Merlin Olsen quotes:

One of life's most painful moments comes when we must admit that we didn't do our homework, that we are not prepared.

I was always the last one chosen for football games in Central Park.

The basketball coach cut me within two days, so I was back in the pool. I was the first one in the wall after the first 25 yards, but the last one out because I didn't have a flip turn.

I was captain and should have set the example. I would lift a minimum of weights. Mine was natural physical strength. I always thought quickness and agility were much more important.

Team doctors' jobs those days were to keep you on the field.

Our whole philosophy was to intimidate the quarterback. We were able to do it. We were pioneers. People still recognize us as, maybe, the best defensive line of all time.

Our coach was absolutely out of his head. He must have read Bear Bryant's book. We had 78 players out. The first day 35 quit. Twenty quit the second day. We ended with 17 players. It was depressing.

Perseverance isn't just the willingness to work hard. It's that plus the willingness to be stubborn about your own belief in yourself.

Nobody cared about swimming. You could draw a crowd for basketball.

We need to know where we are going and how we plan to get there. Our dreams and aspirations must be translated into real and tangible goals with priorities and time frames.

Most exciting for me was to make the Pro Bowl in 14 of 15 years.

After a few games I knew I was going to be able to compete. The idea of being a star never crossed my mind.

I can ski out of my back door.

I've caught fish as big as I am. I've caught marlin close to 300 pounds.

The winning team has a dedication. It will have a core of veteran players who set the standards. They will not accept defeat.

You are the land. The land is you.

Football linemen are motivated by a more complicated, self- determining series of factors than the simple fear of humiliation in the public gaze, which is the emotion that galvanizes the backs and receivers.

I do not believe that there is any secret or single formula for success, but there are common threads of thought and action that characterize the successful people that I have been fortunate enough to know and observe. I do know, from my own experience, that our chance of succeeding is much greater when we organize and take charge of our lives. When we are willing to make decisions, we aggressively pursue those things in life that are important to us.

I had a hockey puck and stick-the only ones in town. I definitely would have played hockey ahead of football, had it been available.

I just wanted to be an athlete.

I probably played hurt a lot more times than I should have.

It took me a while to realize that basketball wasn't football.

Sigma Chi was a learning experience for me in personal growth, in finding out more about myself, in shaping my life more effectively, and in directing my energies more efficiently. All of those things were heavily influenced by my Sigma Chi experience. There is no question that that has had a tremendous impact on my career, profesionally and on my life.

The focus of my life begins at home with family, loved ones and friends. I want to use my resources to create a secure environment that fosters love, learning, laughter and mutual success. I will protect and value integrity. I will admit and quickly correct my mistakes. I will be a self-starter. I will be a caring person. I will be a good listener with an open mind. I will continue to grow and learn. I will facilitate and celebrate the success of others.

You can take the best team and the worst team and line them up and you would find very little physical difference. You would find an emotional difference. The wining team has a dedication. It will have a core group of veteran players who set the standards. They will not accept defeat.