An animated Rudy answers a student’s question. (Trevon Blondet)
Dequane June called it surreal watching a movie come to life right before his eyes, but it was just as he envisioned it. The Cardinal Hayes junior running back sat attentively in the front of the school’s Regis Philbin auditorium listening to the stories and message from Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, whose life the famous 1993 film Rudy is based on.
“From the movie, what I’ve seen, I kind of took him for the guy he already is, a very inspirational kind of guy, a guy who gives good advice,” June said. “I really didn’t ask questions because I just sat there and took everything in.”
Ruettiger’s message was one of hope for those who are told they can’t do something. He spoke of channeling one’s energy into positive things, falling back on good friends and the disciplines you learn growing up. The former Notre Dame defensive end stressed focus, never quitting and blocking out the “goofy thoughts” that can lead to trouble. The Fighting Irish play rival Army Saturday night at the new Yankee Stadium, not far from Hayes.
“We are going to give them the spirit to dream, to dream big,” Ruettiger said. “We are going to give them the true encouragement of how to get rid of certain thoughts and develop the positive thoughts that you need.”
Ruettiger crisscrosses the country making 110 speeches a year talking to everyone from college and high school students to business staffs and CEOs. His favorite audiences are still with young people, a group he targets with the Rudy Award and scholarship given out at the middle school, high school and college level, through his foundation, to those who show character, courage, contribution and commitment.
“I like this because kids you can impact,” said Ruettiger, who was greated by chants of “Rudy,” said. “When you are speaking to corporate people you are helping them get through their struggle, but you can impact a kid’s decision and choices right now.”
His story and message is one the students at Hayes, many from the inner city, can related to. The 5-foot-6 Ruettiger grew up in Joliet, Ill., saying he was constantly told he was short and dumb as a kid. He preserved through rejection and earned his way into Notre Dame academically, before making the football team as a walk-on. His hard work and dedication got him a chance to dress for one game. On his second play from scrimmage in a 1975 win over Georgia Tech he sacked Yellow Jackets quarterback Rudy Allen and was carried off the field by his teammates.
“He grew up in a steel town, you’re growing up in the South Bronx, Harlem, Washington Heights,” Hayes football coach C.J. O’Neil said. “It’s against the odds that you will be successful, but the odds don’t matter. What matters is what you have inside of you and what you are going to do to achieve.”
He has seen many of his formers players do just that. O’Neil mentioned offensive lineman Fernando Diaz, who is a red-shirt freshman at Pittsburgh, Erle Ladson, a freshman offensive lineman at Delaware and Marcus Hilton who will be suiting up for Army on Saturday against Notre Dame. The senior helped lead the Cardinals to a 2006 CHSFL Class A title in his final year in The Bronx. He graduated at the age of 16 before enrolling in the USMA Prep School.
“I looked up to him. He is a leader type,” Diaz said of Hilton. “I remember the Mount game. He popped out his shoulder and he popped it back in and went back to play.”
Diaz, who is sidelined with a foot injury, said he watches the movie Rudy before every season and grew up a Notre Dame fan. He will be in attendance Saturday, as will O’Neil. Ruettiger will have to miss the game to attend his son’s soccer game back in Henderson, Nev. He said he usually gets to at least one Irish game a year. Ruettiger did fulfill one of his life-long dreams by visiting Yankee Stadium Friday afternoon.
“It’s hard to tell your little 8-year-old boy daddy is going to be in New York at the Notre Dame game when he is playing his soccer tournament,” he said. “You don’t do that to a little boy. You suck it up.”
Instead Ruettiger spent his short stay in the Big Apple telling teenagers to tough it out themselves when it comes to life. He reminded them that anything worth getting will be a struggle, but it’s a battle they can win if they put their mind to it.
“Here in The Bronx you might hear people say Bronx kids don’t make it as far as kids from the suburbs,” Hayes sophomore lineman Mamadou Bah said. “But as long as you keep your mind to it, you can do anything you want and become successful in life.”