Mama wanted me to be a preacher. I told her coachin' and preachin' were a lot alike.

At Alabama, our players don't win Heisman Trophies. Our teams win National Championships.

Football games are generally won by the boys with the greatest desire.

I have always tried to teach my players to be fighters. When I say that, I don't mean put up your dukes and get in a fistfight over something. I'm talking about facing adversity in your life. There is not a person alive who isn't going to have some awfully bad days in their lives. I tell my players that what I mean by fighting is when your house burns down, and your wife runs off with the drummer, and you've lost your job and all the odds are against you. What are you going to do? Most people just lay down and quit. Well, I want my people to fight back.

In a crisis, don't hide behind anything or anybody. They're going to find you anyway.

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

I didn't care if we ever quit practicing. I loved it. The only other guy I ever knew who loved it as much was Jerry Duncan. He would beg to practice even when he was hurt. I've actually seen him cry because the trainer told him he couldn't scrimmage.