Coach Taylor quotes from Friday Night Lights

Give all of us gathered here tonight the strength to remember that life is so very fragile. We are all vulnerable and we will all at some point in our lives fall; we will all fall. We must carry this in our hearts...that what we have is special. That it can be taken from us and that when it is taken from us we will be tested...we will be tested to our very souls. We will now all be tested. It is these times...it is this pain that allows us to look inside ourselves.

Wind sprints, up and down the hill. Let's go. Let's go. (whistle blows) If you think you're champions because you wear the Panther uniform. You're wrong! If you think you're champions because they give you a piece of pie at the diner. You're wrong! Champions don't complain! Champions don't give up! Let's go Coach. Send 'em out. [whistle blows] Champions don't give up! Champions don't complain! Champions give 200%. You're not champions until you've earned it!

Execution! Where the hell's the execution out there?! Huh? My God, we ought to be beating these bums by 40 points! Riggins, you're supposed to be one of the toughest guys in the district. They are handing your ass to you, son! You better get your head in the game. Smash...north, south, north, south. You want to dance with these boys out there; you invite them to the prom!

[to his wife, about Matt] I think I told that kid to get our daughter in the backside of a car.

I think sometimes that for anyone to do what I do, it is damn near impossible to not sell your soul just a little bit down the river.

All right, listen up! Listen, now. Y'all ought to be real proud of yourselves. That was a hell of an effort tonight. That was a hell of a game. I don't know how in the hell, he did, or where he came from to do, or what have you, but I know who this game ball goes to. [hands football to Tim Riggins] That was one hell of a game. All of y'all, that was one hell of a game!

[to Tim Riggins] I don't give you the impression that I think of you as only a football player, do I? I bring this up because as usual my wife is always right. You got your mid-terms comin' up. I'm gonna be in contact with your teachers. I'm gonna know what's going on. There will be no more free rides, you will start paying. And hear me when I say this, no pass...no play.

Every man at some point in his life is going to lose a battle. He is going to fight and he is going to lose. But what makes him a man is at the midst of that battle he does not lose himself. This game is not over, this battle is not over.

I believe I know what y'all are thinking right now. Y'all think that Coach is a bastard for taking this job. I would see to that, that y'all have dreams. Lot of you have dreams to play college ball, pro ball. There is nothing more important to me than to help you achieve those dreams. I'd promise you that. I have dreams too. It's long been a dream of mine to coach in Division One school like TMU. Whatever it is you're feeling, I don't blame you. It is all pretty raw. You may not accept it now, but I pray one day you will. I don't like the press. I never have. Should've been done different. I apologize it wasn't.

[Reading Julie's article] Quote: "Athletic director and Panther football coach Eric Taylor had no comment". She asked me through the bathroom door. What am I supposed to do? I was busy!

[Taylor has Coach Dickies against the wall after locker room fight] Listen to me... if you ever, I mean EVER, touch one of my players again, you will never coach another football game as long as you live, you understand me? And after that, I will kick your old, tired ass six ways from Sunday, Donald. [to Santiago, laughing] Shut up.

[to Jason] Woah...slow down a second. Wait a second. First of all, you're not going to be a deadbeat dad. You're going to calm down here. Look man, you're twenty years old. You're not supposed to know what you're gonna do with the rest of your life yet. You're doing what you think is best. You're following through on what you think is best and that's what you should be doing. You have a plan and you're executing it, what's wrong with that? But you gotta give it a chance, you gotta give yourself time. You can't beat yourself up because you're taking chances on things, but don't start giving up on what you set forth to do in the beginning, 'cause that's gonna get you nowhere. I can promise you that.

[giving a half-time pep talk] Y'all want to end this season? Pack your bags and go home...you know where the door is. Otherwise I suggest you wake up, get your heads in this game. This defense is not gonna carry this team all night long. This offense has got to execute, or else I'll guarantee you our season ends tonight. Understood? I can't hear you.

[after the game] I wanted everyone's friends and family to be in here to hear this, gentlemen. I have never been more proud of a team than I am right now. I am in awe of each and every one of you gentlemen. [Long pause] You played great football tonight. This is the game that people are gonna talk about for years to come. This is the game you are gonna talk about. There's not a single person in this room that's ever gonna be the same. You be proud of yourselves. Because gentlemen, you are champions.

[Defending his coaching contract at the board meeting] I did not want to be here today. Here I am. I love my job. I'm good at it, and I'd like to keep it. I love this school, I love the kids, and I feel like I've just gotten started here. There's some people here who want to replace me, for a man with an awful lot of money and a boy with a good arm. To those people I would say: you're wrong. You are dead wrong. Y'all have a good Saturday.