Toughness - Andrew Luck

Sports Illustrated December 3, 2012

"But he's a great forgetter," says Christensen (Clyde - Colts QB Coach).  "He won't be cocky the day after he played a great game, like against Miami, and he won't be down after a game like New England.
Speaking about Colts QB Andrew Luck

W.I.N. Today - Win This Practice!

Sports Illustrated December 3, 2012:
...No one batted an eye when, in his first minicamp following the draft, Luck snapped, "Get your asses going!  We gotta win this practice."
 

Teamwork - I'd Rather Hold A Crystal Ball

You touched on legacy, and your name right now is being thrown around in the Heisman consideration. Does that cross your mind at this point?

Manti Te'o: “No. I think when my name is being tossed around as a national champion, that's what I'm looking for. You ask any Heisman winner that wasn't a national champion what they would rather be, and I think they would rather be the latter, a national champion. So that's what I want. I’d rather be holding a crystal ball than a bronze statue. That's just me.”

Toughness - Worst Four Letter Word

Phil Beckner - Weber State Basketball
"Worst four letter word someone can call you in the english language...SOFT!"

Excellence - Live A Champions life

"Live an average life and average you shall be.  Live a champion's life and a champion you shall be."
Manti Te'o

Toughness - Every Single Day

"Toughness isn't a costume that you wear one day and then lose the next.  Tough guys are tough every single day, regardless of circumstance."  Scott Cross

W.I.N. Today - You Win Championships Today

Mike D'Antoni - Los Angeles Lakers: "You don't win a championship in June.  You win it today."

Attitude - Effect On Others

"When you come out on the field, I want to see your positive energy that's affecting somebody else to do better." 
Nick Saban

Excellence - It's About Performance

From the book, The Miracle of St. Anthony
  Bob Hurley: "It's never about winning here.  It's about performance.  It is not acceptable to just win a high school basketball game any old way."

Commitment - The Four Time Zones

The Four Time Zones

a. Spare Time: I’ll get there on my spare time.
b. Part Time: I’m gonna do it some.
c. Full Time:  I will give you everything during practice.
d. All The Time: Every fiber of my body.
Kevin Eastman – Boston Celtics Assistant

Discipline - What Manti Te'o Wanted In New Coach

 

The Full Manti, Sports Illustrated, Pete Thamel

...Through all the firings and controversies, Notre Dame became less of a program.  A place known for its tradition of excellence kept calling further into mediocrity.  After the dismissal of coach Charlie Weis at the end of the 2009 season, Swarbrick took a group of football players to dinner to discuss the attributes they wanted in a new coach.  Swarbrick will never forget what Te'o said:  "I want someone who demands more out of us."

Toughness - Geno Auriemma

"Most important thing for players to work on in practice...shooting?  ball-handling?  defense?  Pointless without MENTAL TOUGHNESS."  Geno Auriemma