--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the real tragedy was that 15 hadn't…" description: "\"But the real tragedy was that 15 hadn't been colored yet.\" — Steve Spurrier" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/steve-spurrier-16070_auburn_but-the-real-tragedy-was-that-15-hadn-t_3213641.jpg" --- # But the real tragedy was that 15 hadn't been colored yet. ![“But the real tragedy was that 15 hadn't been colored yet.” quote by Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/steve-spurrier-16070_auburn_but-the-real-tragedy-was-that-15-hadn-t_3213641.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/steve-spurrier-16070_auburn_but-the-real-tragedy-was-that-15-hadn-t_3213641.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/steve-spurrier-16070_auburn_but-the-real-tragedy-was-that-15-hadn-t_3213641.jpg) > “But the real tragedy was that 15 hadn't been colored yet.” [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote laments missed potential, noting that something unfulfilled (the color) represents a loss before it even begins. **In simple terms:** Potential lost before it starts. Key Takeaway Recognize and act before opportunities fade. Themes potential loss regret Mood reflective somber Type motivational cautionary When to use this quote - sports decisions - career planning - creative projects - personal goals Key Concepts Opportunity cost unfinished potential Questions to Reflect On - What opportunities are you delaying? - How can you ensure potential is realized? A Different Perspective Even colored potential may never be realized without timely effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auburn/) [Best coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-coaches/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-football/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Colored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colored/) [Dorms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dorms/) [Famous coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/famous-coach/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Funniest sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funniest-sports/) [Gators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gators/) [Great tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-tragedy/) [Hadn Colored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hadn-colored-6013594/) [Hilarious sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hilarious-sports/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-tragedy-868460/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Sports psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports-psychology/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Tragedy 15](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy-15-5154216/) [Trash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trash/) [Trash talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trash-talk/) [Trash talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trash-talking/) [USC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usc/) ## Related quotes > [But the real tragedy was that 15 hadn't been colored yet. (telling Gator fans that a fire at Auburn's football dorm had destroyed 20 books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/but-the-real-tragedy-was-that-15-hadn-t-been-colored-yet-telling/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [You know what FSU stands for, don't you? Free Shoes University.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/you-know-what-fsu-stands-for-don-t-you-free-shoes-university/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [You can't spell Citrus without UT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/you-can-t-spell-citrus-without-ut/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [A swamp is where Gators live. We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/a-swamp-is-where-gators-live-we-feel-comfortable-there-but-we-hope/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [He who controlleth the backboard, controlleth the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/he-who-controlleth-the-backboard-controlleth-the-game/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [Leaders aren't born they are made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/leaders-aren-t-born-they-are-made/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Good defensive play is as much a matter of hustle, desire and pride as it is anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tex-winter/good-defensive-play-is-as-much-a-matter-of-hustle-desire-and-pride-as/) [Tex Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tex-winter/) > [My dad took me to a high school basketball game and this very, very famous coach in Michigan, by the name of Lofton Greene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/my-dad-took-me-to-a-high-school-basketball-game-and-this-very-very/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [Keep it simple, when you get too complex you forget the obvious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-mcguire/keep-it-simple-when-you-get-too-complex-you-forget-the-obvious/) [Al McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-mcguire/) > [The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual. People who work together will win, whether it be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/the-achievements-of-an-organization-are-the-results-of-the-combined/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Your defense will save you on the nights that your offense isn't working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/your-defense-will-save-you-on-the-nights-that-your-offense-isn-t/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-not-a-sometime-thing-it-s-an-all-the-time-thing/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/a-man-can-be-as-great-as-he-wants-to-be-if-you-believe-in-yourself/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don't know when to quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/people-of-mediocre-ability-sometimes-achieve-outstanding-success/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [Quit. Most men succeed because they are determined to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/quit-most-men-succeed-because-they-are-determined-to/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) ## More by Steve Spurrier > [I don't think telling the truth ever gets anyone in trouble in the long run. Maybe the day after, but not in the long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/i-don-t-think-telling-the-truth-ever-gets-anyone-in-trouble-in-the/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [I do have some young coaches, but I don't really believe that is the biggest problem we have here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/i-do-have-some-young-coaches-but-i-don-t-really-believe-that-is-the/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [You know what FSU stands for, don't you? Free Shoes University.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/you-know-what-fsu-stands-for-don-t-you-free-shoes-university/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [Coaching to me is correcting mistakes and trying to get your players to think. If raising your voice occasionally gets them to think better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/coaching-to-me-is-correcting-mistakes-and-trying-to-get-your-players/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [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/) > [Football players are busy (with) study halls and tutoring. Well, anyway, at South Carolina they are. I don't know about all these other schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/football-players-are-busy-with-study-halls-and-tutoring-well-anyway/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [I do get away maybe a little bit more than most coaches do, but that seems to have worked for me in my coaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/i-do-get-away-maybe-a-little-bit-more-than-most-coaches-do-but-that/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [You can't spell Citrus without UT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/you-can-t-spell-citrus-without-ut/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [In the offseason, why can't it be a little lighter? It's not life or death. I try to have a little fun, but all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/in-the-offseason-why-can-t-it-be-a-little-lighter-it-s-not-life-or/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [We're not anxious to play L.S.U. again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/we-re-not-anxious-to-play-l-s-u-again/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [Number two, we're going to play with a lot of effort. Our guys are going to be in such good shape that fatigue is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/number-two-we-re-going-to-play-with-a-lot-of-effort-our-guys-are/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [I really believe everything is here for us to be very successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/i-really-believe-everything-is-here-for-us-to-be-very-successful/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [What I've been telling everyone that loves Carolina football is that we are going to put a team out there that, number one, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/what-i-ve-been-telling-everyone-that-loves-carolina-football-is-that/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [I don't want to coach too far into my 60s. By then, I'll be playing golf four or five times a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/i-don-t-want-to-coach-too-far-into-my-60s-by-then-i-ll-be-playing/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [Our coaches want to be a part of South Carolina football when they win it for the first time. When they win the division,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/our-coaches-want-to-be-a-part-of-south-carolina-football-when-they/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) [Explore all 41 Steve Spurrier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) ## More Auburn quotes > [I'm so very happy to be here, ... My lifelong dream is to win, and I was accustomed to winning before I got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeo-spikes/i-m-so-very-happy-to-be-here-my-lifelong-dream-is-to-win-and-i-was/) [Takeo Spikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeo-spikes/) > [I was recruited at Alabama and at Auburn to play basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-strange/i-was-recruited-at-alabama-and-at-auburn-to-play-basketball/) [Luther Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-strange/) > [Auburn is a very small, quiet college town, a different kind of place geographically and culturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/auburn-is-a-very-small-quiet-college-town-a-different-kind-of-place/) [Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/) > [Everyone watched, wondering if this could be the same lunatic who'd nearly berthed his ornithopter in the restaurant. I swallowed, for it seemed he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-oppel/everyone-watched-wondering-if-this-could-be-the-same-lunatic-who-d/) [Kenneth Oppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-oppel/) > [I never liked Alabama. I liked some of the players. Or, I liked Auburn over Alabama. I never wanted to go to college there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamarcus-russell/i-never-liked-alabama-i-liked-some-of-the-players-or-i-liked-auburn/) [JaMarcus Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamarcus-russell/) > [It's not about being a head coach, I'd rather be a DC at Auburn and win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-muschamp/it-s-not-about-being-a-head-coach-i-d-rather-be-a-dc-at-auburn-and/) [Will Muschamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-muschamp/) > [I can’t have it either. It affects the babies in utero.” “Nonsense,” he said, tossing his long auburn hair over one shoulder. Life would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-can-t-have-it-either-it-affects-the-babies-in-utero-nonsense-he/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I can be bought. If they paid me enough, I'd work for the Klan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-can-be-bought-if-they-paid-me-enough-i-d-work-for-the-klan/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [Vernon Reis opened the world to me through books. He taught me that while I was physically firmly planted in blue-collar Auburn, Washington in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-gregoire/vernon-reis-opened-the-world-to-me-through-books-he-taught-me-that/) [Christine Gregoire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-gregoire/) > [Alabama fans love Alabama football. Auburn fans love Auburn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-dye/alabama-fans-love-alabama-football-auburn-fans-love-auburn/) [Pat Dye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-dye/) > [The stuff I went through at Auburn? It didn't matter anymore. I just wanted to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-jacobs/the-stuff-i-went-through-at-auburn-it-didn-t-matter-anymore-i-just/) [Brandon Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-jacobs/) > [Her elf is going to do just that,” he said, the red glow of the ever-after sun turning his hair auburn, almost as red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/her-elf-is-going-to-do-just-that-he-said-the-red-glow-of-the-ever/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [I love fan bases where it matters so much. In that state, with both Alabama and Auburn in the same state, it just makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-fan-bases-where-it-matters-so-much-in-that-state-with-both/) [Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/) > [When red-haired people are above a certain social grade their hair is auburn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-red-haired-people-are-above-a-certain-social-grade-their-hair-is/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [When I left high school, I wanted to go to Auburn, and they said they were going to let me go both ways. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-wallace/when-i-left-high-school-i-wanted-to-go-to-auburn-and-they-said-they/) [Ben Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-wallace/) [Browse all 36 Auburn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auburn/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But the real tragedy was that 15 hadn't been colored yet.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Spurrier" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/but-the-real-tragedy-was-that-15-hadn-t-been-colored-yet/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Auburn" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/but-the-real-tragedy-was-that-15-hadn-t-been-colored-yet/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/steve-spurrier-16070_auburn_but-the-real-tragedy-was-that-15-hadn-t_3213641.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/steve-spurrier-16070_auburn_but-the-real-tragedy-was-that-15-hadn-t_3213641.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/steve-spurrier-16070_auburn_but-the-real-tragedy-was-that-15-hadn-t_3213641.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But the real tragedy was that 15 hadn't been colored yet.” — Steve Spurrier", "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": "Steve Spurrier", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But the real tragedy was that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/but-the-real-tragedy-was-that-15-hadn-t-been-colored-yet/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/but-the-real-tragedy-was-that-15-hadn-t-been-colored-yet/#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 } } ] } ```