [I always had deep respect for my peoples 'cause of the love they gave me and the know how that they showed me through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-always-had-deep-respect-for-my-peoples-cause-of-the-love-they-gave/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [When I broke up with Eric B., I went on a little hiatus. Then all I was trying do is find producers. It's real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/when-i-broke-up-with-eric-b-i-went-on-a-little-hiatus-then-all-i-was/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) [Explore all 247 Rakim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) ## More Athlete quotes > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [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/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) [Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was an athlete in college - a quarterback, a leader - so people telling me what to do doesn't work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rakim" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-was-an-athlete-in-college-a-quarterback-a-leader-so-people-telling/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Athlete" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-was-an-athlete-in-college-a-quarterback-a-leader-so-people-telling/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/rakim-1390_college_i-was-an-athlete-in-college-a-quarterbac_1368698.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/rakim-1390_college_i-was-an-athlete-in-college-a-quarterbac_1368698.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/rakim-1390_college_i-was-an-athlete-in-college-a-quarterbac_1368698.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was an athlete in college - a quarterback, a leader - so people telling me what to do doesn't work.” — Rakim", "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": "Rakim", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was an athlete in college...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-was-an-athlete-in-college-a-quarterback-a-leader-so-people-telling/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-was-an-athlete-in-college-a-quarterback-a-leader-so-people-telling/#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 } } ] } ```