Woody Hayes Quotes

Powerful Woody Hayes for Daily Growth

About Woody Hayes

Woody Hayes (1913-1987), born on January 19 in Chillicothe, Ohio, was a legendary American football coach, best known for his 28-year tenure as the head coach of The Ohio State University's (OSU) football team. His coaching career spanned five decades, making an indelible mark on college football and American sports culture. Raised in modest circumstances, Hayes was heavily influenced by high school football coaches who instilled discipline, hard work, and a deep love for the game. After serving as a naval officer during World War II, he returned to Ohio to coach at McClain High School, leading them to three state championships. In 1950, Hayes was hired by OSU as an assistant coach under Paul Brown. When Brown left in 1953, Hayes took over the head coaching position. Under his guidance, OSU's football program experienced a resurgence. The team won national championships in 1954, 1968, and 1970, and produced numerous All-American players. Hayes was known for his fiery personality and unconventional coaching tactics. His famous quote, "Three things can happen when you pass, and two of them are bad," encapsulated his pragmatic approach to offensive strategy. Despite occasional controversies, such as the 1978 "Gathering of Jugs" incident, Hayes remained a beloved figure at OSU and in Ohio sports. After retiring from coaching in 1978, Hayes remained active in college football as an analyst for CBS Sports. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. Woody Hayes passed away on March 12, 1987, leaving behind a powerful legacy that continues to influence American football today.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"If you take care of victory, victory will take care of itself."

Woody Hayes' quote, "If you take care of victory, victory will take care of itself," emphasizes the importance of focus, preparation, and attention to detail in achieving success. It suggests that by concentrating on the essential elements that lead to a desirable outcome (victory), one can ultimately achieve that outcome without having to directly pursue it. This quote is inspiring as it encourages individuals to approach their goals with diligence, perseverance, and an unwavering focus on the key factors necessary for success rather than fixating on the end result itself.


"The great consistent winners in life are not those who have never failed, but rather those failures who keep on trying."

This quote emphasizes that true success in life is achieved not by those who have never experienced failure, but by individuals who persist in the face of failure. It suggests that failure is an inevitable part of the journey towards greatness, and it's those who pick themselves up, learn from their mistakes, and continue striving, who ultimately succeed consistently. In other words, resilience, determination, and a strong will to keep trying despite setbacks are key qualities of individuals who achieve significant success in life.


"Wins and losses come a dime a dozen, but effort in the right direction never fails."

This quote by Woody Hayes emphasizes that while victories and defeats are common in any competition or endeavor, the effort one puts into striving towards a worthy goal is never fruitless. It suggests that as long as you put forth your best effort in pursuing something meaningful, success will eventually follow, whether it's in sports, business, or personal life. The focus should be on consistent and dedicated effort rather than solely relying on the outcome.


"If you're lucky enough to be a Buckeye, you're lucky enough."

This quote emphasizes strong pride and appreciation for being affiliated with The Ohio State University (commonly known as "The Buckeyes"). Woody Hayes, a legendary coach of the university's football team, suggests that being connected to this institution carries great fortune and honor due to its prestige and rich history. This sentiment demonstrates deep loyalty and camaraderie felt by many associated with The Ohio State University.


"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."

This quote emphasizes that success cannot be achieved without hard work, implying that it is essential to put in the necessary effort before achieving any level of success. In other words, success should never be expected or assumed without the commitment of time, energy, and dedication to the task at hand. The dictionary definition serves as a metaphor for the idea that success only comes after work, not before.


I may not be able to outsmart too many people, but I can outwork 'em.

- Woody Hayes

May, Able, Too, I May Not

Nothing that comes easy is worth a dime.

- Woody Hayes

Worth, Nothing, Easy, Dime

Paralyze resistance with persistence.

- Woody Hayes

Persistence, Resistance, Paralyze

I don't apologize for anything. When I make a mistake, I take the blame and go on from there.

- Woody Hayes

Mistake, Blame, Take, Apologize

I don't like nice people. I like tough, honest people.

- Woody Hayes

Honest, Like, Honest People, Nice People

My brother and I were still in high school playing football, and we were both middleweight, and we couldn't find anyone else to fight in our weight class, so we'd fight each other. I was a stand-up fighter, and Ike was a weaving type of fighter, and we fought that way out there at Cy Young's farm, and we put on quite a show.

- Woody Hayes

Young, Other, Ike, Weaving

Success is the only motivational factor that a boy with character needs.

- Woody Hayes

Character, Success Is, Needs, Factor

On our first date, all Anne wanted to talk about was Bob Feller, the new pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.

- Woody Hayes

New, Date, About, Cleveland

Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach.

- Woody Hayes

Pretty, Over, Pretty Good, Despises

The game of football is one of strategy and tactics.

- Woody Hayes

Football, Game, Tactics, Strategy

I speak at a lot of banquets in small towns, because small towns have so many great people.

- Woody Hayes

Small, Small Towns, Many, Great People

The five big mistakes in football are the fumble, the interception, the penalty, the badly called play, the blocked punt - and most of these originate with the quarterback. Find a mistake-proof quarterback and you have this game won.

- Woody Hayes

Play, Big, Badly, Five

I'm not trying to win a popularity poll. I'm trying to win football games.

- Woody Hayes

Games, Trying, Popularity

I'm no longer the head football coach at Ohio State.

- Woody Hayes

Football, Head, Longer, Ohio

As the youngest, I don't think there was any doubt I was spoiled.

- Woody Hayes

Doubt, Think, Youngest, Spoiled

The players fire the coach, and as long as I'm on the same wavelength with them, I can coach as long as I want to.

- Woody Hayes

Want, Same, Players, Wavelength

Football is, after all, a wonderful way to get rid of your aggressions without going to jail for it.

- Woody Hayes

Football, Wonderful, Going, Wonderful Way

A man is always better than he thinks.

- Woody Hayes

Better, Always, Than, Thinks

A good general always makes you search for his weaknesses.

- Woody Hayes

Search, Always, General, Weaknesses

The bowl games are only supposed to be a fun reward.

- Woody Hayes

Games, Reward, Only, Supposed

I am not very smart, but I recognize that I am not very smart.

- Woody Hayes

I Am, Very, Am, Smart

Without winners, there wouldn't even be any civilization.

- Woody Hayes

Civilization, Even, Any, Winners

The most deceptive course in football is straight at the goalposts.

- Woody Hayes

Course, Straight, Most, Deceptive

No back in the history of football was ever worth two fumbles a game.

- Woody Hayes

Game, Back, Ever, The History Of

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