--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's never an upset if the so-called…" description: "\"It's never an upset if the so-called underdog has all along considered itself the better team.\" — Woody Hayes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/woody-hayes-10522_footballer_it-s-never-an-upset-if-the-so-called-und_1825937.png" --- # It's never an upset if the so-called underdog has all… ![“It's never an upset if the so-called underdog has all along considered itself the better team.” quote by Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/woody-hayes-10522_footballer_it-s-never-an-upset-if-the-so-called-und_1825937.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/woody-hayes-10522_footballer_it-s-never-an-upset-if-the-so-called-und_1825937.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/woody-hayes-10522_footballer_it-s-never-an-upset-if-the-so-called-und_1825937.png) > “It's never an upset if the so-called underdog has all along considered itself the better team.” [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that confidence and self‑belief can make an underdog feel superior, negating upset. **In simple terms:** Confidence can prevent feeling upset. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑belief in competition. Themes confidence underdog mindset Mood strategic motivational Type sports psychology When to use this quote - Pre‑game pep talk - team building - mental training Key Concepts Sports strategy psychology of competition team morale Questions to Reflect On - How does confidence affect performance? - What strategies prevent arrogance? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Footballer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/footballer/) [Motivational football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-football/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Underdog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underdog/) ## Related quotes > [I think fans fall in love with the so-called underdog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-wallace/i-think-fans-fall-in-love-with-the-so-called-underdog/) [Ben Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-wallace/) > [All things considered, there's nobody better for children than parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/all-things-considered-there-s-nobody-better-for-children-than-parents/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [The principle is competing against yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/the-principle-is-competing-against-yourself/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/i-like-to-believe-that-my-best-hits-border-on-felonious-assault/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a two-by-four.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-birdwell/you-have-to-play-this-game-like-somebody-just-hit-your-mother-with-a/) Dan Birdwell > [I don't believe skill was, or ever will be, the result of coaches. It is a result of a love affair between the child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-keane/i-don-t-believe-skill-was-or-ever-will-be-the-result-of-coaches-it-is/) [Roy Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-keane/) > [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/) > [If my mother put on a helmet and shoulder pads and a uniform that wasn't the same as the one I was wearing, I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-jackson/if-my-mother-put-on-a-helmet-and-shoulder-pads-and-a-uniform-that/) [Bo Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-jackson/) > [We can't run. We can't pass. We can't stop the run. We can't stop the pass. We can't kick. Other than that, we're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-coslet/we-can-t-run-we-can-t-pass-we-can-t-stop-the-run-we-can-t-stop-the/) Bruce Coslet > [Our very success, gained you will agree by skill, will draw more people than ever to see it. And that will benefit many more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-struth/our-very-success-gained-you-will-agree-by-skill-will-draw-more-people/) Bill Struth > [The only place you can win a football game is on the field, the only place you can lose it is in your hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-royal/the-only-place-you-can-win-a-football-game-is-on-the-field-the-only/) [Darrell Royal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-royal/) > [Remind your critics when they say you don't have the expertise or experience to do something that an amateur built the ark and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-manning/remind-your-critics-when-they-say-you-don-t-have-the-expertise-or/) [Peyton Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-manning/) > [If you're willing to put yourself and your dreams on the line, at the very least you'll discover an inner strength you may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-warner/if-you-re-willing-to-put-yourself-and-your-dreams-on-the-line-at-the/) [Kurt Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-warner/) > [Football isn't a contact sport, it's a collision sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duffy-daugherty/football-isn-t-a-contact-sport-it-s-a-collision-sport/) [Duffy Daugherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duffy-daugherty/) > [Football doesn't build character, it reveals character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-levy/football-doesn-t-build-character-it-reveals-character/) [Marv Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-levy/) ## More by Woody Hayes > [Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/any-time-you-give-a-man-something-he-doesn-t-earn-you-cheapen-him-our/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [The game of football is one of strategy and tactics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/the-game-of-football-is-one-of-strategy-and-tactics/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [Paralyze resistance with persistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/paralyze-resistance-with-persistence/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [The five big mistakes in football are the fumble, the interception, the penalty, the badly called play, the blocked punt—and most of these originate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/the-five-big-mistakes-in-football-are-the-fumble-the-interception-the/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [Even the best team, without a sound plan, can't score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/even-the-best-team-without-a-sound-plan-can-t-score/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [As the youngest, I don't think there was any doubt I was spoiled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/as-the-youngest-i-don-t-think-there-was-any-doubt-i-was-spoiled/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [Indomitable in victory, insufferable in defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/indomitable-in-victory-insufferable-in-defeat/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [Without winners, there would be no civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/without-winners-there-would-be-no-civilization/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [I recruited a Czech kicker, and during the eye exam, when asked to read the bottom line, the kicker replied, Read it? I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/i-recruited-a-czech-kicker-and-during-the-eye-exam-when-asked-to-read/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [When I look in the mirror in the morning, I want to take a swing at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/when-i-look-in-the-mirror-in-the-morning-i-want-to-take-a-swing-at-me/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [Because I couldn't go for three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/because-i-couldn-t-go-for-three/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [I'm no longer the head football coach at Ohio State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/i-m-no-longer-the-head-football-coach-at-ohio-state/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [I may not be able to outsmart too many people, but I can outwork 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/i-may-not-be-able-to-outsmart-too-many-people-but-i-can-outwork-em/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [A good general always makes you search for his weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/a-good-general-always-makes-you-search-for-his-weaknesses/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [You can never pay back, so you should always try to pay forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/you-can-never-pay-back-so-you-should-always-try-to-pay-forward/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) [Explore all 65 Woody Hayes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) ## More Footballer quotes > [In 1969, I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-best/in-1969-i-gave-up-women-and-alcohol-it-was-the-worst-20-minutes-of-my/) [George Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-best/) > [More than anyone, I am aware of the preconceptions. I was a Spice Girl. I'm married to a footballer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-beckham/more-than-anyone-i-am-aware-of-the-preconceptions-i-was-a-spice-girl/) [Victoria Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-beckham/) > [My dad was not a footballer. He wasn't anything remotely what the average person would say was a role model - but in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-deeney/my-dad-was-not-a-footballer-he-wasn-t-anything-remotely-what-the/) [Troy Deeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-deeney/) > [If he isn't named footballer of the year, football should be stopped and the men who picked any other player should be sent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shankly/if-he-isn-t-named-footballer-of-the-year-football-should-be-stopped/) [Bill Shankly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shankly/) > [Being a footballer was about analysing performance, never being satisfied, seeing what lessons you can learn and who you can learn from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-scott/being-a-footballer-was-about-analysing-performance-never-being/) [Alex Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-scott/) > [Being an adult is the ability to postpone a want for the sake of a family need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/being-an-adult-is-the-ability-to-postpone-a-want-for-the-sake-of-a/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [It's impossible to be more of a footballer than Messi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-rijkaard/it-s-impossible-to-be-more-of-a-footballer-than-messi/) [Frank Rijkaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-rijkaard/) > [Congratulations to Thierry Henry on a truly wonderful career. One of the great footballers of our time and a top bloke. Bonne chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/congratulations-to-thierry-henry-on-a-truly-wonderful-career-one-of/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [You're obviously conscious of being brash or big-headed but I always knew I was going to be a footballer when I was seven or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-obviously-conscious-of-being-brash-or-big-headed-but-i-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're not an ambitious footballer, you're in the wrong game, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-maguire/if-you-re-not-an-ambitious-footballer-you-re-in-the-wrong-game-really/) [Harry Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-maguire/) > [Not just me but every professional footballer will tell you they miss playing the game, I miss the game especially as I retired early,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabrice-muamba/not-just-me-but-every-professional-footballer-will-tell-you-they-miss/) [Fabrice Muamba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabrice-muamba/) > [George Best was one of the most talented players of all time and probably the best footballer who never made it to a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/george-best-was-one-of-the-most-talented-players-of-all-time-and/) [Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/) > [I run an academy in Spain for young footballers who are released by their clubs and who, in my opinion, deserve a second chance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-hoddle/i-run-an-academy-in-spain-for-young-footballers-who-are-released-by/) [Glenn Hoddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-hoddle/) > [I don’t see the problem with footballers taking their shirts off after scoring a goal? They enjoy it and the young ladies enjoy it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-holloway/i-don-t-see-the-problem-with-footballers-taking-their-shirts-off/) [Ian Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-holloway/) > [In my opinion, there is no better place to be for a footballer than Liverpool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-henderson/in-my-opinion-there-is-no-better-place-to-be-for-a-footballer-than/) [Jordan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-henderson/) [Browse all 552 Footballer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/footballer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's never an upset if the so-called underdog has all along considered itself the better team.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Woody Hayes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/it-s-never-an-upset-if-the-so-called-underdog-has-all-along/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Footballer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/it-s-never-an-upset-if-the-so-called-underdog-has-all-along/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/woody-hayes-10522_footballer_it-s-never-an-upset-if-the-so-called-und_1825937.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/woody-hayes-10522_footballer_it-s-never-an-upset-if-the-so-called-und_1825937.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/woody-hayes-10522_footballer_it-s-never-an-upset-if-the-so-called-und_1825937.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's never an upset if the so-called underdog has all along considered itself the better team.” — Woody Hayes", "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": "Woody Hayes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's never an upset if the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/it-s-never-an-upset-if-the-so-called-underdog-has-all-along/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/it-s-never-an-upset-if-the-so-called-underdog-has-all-along/#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 } } ] } ```