Coach Boone quotes from Remember the Titans (2000)

You're over-cooking my grits coach. Alright, I will allow Coach Tyrell to coach the special teams, but I will be keeping my eye on him. And you.

This is not a democracy. It is a dictatorship. I am the law!

You look like a bunch of fifth grade sissies after a cat fight! You got anger, that's good. You're gonna need it, you got aggression that's even better. You're gonna need that, too. But any little two year old child can throw a fit! Football is about controlling that anger, harnessing that aggression into a team effort to achieve perfection!

This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we are still fighting among ourselves today. This green field right here, painted red, bubblin' with the blood of young boys. Smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men. I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family. You listen, and you take a lesson from the dead. If we don't come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don't care if you like each other or not, but you will respect each other. And maybe... I don't know, just maybe we'll learn to play this game like men.

I'm not gonna talk to you tonight about winnin' and losin'. You're already winners 'cause you didn't kill each other up at camp.

In Greek mythology, the Titans were greater even than the gods. They ruled their universe with absolute power! Well that football field out there tonight, that's our universe. Let's rule it like Titans!

Now I may be a mean cuss. But I'm the same mean cuss with everybody out there on that football field. The world don't give a damn about how sensitive these kids are, especially the black kids. You ain't doin' these kids a favor by patronizing them. You're crippling them; You're crippling them for life.

How many feet are in a mile? How many feet are in a mile? 5,280. You pick this ball up, and you run every one of them! You're killing me Petey! You're killing me!

I don't scratch my head unless it itches and I don't dance unless I hear some music. I will not be intimidated. That's just the way it is.

I'm a winner. I'm going to win.

It's all right. We're in a fight. You boys are doing all that you can do. Anybody can see that. Win or lose... We gonna walk out of this stadium tonight with our heads held high. Do your best. That's all anybody can ask for.

Alright, listen up! I'm Coach Boone. I'm going to tell you all about how much fun you're going to have this season. We leave for camp, Gettysburg College, August 15th, 7:29 am! If you report at 7:30, you will not be playing football this season; you will be watching. You will wear a jacket, shirt, and tie! If you don't have one, buy one. If you can't afford one, then borrow one from your old man. If you don't have an old man, then find a drunk, trade him for his. Cause I can guarantee you, there isn't a bum on the street that looks as raggedy and ridiculous as what I'm looking at right now. This is no democracy! It is a dictatorship! I am the law! If you survive camp, you will be on the team. If you survive.

Sometimes life is hard for no reason at all.

Put your hand down! You're smiling.

Petey Jones

Yes.

Yes, sir. Why are you smiling?

Petey Jones

'Cause I love football. Football's fun.

Fun, sir. It's fun?

Petey Jones

Yes.

You sure?

Petey Jones

I think so -

Now you're thinkin'. First you smile, then you think. You think football is still fun?

Petey Jones

Uh, yes.

Sir.

Petey Jones

Yes-no, sir.

No?

Petey Jones

Um, it was fun.

Not any more though, is it? Is it?

Petey Jones

Not right now, no.

No, it's not fun anymore. Not even a little bit.

Petey Jones

Uh... no.

Make up your mind. Think, since you're thinkin'. Go on, think. Is it fun?

Petey Jones

No, sir.

No? Absolutely not?

Petey Jones

Zero fun, sir.

All right, listen up! I'm Coach Boone, I'm gonna tell you all about how much [looks at Petey] fun you're gonna have this season.

Are your parents here?

Bertier

Yes.

Good.

You take one last good look at her. Cause once you step on that bus you aint got your mama anymore. You got your brothers on the team and you got your daddy. You know who your daddy is, dontcha? Gerry, if you want to play on this football team, you answer me when I ask you who is your daddy? Who's your daddy, Gerry? Who's your daddy?

Bertier

You.

And who's team is this, Gerry? Is this your team? Or is this your daddy's team?

Bertier

Yours.

Now get on the bus. Put on your jacket first and get on the bus.

What is wrong with you?! Why are you fumblin' my football?!

Petey Jones

My blockers were-

Your blockers! Your blockers don't have anything to do with you holdin' on the the ball! Did your blockers fumble the football, or did you fumble the football!

Petey Jones

I did sir.

Alright! how many feet are in a mile? How many feet are in a mile?

Petey Jones

I dunno.

5,280 feet! You pick this ball up, you run every one of them! You're killing me Petey! You're killing me!

Blue Stanton

Coach we need a water break, we been out here all day!

What did you say?

Blue Stanton

We need a water break sir.

A water break? Water is for cowards. Water makes you weak. Water is for washing blood off that uniform and you don't get no blood on my uniform, boy you must be outside yo mind! We are going to up-downs, until Blue is no longer tired, and thirsty.

What are you?

Mobile, agile, hostile!

What is pain?

French bread!

What is fatigue?

Army clothes!

Will you ever quit?

No! We want some mo', we want some mo', we want some mo'!

Sheryl Yoast

Coach Boone, you did a good job up here. You ran a tough camp from what I can see.

Well I'm very happy to have the approval of a 5 year old.

Sheryl Yoast

I'm 9 and a half, thank you very much.

Why don't you get this little girl some pretty dolls or something coach?

I've tried. She loves football.

Coach Paul 'Doc' Hines:

You have twelve brothers and sisters?

Eight.

Coach Paul 'Doc' Hines:

Yeah, twelve sounds better.

What, you say your name was Jerry?

Gerry Bertier

Gerry.

No, you must have said Jerry, like Lewis, [to Ray] which would make you Dean Martin, right? [to a crowd of people including Gerry's mother] Ladies and gentlemen! I've got an announcement to make. We got Jerry Lewis, and Dean Martin going to camp with us this year. Jerry tells the jokes, Dean sings the songs and gets the girl. Let's give em a round of applause. [Boone claps]

Where's your folk's, Gerry? Parents, are they here? Where are they?

Bertier

That's my mother.

That's your momma?

Bertier

Mm-hmm.

Very nice. How are you? Take a good look at her. Cause once you get on that bus, you ain't got no momma no more. You got your brothers on the team, and you got your daddy and you know who your daddy is, don't you? [Gerry says nothing] Gerry, if you wanna play on this football team, you answer me when I ask you, who is your daddy? Who's your daddy, Gerry? Who's your daddy?

Bertier

You.

Ah-hah. And whose team is this? Is this your team or is this your daddy's team?

Bertier

Yours.

Mm-hmm. Get on the bus. Put your jacket on first and get on the bus. [Gerry walks to the bus and puts his jacket on. to Ray] Dean? Fix that tie, son.

Bertier

Hey fellas! Look at that fruitcake!

Gerry, just keep your mouth shut and get back on that field!

Col. Bass

Coach Boone, I'm Colonel Bass. We just got transferred here from Huntington Beach, California. This is my son, Ronnie, he's a quarterback.

How you doin' Ronnie?

Ronnie Bass

Coach Yoast.

My pleasure.

We're pretty set at the, uh, quarterback, colonel. But if your boy's any good, you might want to check out Wilson or Annandale.

Col. Bass

Well, I met Coach Taber. He won't let blacks play on his team. The way I see it, if these boys can fight a war together, they can play football together. Now, he's a pretty good runner...

Julius

Yeah, a fruitcake, huh?

This is about setting a good example for our boys and the community.

I don't scratch my head 'til it itches, and I don't dance until I hear some music, I will not be intimidated. That's just the way it is.

You want to carry your sinful pride to your grave, that's your business, but when your sins endanger on my little girl, it becomes mine.

My sins? You think my sins had something to do with what happened last night? I'm sorry about what happened to your daughter, I really am, but maybe you've got a small taste of what my girl has gone through. [Yoast is silent] Welcome to my life, Yoast.

What's on your mind, son?

Gerry Bertier

I want Ray off the team, coach.

You know my policy.

Bertier

I do coach, and I respect it, but I know [looks at Ray] Ray missed that block on purpose. Sometimes you just got to cut a man loose.

Well, you're the captain. You make your decision, but you support that decision.