A biography for Ara Parseghianhasn’t been written yet.
“It's a terrific honor. To be associated with the number of people who represent the Cradle of Coaches, it's sort of unreal in a sense.”
“I coached at Northwestern for eight years, where the admission requirements were high.”
“One thing about Notre Dame, it's like a service academy in a lot of ways. There is a closeness.”
“On any play where there's a scramble of 22 men, blindside hits and unprotected hits on knees occur.”
“The best way I could describe it at Notre Dame was that I was accepted as a member of the family.”
“I remember when I drove into Notre Dame, getting ready for the first day of work. I had an electrical charge go up my back because I realized all of a sudden that I was responsible for the traditions that the Knute Rocknes and the Frank Leahys had set, and what Notre Dame stood for.”
“I don't make hasty, impulsive decisions.”
“I don't think I was a miracle man. Neither were Lou Holtz or Frank Leahy. We all found ways to win.”
“Whether you like it or not, you're a national figure after five games at Notre Dame.”
“When you set these high expectations and goals, and they are demolished so early in the season, that has an effect on the psyche. It wears you down.”
“You get different philosophies in coaching, usually depending on what position the coach himself played.”
“I've missed the association with players and coaches but haven't missed the recruiting and the travel.”
“Money talks; there's no question about it.”
“I can't think of anything that's hit me harder in my life than when I learned that three of our youngest grandchildren were diagnosed with Niemann-Pick C.”
“When I make a fist, it's strong, and you can't tear it apart. As long as there's unity, there's strength.”
“I don't give a damn what anybody says. I don't think at 70 and 75 that you can be as productive and efficient as you were when you were 40 or 50.”
“I'd go to clinics and hear coaches say, 'You block with your helmet. You tackle with your helmet.' I'd say, 'No way! You block with your shoulder. It's a lot stronger blow, and you don't risk nearly as much. Why be stupid?'”
“The game is not won by a pep talk on Saturday. It's won by preparation of your club from Monday until game time. If they're not ready on Saturday, you're not going to get them ready by trying to inspire them with a dog-eat-dog sermon on that day.”
“External pressure I never worried about.”
“The 1973 team is real special. I had never coached against Bear Bryant. Alabama had never played Notre Dame. It was North against South; the Catholics against the Baptists; both teams were undefeated, and everything was on the line.”