Bob Stoops

I was an undersized, undertalented defensive back. I knocked myself out multiple times running into people. I ended my career without an anterior cruciate ligament. I still don't have one. At a certain point, you realize: I've used up all I've got.

Yeah, I've never tailgated.

It's very rewarding when you know you're affecting a young person in a positive way, when you know you're helping influence them in the right direction. Teaching them by example, giving them examples, showing humility and respect and love for your child and wife.

Any time you experience adversity, whether you lose a game or maybe have an official who makes a poor call that costs you the game, you've gotta handle yourself properly. Just like in life, not everything will go your way.

I think all coaches look at it as a major part of our job: to build young men, not just ball players. To put the right things in front of them, and help them mature as men, not just as players.

Coaches around the country are influencing the next generation of men in a positive way.

Sam Bradford was one of the most humble and grounded players I've ever been around; he got it. But I even told him, what makes you think those fans in the stands are wearing No.14 for you? Who says it's not an old Josh Heupel jersey?

Spend a day around my players, around my African-American players, my Hispanic players, my Polynesian players, and you'll see the true beauty of who they are.

It's a life issue more than anything when you're dealing with racism anywhere... It's a life issue - bigger than sports, bigger than football.

I have this routine where on Fridays I sign balls that need to be autographed. One time, after my fortieth or fiftieth ball, I looked over at my secretary and said, 'Who is Bob Stoops, anyway?'

I love college football. I love the game.

The characteristic that every college football coach should look for in a wife is independence.

Football is all about repetition. The trick for a coach is to be innovative when you ask for it.

In the end, everybody's life's different. Some things fit certain ways for people, and it's right, and maybe it isn't for others.

Everyone wants you to define your life until the end of your life.

I'm not looking to coach in Chicago.

This game we play is the ultimate total team game. Quarterback by himself isn't winning it. You got 11-12 coaches, you've got a lot of people that have a hand in it.

No matter how angry people on the outside were when you don't perform well, a coach is 10 times what anyone else is feeling. Nothing digs at you more. But that's part of our business.

Carl Pendleton's the absolute best. He's everything you want in a student-athlete.

If you keep hanging on to something, you've got an opportunity to keep getting hurt by it.

I think every league is good. Every league is pretty much the same: You got your top teams that are all very good, you got middle of the road teams that are really good and then you got your bottom of leagues that are all kind if fighting to get really good. I think it's pretty much the same across the board; I've said that for a long time.

Stepping down after 18 years as the head football coach here at Oklahoma, and I feel like I've absolutely been the luckiest, most fortunate guy in the world.

You've got to put the work in every week. You can't take anything for granted.

Big 12 Championship is, to me, it's always your primary goal to start with because it's not easy to do.

Everyone has to earn their money one way or the other.

Coach Spurrier, without question, has been the biggest influence to me, next to my father.

Just being in the locker room as a young person growing up was something I've always enjoyed, without ever having it forced upon me.

The fact is I gave everything I had to Kansas State when I was there.

Anytime we lose a game, there it goes. The roller coaster's going down.

I've got great respect for all the teams in the SEC as well as the Big 12, the Big Ten, on and on.

It's impossible to remove agendas.

Sometimes you get in life something you don't like... you have to do something different.

Patty Gasso is the best. I think she's awesome.

I know what really matters in my life.

I have a very strong faith.

When people ask me where I'm from I say I'm from Oklahoma.

Sometimes people want change just to change. It doesn't mean it's going to be better.

I may have to buy an RV and learn how to tailgate and get the charcoal going.

I can't remember the last time I've been to a football game as a spectator.

I remember embracing our championship tradition, telling our players that this is what we should expect to be; this is what Oklahoma is supposed to be. And we're going to do all we can to be that. And if we don't, there will be no excuses. You either do or you don't.

Sometimes with these big long guys who are really athletic, you don't know when they're going to stop growing.

I'm thankful that my career at Oklahoma was marked with consistent leadership in president David Boren and director of athletics Joe Castiglione.

I'm especially thankful for being able to coach so many talented young men over my 18 years here. It has been so rewarding to see these players come to OU and mature over a four- or five-year career, and not just on the field. To play a small part in their growth is what I will always cherish the most.

I think proximity in recruiting matters the most.

They said 'the SEC this, the SEC that.' I said, 'You talk like all 14 teams are this, that and the other thing.' I said, 'You have to give credit to the first one or two that have won the national championship, but don't act like they're all doing that.'

Boomer Sooner!

I just love to play football and enjoy it.

I have incredible respect for Coach Switzer.

We could fill up a whole hour's television show talking about coach's recruiting stories, I love them, they're the best.

There has to be measures for players to know the consequences for their actions.