Several of my critics have said, 'Bowerman just tacks up a piece of paper in the locker room and turns his runners loose.' They're partially right. I do give the athletes a relatively free rein and for good reason. One of my principles is? 'Don't overcoach.'

Victory is in having done your best. If you've done your best, you've won.

If you have a body, you are an athlete!

The athlete makes himself, the coach doesn't make the athlete.

Everything you need is already inside.

I still bother with runners I call hamburgers. They're never going to run any record times. But they can fulfill their own potential.

It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission.