SEC Sports Quotes

Written by Greg Langley Book Editor, Baton Rouge Advocate 02/12/2003 Sports zingers Sports fans may enjoy local author Chris Warner's latest effort, a compilation of quotes from Southeastern Conference sports notables, SEC Sports Quotes (CEW Enterprises, [$$$]paperback). The book is a reminder that some of the best wits in America have been, and are, coaches and players. Take LSU athletic director Skip Bertman's observations on Starkville, Miss., the hometown of rival Mississippi State. "In Starkville there is only one beauty parlor, and they only give estimates," Bertman zings. And: "Starkville is an Indian word for trailer park." And: "NASA is moving the space program to Starkville because it has no atmosphere." Current LSU baseball coach Smoke Laval pokes a little fun at Mississippi State too: "Who's the loneliest man in Starkville? The Tooth Fairy." Of course the current master of the one-liner is South Carolina coach Lou Holtz, who said, "The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it." He also said, "The only time you can start at the top is when you're digging a hole." But the one man most associated with football in the Southeast was Bear Bryant, former Alabama head football coach. There are plenty of gems from Bryant in this collection, but none more revealing than "Be good, or be gone." This is an enjoyable collection that will provide fodder for many an after-dinner speaker. Some of these quotes may even end up in Sunday sermons, but most of them will be repeated on Saturdays in football season. Greg Langley, The Baton Rouge Advocate, 2002

Written by Sam King Advocate Sportswriter 10/29/2002 GOOD READ: "SEC Sports Quotes," a book of quotes compiled by Chris Warner, is a good read for sports fans in general and LSU fans in particular. LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman, often quoted in the book, might say it would also be a good book in Starkville -- if it was all pictures. Bertman, who joked about Starkville and Mississippi State in his years as a baseball coach, is quoted often in the book. A couple: "Starkville is an Indian word for trailer park. "In Starkville, there is only one beauty parlor and they only give estimates." Present Tigers baseball coach Smoke Laval gets in his shot. "Who's the loneliest man in Starkville? The Tooth Fairy." Actually, Bertman loves Starkville and may soon have LSU fans parking their motor homes there and being bused to games in Tiger Stadium. - Sam King, The Advocate

Written by Greg Langley Book Editor, Baton Rouge Advocate Sports zingers - Sports fans may enjoy Baton Rouge author Chris Warner's latest effort, a compilation of quotes from Southeastern Conference sports notables, SEC Sports Quotes (CEW Enterprises, $...paperback). The book is a reminder that some of the best wits in America have been, and are, coaches and players. Take LSU athletic director Skip Bertman's observations on Starkville, Miss., the hometown of rival Mississippi State. "In Starkville there is only one beauty parlor, and they only give estimates," Bertman zings. And: "Starkville is an Indian word for trailer park." And: "NASA is moving the space program to Starkville because it has no atmosphere." Current LSU baseball coach Smoke Laval pokes a little fun at Mississippi State too: "Who's the loneliest man in Starkville? The Tooth Fairy." Of course the current master of the one-liner is South Carolina coach Lou Holtz, who said, "The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it." He also said, "The only time you can start at the top is when you're digging a hole." But the one man most associated with football in the Southeast was Bear Bryant, former Alabama head football coach. There are plenty of gems from Bryant in this collection, but none more revealing than "Be good, or be gone." This is an enjoyable collection that will provide fodder for many an after-dinner speaker. Some of these quotes may even end up in Sunday sermons, but most of them will be repeated on Saturdays in football season. Greg Langley, The Baton Rouge Advocate, 2002

I am a big SEC fan but I never knew that some of this stuff was said. Skip Bertman is really hard on Starkville in this book, but it's a real entertaining and easy read, especially if you are on a trip. I bought it in an airport bookstore and I finished it on a flight from Atlanta to New Orleans. This book should be a must-have for any SEC fan. I HIGHLY recommend it as a coffee table gift.

This is a book that's hard to put down. If you love sports and you love quotes, this book's for you! It's a school-by-school look at some of the funnier quotes from the SEC's more famous and "infamous" coaches and players. The book is a convenient size and is great for the traveling sports fan. I also read Chris' Tailgater's Guide as well. I highly recommend both books.All SEC fans need to read Chris Warner's stuff.