This well-known little paperback is a collection of quotes from people associated with football in the South. It's a super-fast read, maybe 15-30 minutes, and has some wonderful nuggets inside. Many of the quotes are already widely recognized. Some others are a little less publicized. Here are some that I like from it.
"The collisions between players at various times were about equal to the coming together of two Spanish bulls. This sight provoked much laughter."
- Lexington Daily Transcript, Apr. 10, 1880
"Down in the Southeast territory, college football long ago became a geographical, historical, or social event - sometimes all three. The fans down there always have somebody they especially love to see whomped."
- John D. McCallum
To Southerners, football is as essential as air conditioning."
- Dan Jenkins
Learn from everyone, copy no one.
- Don Shula
Don't talk too much or too soon.
- Bear Bryant
Excuses are no good. Your friends don't need them, and your enemies won't believe them.
- Jake Gaither
Always remember that Goliath was a 40-point favorite over little David.
- Shug Jordan
Win without braggin'. Lose without acting the fool.
- Eddie Robinson
Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football.
- John Heisman
Never try to make friends with your head coach.
- Terry Bradshaw
Don't think that the way you are today is the way you'll always be.
- Vince Dooley
Don't wait to be a great man. Be a great boy.
- Shug Jordan
If you want to be first-class, you've got to act first-class.
- Joe Namath
What does it take to be the best? Everything. And everything is up to you.
- Emmitt Smith
Winning isn't getting ahead of others. It's getting ahead of yourself.
- Roger Staubach
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
- Darrell Royal
Proper conditioning is that fleeting moment between getting ready and going stale.
- Frank Thomas
Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.
- Johnny Majors
There are no office hours for champions.
- Paul Dietzel
At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money, and we don't have it.
- Erk Russell
I had a lot of offers to go to other schools, but I turned them all down. Clemson was the only place I could bum chewing tobacco from the professors.
- Frank Howard
It's how you show up at the showdown that counts.
- Homer Norton
Winning is not final.
- Don Shula
When you win, nothing hurts.
- Joe Namath
I don't hire anybody not brighter than I am. If they're not smarter than me, I don't need them.
- Bear Bryant
Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who aren't motivated.
- Lou Holtz
Leadership must be demonstrated, not announced.
- Fran Tarkenton
Difficulties in life are intended to make us better, not bitter.
- Dan Reeves
That's the great thing about sports. Once people can play together, they see they can live together.
- Eddie Robinson
You can accomplish anything as long as you don't care who gets the credit.
- Blanton Collier
To old football players, teammates neither die nor ever fade away.
- Nash Buckingham
You'll never know how much God means to you till tragedy hits and friends come through.
- Chucky Mullins
Never leave the field with a boy feeling you're mad at him. You can chew him out, but then pat him on the shoulder.
- Jake Gaither
All I ask is that you give everything you've got on every play. That's not asking very much.
- Shug Jordan
I grew up pickin' cotton on my daddy's farm. To me, football is like a day off.
- Lee Roy Jordan
I retired for health reasons. The alumni got sick of me.
- Frank Howard
Money is no big deal. What I value is my family and what I got from my momma and daddy.
- Eddie Robinson
If you burn your neighbor's house down, it doesn't make your house look any better.
- Lou Holtz
If you think you're lucky, you are.
- Bobby Dodd
I love the thrill of getting off a pass just before getting smashed.
- George Blanda
The drama of sport is a big part of the drama of life, and the scope of this drama is endless.
- Grantland Rice
[This message has been edited by CShine (edited June 17, 2001).]
"The collisions between players at various times were about equal to the coming together of two Spanish bulls. This sight provoked much laughter."
- Lexington Daily Transcript, Apr. 10, 1880
"Down in the Southeast territory, college football long ago became a geographical, historical, or social event - sometimes all three. The fans down there always have somebody they especially love to see whomped."
- John D. McCallum
To Southerners, football is as essential as air conditioning."
- Dan Jenkins
Learn from everyone, copy no one.
- Don Shula
Don't talk too much or too soon.
- Bear Bryant
Excuses are no good. Your friends don't need them, and your enemies won't believe them.
- Jake Gaither
Always remember that Goliath was a 40-point favorite over little David.
- Shug Jordan
Win without braggin'. Lose without acting the fool.
- Eddie Robinson
Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football.
- John Heisman
Never try to make friends with your head coach.
- Terry Bradshaw
Don't think that the way you are today is the way you'll always be.
- Vince Dooley
Don't wait to be a great man. Be a great boy.
- Shug Jordan
If you want to be first-class, you've got to act first-class.
- Joe Namath
What does it take to be the best? Everything. And everything is up to you.
- Emmitt Smith
Winning isn't getting ahead of others. It's getting ahead of yourself.
- Roger Staubach
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
- Darrell Royal
Proper conditioning is that fleeting moment between getting ready and going stale.
- Frank Thomas
Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.
- Johnny Majors
There are no office hours for champions.
- Paul Dietzel
At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money, and we don't have it.
- Erk Russell
I had a lot of offers to go to other schools, but I turned them all down. Clemson was the only place I could bum chewing tobacco from the professors.
- Frank Howard
It's how you show up at the showdown that counts.
- Homer Norton
Winning is not final.
- Don Shula
When you win, nothing hurts.
- Joe Namath
I don't hire anybody not brighter than I am. If they're not smarter than me, I don't need them.
- Bear Bryant
Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who aren't motivated.
- Lou Holtz
Leadership must be demonstrated, not announced.
- Fran Tarkenton
Difficulties in life are intended to make us better, not bitter.
- Dan Reeves
That's the great thing about sports. Once people can play together, they see they can live together.
- Eddie Robinson
You can accomplish anything as long as you don't care who gets the credit.
- Blanton Collier
To old football players, teammates neither die nor ever fade away.
- Nash Buckingham
You'll never know how much God means to you till tragedy hits and friends come through.
- Chucky Mullins
Never leave the field with a boy feeling you're mad at him. You can chew him out, but then pat him on the shoulder.
- Jake Gaither
All I ask is that you give everything you've got on every play. That's not asking very much.
- Shug Jordan
I grew up pickin' cotton on my daddy's farm. To me, football is like a day off.
- Lee Roy Jordan
I retired for health reasons. The alumni got sick of me.
- Frank Howard
Money is no big deal. What I value is my family and what I got from my momma and daddy.
- Eddie Robinson
If you burn your neighbor's house down, it doesn't make your house look any better.
- Lou Holtz
If you think you're lucky, you are.
- Bobby Dodd
I love the thrill of getting off a pass just before getting smashed.
- George Blanda
The drama of sport is a big part of the drama of life, and the scope of this drama is endless.
- Grantland Rice
[This message has been edited by CShine (edited June 17, 2001).]