Top 51 Paul 'Bear' Bryant Quotes From The 6 National Championship Winning Football Coach

Paul William 'Bear' Bryant was best known as the University of Alabama football team's longtime head coach.

During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships. Upon his retirement in 1982, he held the record for most wins as head coach in collegiate football history with 323 wins.

At the University of Alabama, the Paul W. Bryant Museum, Paul W. Bryant Hall, Paul W. Bryant Drive, and Bryant–Denny Stadium are all named in his honor. He was also known for his trademark black and white houndstooth or gingham hat, deep voice, casually leaning up against the goal post during pre-game warmups, and frequently holding his rolled-up game plan while on the sidelines. Before arriving at Alabama, Bryant was the head football coach at the University of Maryland, the University of Kentucky, and Texas A&M University.

Bryant's win over in-state rival Auburn, coached by former Bryant assistant Pat Dye on 28 November, 1981, was Bryant's 315th as ahead coach, most of any head coach at that time. His record as a coach was 323–85–17. "Sure, I'd like to beat Notre Dame, don't get me wrong. But nothing matters more than beating that cow college on the other side of the state" is one of the Bear Bryant quotes about Auburn.

If you enjoy these Bear Bryant quotes, check out these John Mckay or John Madden quotes.

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Bear Bryant was ambitious about the game of football. What's more, here are some of the quotes by Bryant on life.

1. "In life, you'll have your back up against the wall many times. You might as well get used to it."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

2. " Sacrifice. Work. Self-discipline. I teach these things, and my boys don’t forget them when they leave."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

3. "Show class, have pride, and display character. If you do, winning takes care of itself."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

4. "There is a big difference in wanting to and willing to."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

5. "Expect the unexpected."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

Bryant always believed that one should have the attitude to win.  He always taught his players to play till they win the game. And here are some Paul Bear Bryant quotes about winning with your players.

6. "If they don’t have a winning attitude, I don’t want them."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

7. " Winning isn't everything, but it beats anything that comes in second."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

8. "Don't give up at halftime. Concentrate on winning the second half."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

9. "Get the winners into the game."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

10. "It's not the will to win that matters -- everybody has that. It's the will to prepare to win that matters."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

11. "Bear Bryant's Three Rules for coaching: 1) Surround yourself with people who can't live without football. 2) Recognize winners. They come In all forms. 3) Have a plan for everything."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

12. "I know what it takes to win. If I can sell them on what it takes to win, then we are not going to lose too many football games."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

13. "Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

14. "A good, quick, small team can beat a big, slow team any time."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

15. "I'll put you through hell, but at the end of it all we'll be champions."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

Bear was a celebrated coach University of Alabama and his character was inspirational for everyone. Here are Bear Bryant quotes about integrity and character.  

16. "You never know how a horse will pull until you hook him to a heavy load."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

17. "Never be too proud to get down on your knees and pray."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

18. "Motivating people- the ingredient that separates winners from losers."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

19. "My attitude has always been... if it's worth playing, it's worth paying the price to win."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

20. "Be aware of "yes" men. Generally, they are losers. Surround yourself with winners. Never

forget – people win."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

21. "When people ask me what do I want to be remembered for, I have one answer. I want the people to remember me as a winner, ’cause I ain’t never been nothing but a winner."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

Bryant never thought of losing in his lifetime but saw a lot of players quit after losing. And here are some quotes on losing.

22. "When you make a mistake, there are only three things you should ever do about it: 1. Admit it. 2. Learn from it, and 3. Don't repeat it."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

23. "The first time you quit, it's hard. The second time, it gets easier. The third time, you don't even have to think about it."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

24. "There's no use fussing on a boy who doesn't have any ability."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

25. "Don't tolerate lazy people. They are losers."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

Bear Bryant was so inspirational for other coaches being the longtime head coach. Here are some best Bear Bryant quotes for you.  

26. "The best coaches, most coaches I’ve known, weren’t Phi Beta Kappa in the classroom."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

27. "No coach has ever won a game by what he knows; it's what his players know that counts."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

28. "I’d like for people to remember me as a winner because I ain’t never been nothin but a winner."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

29. "If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride - and never quit, you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

30. "If a man is a quitter, I’d rather find out in practice than in a game. I ask for all a player has so I’ll know later what I can expect."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

31. "I hope to get out before they start football next year."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

32. "I ain't won but one. My team won the rest in spite of me."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

33. "He can't run, he can't pass, and he can't kick - all he can do is beat you."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

34. "There ought to be a special place in heaven for coaches' wives."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

Some of the famous Bear Bryant quotes are here and some you can even use for your facebook profile.

35. "I've had many a player tell me all through high school and right up until signing day that they were coming to Alabama, then they signed with somebody else.

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

36. "I think when it really hit me that I had to get out to keep the program from going down was after the Mississippi Southern game this year."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

37. "Baton Rouge happens to be the worst place in the world for a visiting team. It's like being inside a drum."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

38. "If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

39. "I plan on staying at Alabama for the rest of my career. I guarantee that I'll be here for you through it all, regardless of what happens."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

40. "Set goals - high goals for you and your organization. When your organization has a goal to shoot for, you create teamwork, people working for a common good."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

41. "If you want to walk the heavenly streets of gold, you gotta know the password, 'Roll, Tide, Roll."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

42. "Have you called your mama today? I wish I could call mine."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

43. "I don't have to apologize for who I play. I'm trying to win the game."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

44. "At Alabama our players do not win Heisman Trophies, our teams win national championships."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

45. "If we'd beaten'em, I wouldn't be going out."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

46. "Hell, no! A tie is like kissing your sister!"

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

47. "If you are going to be a successful duck hunter, you must go where the ducks are."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

48. "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

49. "There is no substitute for hard work. None."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

50. "I don’t try to save the world. I just go at it one football player at a time."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

51. "Football changes and so do people. The successful coach is the one who sets the trend, not the one who follows it."

- Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly and Bear Bryant quotes on the desire to win for everyone to enjoy and inspire! If you liked our suggestions for 51 Paul Bear Bryant quotes from the six national championship winning football coach, then why not take a look at Woody Hayes or Tom Landry quotes.

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