Football is a mistake. It combines the two worst elements of American life. Violence and committee meetings.

Football is a mistake. It combines the two worst elements of American life. Violence and committee meetings.

Men kick friendship around like a football, but it doesn't seem to crack. Women treat it like glass and it read more

Men kick friendship around like a football, but it doesn't seem to crack. Women treat it like glass and it goes to pieces.

I feel that the progress I have made as a coach, as well as a person, is a direct result read more

I feel that the progress I have made as a coach, as well as a person, is a direct result of the growth that I have made through my Church callings. I had the opportunity to serve as a bishop in a campus ward while I was still an assistant coach. When I was appointed head football coach in 1972, I decided to approach my role as a coach much the same as I did as a bishop, delegating responsibility to my assistants, putting responsibility on the players for self-improvement in all aspects of their lives, and using personal interviews with players to try to give positive reinforcement and encouragement so that they might do their very best and reach their full potential, both on and off the field.

Coming out of BYU's football spring, 1999, practice: We might have a chance to be pretty good.

Coming out of BYU's football spring, 1999, practice: We might have a chance to be pretty good.

I'm old, old enough to play baseball or football. I'm not eight yet. My Mom told me when you start read more

I'm old, old enough to play baseball or football. I'm not eight yet. My Mom told me when you start baseball, you aren't going to be able to run that fast because you had an operation. I told Mom I wouldn't need to run fast. When I play baseball, I'll just hit them out of the park. Then I'll be able to walk.

I feel an autumnal Saturday, no matter how beautiful, is wasted if it doesn't find me sitting in on a read more

I feel an autumnal Saturday, no matter how beautiful, is wasted if it doesn't find me sitting in on a football game.

You can't be a Real Country unless you have a BEER and an airline. It helps if you have some read more

You can't be a Real Country unless you have a BEER and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a BEER

When we have adversity we oftentimes tend to look around and think that we're the Lone Ranger. We tend to read more

When we have adversity we oftentimes tend to look around and think that we're the Lone Ranger. We tend to believe that we're the only one who has problems. And we always look around and see others who are more talented, taller, smarter, handsomer, or faster. I can assure you, everyone has problems—even football coaches. The ability we have to handle this adversity will determine the degree of success that we will have in life.

The main reason for doing it now ... had more to do with the players. This is a great group. read more

The main reason for doing it now ... had more to do with the players. This is a great group. This particular group has really worked hard to prepare themselves. And we have a chance to have a good football team.