Quotes from Tom Landry

I try to block out everything that distracts me. Even a big play, I blank it out.

I probably should have gotten out, but I really enjoyed the challenge of bringing a team to that game. In fact, I probably enjoy the challenge of it more than the actual game.

Achievement builds character.

If you don't win a Super Bowl, you're not considered successful in the National Football League. I can remember, when we finally won that first one, feeling so good for the players and fans.

The greatest thing is to win your first Super Bowl.

Leadership is getting someone to do what they don't want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve.

I don't believe in team motivation. I believe in getting a team prepared so it knows it will have the necessary confidence when it steps on a field and be prepared to play a good game.

Character is the ability of a person to see a positive end of things. This is the hope that a man of character has.

I learned early in sports that to be effective - for a player to play the best he can play - is a matter of concentration and being unaware of distractions, positive or negative.

If you show emotion in competition, temporarily, you'll be ineffective. If you're disciplined enough, you don't get down when you're behind, and you have a chance to create something positive.

If you were to see me as a cheerleader, that would mean I was only watching instead of thinking.

You don't have to drink or swear or hit people in the face when they're not looking, but you do have to be tough to win.

I just didn't want to leave the Cowboys when they were down. I at least wanted them to get into a respectable position before anyone else took over.

Football is to Texas what religion is to a priest.

First become a winner in life. Then it's easier to become a winner on the field.

Confidence comes from knowing what you're doing. If you are prepared for something, you usually do it. If not, you usually fall flat on your face.

Being the best at whatever talent you have, that's what stimulates life.

A coach is someone who tells you what you don't want to hear, who has you see what you don't want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be

Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.

If you are prepared, you will be confident, and will do the job.

I've learned that something constructive comes from every defeat.

Football is an incredible game. Sometimes it's so incredible, it's unbelievable.

When you want to win a game, you have to teach. When you lose a game, you have to learn.

In my opinion, character is the most important determinant of a person's success, achievement and ability to handle adversity.