RUDY RUETTIGEROn March 24, 2010, Rudy Ruettiger spoke to over 500 people as part of the annual “Winston Speaker Series.” The event was held in the main sanctuary of Christ Church in Short Hills. This public lecture was sponsored by the following private foundations and individuals:
After graduating from high school, Rudy served in the Navy and then worked in a power plant. At the age of 23, he attended Holy Cross Junior College in South Bend, Indiana—where Notre Dame is located. He also worked as a groundskeeper at Notre Dame’s Knute Rockne Stadium. For three semesters, Mr. Ruettiger persistently sought admission to Notre Dame as a transfer student. He received rejection after rejection. However, during this difficult period, Mr. Ruettiger underwent educational testing that uncovered his dyslexia, and he immediately began to receive the support and guidance he had always needed. The rest is history: Rudy worked to overcome his disability, did well on various tests and finally received formal acceptance to Notre Dame. He then became a “practice player” on the football “scout team” against which the Varsity ran its plays at daily practices. For the next two years, Rudy worked hard and labored intensely at the daily grind of football practices but he never was allowed to “suit up” for a “real game.” He was part of the behind the scenes mystery brigade of non-team members. Rudy’s persistence and dogged determination impressed his coaches and his teammates—one of whom was the now famous and then little-known, very young quarterback named Joe Montana. His ardor for the game and his extraordinarily positive attitude towards others and himself led to a big moment in his life. The date was November 8, 1975. Head Coach Dan Devine invited Rudy to suit up for the final home game of his college career. And, in 27 seconds, number 45, defensive end Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger set the stage for a movie to be made 18 years later that focused on his challenges and successes. In these 27 seconds, Rudy was able to participate in two defensive plays, and on the second play he actually sacked the quarterback. The stadium erupted with joy and shouts of “Rudy” and his teammates carried him off the field—there have been only two players in all of Notre Dame history who have been carried off the field—and Rudy was one of them. Mr. Ruettiger has stated: “When you achieve one dream, dream another.” As Rudy addresses groups across the country as a motivational speaker, he refers to the “four C’s of life: character, courage, contribution, commitment”—all themes and ideals that have characterized his life before and after Notre Dame and are highlighted by his twenty seven seconds of football glory and eventual graduation from the college in 1976. Back to Top |
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Meeting the needs of children with language-based learning differences since 1981. Contact Head of School: Peter S Lewis, Ph.D.
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