- Ed Branish: There are, I think, two students in the entire school remotely acquainted with the English language, and I think they graduated last year.
- Jill Branish: Well, I... I just wish that you weren't so locked into Cambridge. Because, really, I... I'd like to raise a family right here.
- Ed Branish: In Mingo Junction? You would DO that to our children?
- Principal: Ah, these boys. They came to me with this wild, impossible dream: To beat Rockville High. They needed a coach. I gave them you. That, sort of, MAKES you a coach, doesn't it? You know, it could be, Edward, that coaching has nothing to do with sports at all.
- Ed Branish: I'm sorry. I understand the problem, but don't ask me to go on with this.
- Principal: I'm not asking you, Ed. I'm giving you the wrestling team as an official assignment. I want twelve wrestlers ready for Orem a week from Friday. End of discussion. I suggest you find yourself someone that can wrestler for you at 185.
- Ed Branish: I must admit, there are times when I'm with those characters that I do wish I could teach them something.
- Jill Branish: [as Jill and Ed witness Nick manhandle two bullies] I think you just found your 185-pounder.
- Ed Branish: Nick Kilvitus.
- Jill Branish: No! Oh. Oh, that's great. "Hi, I won't let you graduate but d'you want to join my wrestling team?"
- Ted Yacabobich: [trying to recruit school band player Randy] Wrestling's not that tough. I mean, was it that hard to play the tuba? It wasn't that hard.
- Randy Jensen: The tuba doesn't want to hurt me.
- Jill Branish: Didn't you do any stuff like that when you were a kid?
- Ed Branish: Mmm. The only organized sport we had was baseball.
- Jill Branish: Did you play?
- Ed Branish: I grew out of it.
- Ed Branish: [to the team] Conditioning is the foundation of ANY athletic skill. Along with the basics.
- Ted Yacabobich: [challengingly] Why don't you show us a couple of "basics," Mr. Branish.
- Ed Branish: Well, I, uh... I was hoping we, uh... we would, uh... uh, hang onto the concept of, uh... uh, aerobics, uh, before we, uh...
- Ted Yacabobich: Just a BASIC TAKEDOWN.
- Referee: What's the mater with you, Kilvitus? That's the worst bunch of sportsmanship I ever saw in my life! It's trash like you that ruins this sport. You're fnished! You're through! You're finished! Get off the mat!
- Bobby Cooper: I sort of quit.
- Nick Kilvitus: You sort of quit?... Why d'you quit, Bobby?
- Bobby Cooper: You ever think about dying, Nick?
- Nick Kilvitus: No...
- Bobby Cooper: I know I'm no great loss to the team - I haven't even won a match - but I wanted to. Actually it's kind of funny: I'd give anything to go back - ANYTHING - and I can't, and you have everything, and you won't.
- Ed Branish: That's the trouble with everyone in this town. There aren't any standards here. No one misses a football game, but you can't read... there's more to education than perspiration.