---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Number three, we're going to play very…"
description: "\"Number three, we're going to play very smart and we're not going to beat ourselves. If the other team is better than us and they just out execute us an..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/steve-spurrier-16070_beats_number-three-we-re-going-to-play-very-sm_2806524.jpg"
---

#  Number three, we're going to play very smart and we're not…

![“Number three, we're going to play very smart and we're not going to beat ourselves. If the other team is better than us and they just out execute us and play better then we can live with that, but we're going to play smart and give ourselves every opportunity to win the game.” quote by Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/steve-spurrier-16070_beats_number-three-we-re-going-to-play-very-sm_2806524.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/steve-spurrier-16070_beats_number-three-we-re-going-to-play-very-sm_2806524.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/steve-spurrier-16070_beats_number-three-we-re-going-to-play-very-sm_2806524.jpg)

> “Number three, we're going to play very smart and we're not going to beat ourselves. If the other team is better than us and they just out execute us and play better then we can live with that, but we're going to play smart and give ourselves every opportunity to win the game.”

[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.

He advises playing intelligently, focusing on execution, and accepting defeat when outperformed.

**In simple terms:** Play smart and accept loss if outplayed.

Key Takeaway

Focus on smart play and resilience.

Themes

strategy resilience competition

Mood

determined serious

Type

motivational pragmatic

When to use this quote

- sports competition
- team meetings
- personal goals

Key Concepts

game theory performance mindset

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you improve execution?
- When is it okay to accept loss?

A Different Perspective

Opponents may still dominate despite smart play.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Beat Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beat-team-600495/) [Beats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beats/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Number three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number-three/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-better/) [Play Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-smart-355589/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Team Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-better-474986/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Very smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-smart/) [Win Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-game/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/)

## Related quotes

> [You can't just beat a team, you have to leave a lasting impression in their minds so they never want to see you again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-hamm/you-can-t-just-beat-a-team-you-have-to-leave-a-lasting-impression-in/)

[Mia Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-hamm/)

> [Life is full of surprises. We've seen on the NBA court a lot of surprises. You never know what's going to happen if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/life-is-full-of-surprises-we-ve-seen-on-the-nba-court-a-lot-of/)

[Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/)

> [I just have to play smart and play the best I can. I think that will be plenty good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-webb/i-just-have-to-play-smart-and-play-the-best-i-can-i-think-that-will/)

[Davis Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davis-webb/)

> [Go hard young, go hard. They let you in the game better play your part. Go hard young, go hard. And if you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/go-hard-young-go-hard-they-let-you-in-the-game-better-play-your-part/)

[Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/)

> [Play fast, play smart, play aggressive, bring energy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-sanders/play-fast-play-smart-play-aggressive-bring-energy/)

[Bob Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-sanders/)

> [When you're an outsider or a misfit, if you play it smart, your motto should be, 'I'll show 'em. I will show you.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-williams/when-you-re-an-outsider-or-a-misfit-if-you-play-it-smart-your-motto/)

[Wendy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-williams/)

> [“Never let anyone trample, talk trash, and feel superior against you because you’re better than those type of people. Just remember that life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mau5craft/never-let-anyone-trample-talk-trash-and-feel-superior-against-you/)

[Mau5Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mau5craft/)

> [Be fast on the field physically, but play slow mentally. Basically, play hard but play smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-leveille/be-fast-on-the-field-physically-but-play-slow-mentally-basically-play/)

[Kevin Leveille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-leveille/)

> [Scoring comes from being able to preserve what you've got and play your smart shots when you need to play them and not do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/scoring-comes-from-being-able-to-preserve-what-you-ve-got-and-play/)

[Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/)

> [If you prepare well and you play smart, there's times you'll dirt the ball or throw it away if you feel it's not there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-foles/if-you-prepare-well-and-you-play-smart-there-s-times-you-ll-dirt-the/)

[Nick Foles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-foles/)

> [A doctor can't just come out and play because he's smart and understands the game on paper. He can dissect the hell out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davante-adams/a-doctor-can-t-just-come-out-and-play-because-he-s-smart-and/)

[Davante Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davante-adams/)

> [“Play hard. Play smart. Play together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/play-hard-play-smart-play-together/)

[Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/)

> [It's good to give some of the kids a chance for playing time and some confidence. It doesn't do any good to leave starters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-hatchell/it-s-good-to-give-some-of-the-kids-a-chance-for-playing-time-and-some/)

[Sylvia Hatchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-hatchell/)

> [We are Liverpool, we are strong, and we can beat any team in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/we-are-liverpool-we-are-strong-and-we-can-beat-any-team-in-the-world/)

[Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/)

> [Play hard, play smart, play together, have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-wootten/play-hard-play-smart-play-together-have-fun/)

[Morgan Wootten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-wootten/)

## 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 Beats quotes

> [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/)

[Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/)

> [So many things beat upon us in a lifetime that simply enduring may seem almost beyond us… But the test a loving God has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/so-many-things-beat-upon-us-in-a-lifetime-that-simply-enduring-may/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/)

[Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/)

> [I usually write from the rhythm section...If a drummer got a funky beat on some things - like a half-shuffle or a shuffle or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-usually-write-from-the-rhythm-section-if-a-drummer-got-a-funky-beat/)

[Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/)

> [If you don't like club beats take a HIT OF E and you will love the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/if-you-don-t-like-club-beats-take-a-hit-of-e-and-you-will-love-the/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [Every pitcher can beat you, it doesn't matter how good you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-bonds/every-pitcher-can-beat-you-it-doesn-t-matter-how-good-you-are/)

[Barry Bonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-bonds/)

> [Only two to three per cent of an audience is interested in words and pays attention to lyrics; most of the rest of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stewart/only-two-to-three-per-cent-of-an-audience-is-interested-in-words-and/)

[Al Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stewart/)

> [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/)

[Chaz Brenchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-brenchley/)

> [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/)

[Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/)

> [I don't know about the rest of the world, but I know in our region everyone is gunning to beat us. We have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/i-don-t-know-about-the-rest-of-the-world-but-i-know-in-our-region/)

[Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/)

> [Grand business plans are all very well, but nothing beats dipping your toe in the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-bilimoria-karan-bilimoria/grand-business-plans-are-all-very-well-but-nothing-beats-dipping-your/)

[Baron Bilimoria Karan Bilimoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-bilimoria-karan-bilimoria/)

> [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/let-a-man-who-has-to-make-his-fortune-in-life-remember-this-maxim/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I don't like small birds. They hop around so merrily outside my window, looking so innocent. but I know that secretly, they're watching my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-like-small-birds-they-hop-around-so-merrily-outside-my-window/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 3,311 Beats quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beats/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Number three, we're going to play very smart and we're not going to beat ourselves. If the other team is better than us and they just out execute us and play better then we can live with that, but we're going to play smart and give ourselves every opportunity to win the game.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Steve Spurrier"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/number-three-we-re-going-to-play-very-smart-and-we-re-not-going-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Beats"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/number-three-we-re-going-to-play-very-smart-and-we-re-not-going-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/steve-spurrier-16070_beats_number-three-we-re-going-to-play-very-sm_2806524.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/steve-spurrier-16070_beats_number-three-we-re-going-to-play-very-sm_2806524.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/steve-spurrier-16070_beats_number-three-we-re-going-to-play-very-sm_2806524.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Number three, we're going to play very smart and we're not going to beat ourselves. If the other team is…” — 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": "Number three, we're going to play...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/number-three-we-re-going-to-play-very-smart-and-we-re-not-going-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/number-three-we-re-going-to-play-very-smart-and-we-re-not-going-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
