Words of Wisdom

When Ara Parseghian arrived at Notre Dame in 1964, the Fighting Irish had just completed a 2-7 season. A year later, under his tutelage, they were 9-1. By the time he retired due to health problems in 1974, he had amassed an overall record of 95-17-4, won two national titles and three bowl games. But his biggest fight actually came after he left the gridiron. Since 1994 he has been raising money to find a cure for a rare genetic disease that has already claimed one of this grandchildren and threatens two others. The Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation has raised more than $7 million to fund research into Niemann-Pick Type C Disease, a fatal metabolic disorder. As a spokesman for the foundation he displays the same wit and insight that made him a oft-quoted coach. Here's some of the words he used to sum up the game that consumed much of his life.

"Quarterbacks and head coaches get too much credit and too much blame."

"This game is not won by a pep talk on Saturday. It's won by preparation of your club from Monday until game time."

"It's easy to be loyal when you're winning. The real test of attitude is when things turn sour."

"There's no game more important than the one you're playing today."

"Two weeks after Navy I told the team they were definitely causing my hair to turn gray. Today I told them they were going to make me a replacement for Kojak."

"There ought to be a way to penalize officials, too."

"The great teams, because of pride, coaching and loyalty, are never broken, even in losing efforts."

"You just once get flat, you just once relax and someone will fatten up their reputation at your expense."

"The moments of splendor, the ruthlessness of injury, the private inner sanctum of one's naked feeling exposed in loss or victory, the humor and tragedy of men at play and work can never be captured totally in words or pictures."

Quotations from Football Coach Quotes: The Wit, Wisdom and Winning Words of Leaders on the Gridiron, by Larry Adler