Paul William “Bear” Bryant (1913–83) was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. 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. The Paul W. Bryant Museum, Paul W. Bryant Hall, Paul W. Bryant Drive, and Bryant–Denny Stadium are all named in his honor at the University of Alabama. He was also known for his trademark black and white houndstooth 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 smoking a cigarette. Before arriving at Alabama, Bryant was head football coach at the University of Maryland, the University of Kentucky, and Texas A&M University.
Source: Wikipedia (via CC-BY-SA license) • READ: Works by Bear Bryant
First there are those who are the winners and know they are winners. Then there are the losers know they are losers. Then there arc those who are not winners but don’t know it. They’re the ones for me. They never quit trying. They’re the soul of our game.
—Bear Bryant
Topics: Endurance, Perseverance, Resolve
Show class, have pride and display character.If you do, winning takes care of itself.
—Bear Bryant
Topics: Character
I’m not much of a golfer, I don’t have any friends and, all I like to do is go home and be alone, and not worry about ways not to lose.
—Bear Bryant
There’s no substitute for guts.
—Bear Bryant
Topics: Courage, Bravery
If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, then we did it. If anything goes real good, then you did it. That’s all it takes to get people to win football games.
—Bear Bryant
Topics: Praise
It’s not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.
—Bear Bryant
Topics: Win
It’s not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that makes the difference.
—Bear Bryant
Topics: Winning, Winners
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Tommy Prothro American Football Coach
Mike Ditka American Sportsperson
Woody Hayes American Sportsperson
John Wooden American Sportsperson
Joe Paterno American Sportsperson
Yogi Berra American Sportsperson
Bill Veeck American Sportsperson
Arthur Ashe American Tennis Player
Billie Jean King American Tennis Player
Muhammad Ali American Sportsperson