Lou Holtz Quotes

So many times people are afraid of competition, when it should bring out the best in us. We all have talents and abilities, so why be intimidated by other people's skills?

You were not born a winner, and you were not born a loser. You are what you make yourself be.

When I die, and people realize that I will not be resurrected in three days, they will forget me. That is the way it should be.

Winners embrace hard work. They love the discipline of it, the trade-off they're making to win. Losers, on the other hand, see it as punishment. And that's the difference.

I think life is a matter of choices and that wherever we are, good or bad, is because of choices we make.

No one has ever drowned in sweat.

They say a tie is like kissing your sister. I guess that is better than kissing your brother.

How do you know what it's like to be stupid if you've never been smart?

Build your empire on the firm foundation of the fundamentals.

Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.

When the bank asks me about my assets, I include my friendship with Regis Philbin.

If you're bored with life - you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things - you don't have enough goals.

I have to admit, I sometimes wonder how much more successful I would have been as a coach had it not been for my spending summers on the golf course. I could have watched more film, that's for sure. One advantage Joe Paterno had over me was that he didn't play golf.

I do think coaches need to get away from the game more, though. It's good for them.

When I work a game as an analyst, all I do is look at the game like a coach.

I don't think we can win every game. Just the next one.

Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger.

We were at a beach one summer, and I had a bathing suit on. My wife looked at me and said: 'Boy, you are skinny, aren't you?' I said: 'Honey, I'd like to remind you that it was minor defects like this that kept me from getting a better wife.'

Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity.

I look at athletes in all sports and try to picture what kind of football player they'd be, what position they'd play and so on.

Teamwork is the foundation of success. The three universal questions that an individual asks of his coach, player, employee, employer are: Can I trust you? Are you committed to excellence? And, do you care about me?

People eyeing you as a potential leader tend to ask three questions: Are you committed? Do you care about me? Can I trust you?

It's good to be successful but it's great to be significant

The team that's on defense first (in overtime) has the advantage because they know whether they need a touchdown a field goal or just a score.

If you make a fist and hold it for two hours, you won't be able to pick up a glass because you'll be so weak. Let's stay loose. Let's have fun.

No matter what happens on the field, getting an education makes you a winner.

No matter how bad someone has it, there are others who have it worse. Remembering that makes life a lot easier and allows you to take pleasure in the blessings you have been given.

If you burn your neighbors house down, it doesn't make your house look any better.

Give me a blackboard. I can stop anything on a blackboard.

The best way to save face is not to use the lower half.

In adversity, there is opportunity. Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity. I've never known anybody to achieve anything without overcoming adversity. Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger.

If he's got golf clubs in his truck or a camper in his driveway, I don't hire him.

I just have an enthusiasm for life.

Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who are not motivated.

If you want to get a deal, negotiate with the teams yourself. Say, "I want this much, and no less, but I'll show up to camp on time." It doesn't seem that hard to me.

It's not my job to motivate players. They bring extraordinary motivation to our program. It's my job not to de-motivate them.

You've got to have great athletes to win, I don't care who the coach is. You can't win without good athletes but you can lose with them. This is where coaching makes the difference.

The way you motivate a football team is to eliminate the unmotivated ones.