Al McGuire Quotes

Al McGuire delivers witty, no-nonsense takes on education, leadership and society that will make you grin.

17 quotes

1. 'The world is run by C-students'

2. 'Winning is only important in war and surgery,' he said in 1975. A year later came another classic: 'They call me eccentric. They used to call me nuts. I haven't changed.'

3. 'I don't know why people question the academic training of an athlete. Fifty percent of the doctors in this country graduated in the bottom half of their classes.'

4. I think everyone should go to college and get a degree and then spend six months as a bartender and six months as a cabdriver. Then they would really be educated.

5. When asked 'How do you know a restaurant has good chili?' McGuire's answer, 'If the waitress has dirty ankles, the chili is good.'

6. Live every day as if it were Saturday night.

7. The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores.

8. I let ballplayers yell back at me because I wasn't trying to prove I'm boss. I know I'm boss.

9. Help one kid at a time. He'll maybe go back and help a few more.

10. I don't believe in looking past anybody - I wouldn't look past the Little Sisters of the Poor after they stayed up all night.

11. There's no one who's dropped on top of the mountain. You've got to work your way to the top.

12. Remember, half the doctors in this country graduated in the bottom half of their class.

13. I don't think any decent human being enjoys recruiting.

14. God didn't miss any of us.

15. The nicest thing about coaching is that one day you feel like you can play handball against a curb, and on other days you feel like you can fly to the moon.

16. I want my team to have my personality: surly, obnoxious, and arrogant.

17. Don't call me son unless you're going to include me in your will. (When Adolph Rupp called him, "Son.")