Nick Saban Quotes

I tell my 5-year-old, 'Once you commit to something, stick it out.' I would never want him to look at Dad and think Dad was a quitter.

Everything I've done in my career is a result of growing up in rural Oklahoma, because if I hadn't had the training from Mama and Daddy to work hard, to do what I'm told, to take directions, to mind and to do a good job at anything I set out to do, then I wouldn't be where I am today.

If I started something, I had to finish. Like with violin. I started when I was seven only because my best mate wanted to. I hated it and wanted to quit, but Dad made me continue, and I got to grade seven. My parents said I had to know the value of stuff and work for stuff.

My dad has ingrained that in me: 'Be accountable.'

Always be prepared; always work hard and take pride in your work no matter what it is. I still follow that advice and have already tried to pass it on to my children. They, of course, ignored me.

If you say you're going to do something, you do it. If you start it, you finish it. Yes sir, no ma'am. And you've got to have that kind of structure in your life. It kind of helped me be that disciplined person that I am, whether it's with workouts, film or just the game of football.

Doing what you want to do is easy. Doing what you have to do is hard.

When I was 10, I had a paper route. One year, I delivered my papers through a hurricane. My mother was against the idea, but my dad, who was a sergeant in the Marine Corps, overruled her. I was determined to deliver my papers.

My father went to work every day, and it's my job to go to work, too. Some days will be good, some won't be so good, but I have to go to work.

From my parents, I learned a very strong work ethic, and all of my brothers and sisters all worked from the earliest days of life right through to the present time.

I give 110% while I am working. I know I do, because I have been doing this since I was nine. This is a way of life for me. So whether it be successful or not is not in my hands. I still do my job, the best I can.

In third grade, I was taking tap-dance lessons, and about six weeks before the recital I wanted to quit. My mom said, 'No, you're going to stay with it.' Well, I did it, and I was bad, too! But my parents never let their kids walk away from something because it was too hard.

The only rule I got is if you slide, get up.

Growing up with my dad, whenever I wanted to try something, he would let me try it but he wouldn't let me give up on it. If soccer was too tough and I said, 'I'm going to quit,' he'd be like, 'No, you're going to try everything and keep going at it.'

I attribute my success to this - I never gave or took any excuse.

In terms of instilling the values of mental toughness and work ethic, discipline is the gift that keeps on giving.

Our father always made us work. I think that's the greatest thing a parent could ever do.

My parents instilled a strong work ethic early on in my life.

I grew up very disciplined and doing what I had to do.

You have to work hard if you want something, and my parents instilled that into me when I was really young.

I know guys respect work ethic, and they respect the guys that are invested and committed.

My father instilled those hard-working values.

I learned from my dad and my mom somebody should only have to tell you once. Whether it's me getting in trouble, they said I should only have to tell you once. I've kind of took that and made that for all aspects.

I never leave the field. I block. I catch. I never leave the field. I don't have anybody do my job. I do it myself.

I don't quit. If someone quits on me, that's on them, but I'm not going to quit, especially if I say I'm gonna do something.