RUDY

I’m taken up with the themes of Dreams and Discipleship. And they just naturally go together like peaches and cream.

No one I know of exemplifies the verse “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” more than Rudy Ruettiger. You may have seen the depiction of his life in the movie “Rudy.”

Rudy was a working class young man with a generational predisposition to work in the steel mills, like his father before him. His family was Catholic and had a ardent devotion for The University of Notre Dame and it’s wonderful football team. But that’s as far as it went; looking on from afar and “knowing your place.”

Even for his average grades in high school and “five foot nothing” frame, Rudy had a Dream; a dream that would not be denied. In the movie we see the young man promising himself, and anyone else who’d listen, that he would not only be accepted into that university, but play footfall for them.

And again and again he was laughed at, put down, and generally disbelieved.

But there’s always someone who seems to come along side, and stand with us in the shadows; (At least that’s been my experience.) Pete was Rudy’s best friend; just another working class kind of guy; someone destined to work in the mills all his life. But Pete was that sort of guy who stood with his “little buddy.” We see him giving a Notre Dame sweater to Rudy, and we hear him say, “No one ever looked more natural in it.” And Rudy responds, “Pete, you’re only one who ever believed in me.”

Rudy surprised everyone, (except Pete of course). He enrolled in Holy Cross Junior College, just across the river from Notre Dame. The little man submitted himself to an academic discipline he’d never attempted. He exercised his body and tempered his mind on a daily and unceasing basis.
Rudy applied, again and again to Notre Dame; only to again and again, be refused admission.

But those at the grand old school had no concept of Rudy’s determination. He must have used a ream of enrollment applications. But one time was different. We see Rudy sitting there, just across the river from that great university. His hands tremble, as they have trembled several times before, and he unseals the envelope.

And the camera turns from a weeping Rudy to the towering fortress called Notre Dame. He has finally been accepted!

Now that would have been enough for most of us, but Rudy was not most of us. His determination gained a hundred pounds that day! The little man that couldn’t, did and could!

Time would fail me to properly tell the story, but now the second half of the vision kicked in. Rudy set his sights on an oblong ball and a stadium “as big as all outdoors.” You would have had to have known Rudy. Nothing seemed to deter him. Oh sure, he’d managed to go to a prestigious school, and make passing grades, but “this little shrimp” had no possibility of playing on a football team which consisted of giants. If you thought this you would be… Wrong.

He tried out, and impressed the coaches with his stamina and “sheer intestines,” and the lack of any natural ability. The coaches quarreled among themselves before giving Rudy an opportunity to join the scrimmage team. At least he would have a chance to “mix it up” with the best in college football. But that still wasn’t enough for little Rudy.

Now I can’t tell you that he didn’t make a few enemies, or make the average players look mediocre. He did; not for his ability, but for his gumshun. For on the practice field, though only occasionally, Rudy would manage to tackle a huge offensive linesman or swift quarterback.

Rudy longed for the opportunity to play in one year, in one season, if in only one game. You just aren’t listed as an official team member unless you “dress out” for one game.

It was his senior year, and it didn’t look like he’d have a chance to dress out. The previous coach had promised him the opportunity, but he was gone now, and the years had drifted by. Now the last game of his senior year approached.

Suddenly, the biggest and baddest of his team members found their hearts changed towards the young whipper snapper who tried so hard, but who lacked so much. The list for the final game was posted… and he wasn’t on it. The players talked among themselves and came up with a plan. One by one, beginning with the team captain, each player walked into the coach’s office and laid their shirts on his desk. One by one their words echoed one another… “Coach, Rudy deserves my spot in this game. Let him dress out in my place.” The coach was moved to tears. Rudy dressed out!

The game proceeded, and Rudy warmed the bench. Notre Dame was ahead of Georgia Tech by over twenty points, and the Catholic coach seemed content for his team to hold the ball during the last remaining seconds. His team had other ideas.

The ball was thrown and the ball was received, and the great old school had earned another touchdown. Rudy might still get a chance to play, as suddenly “Rudy, Rudy, Rudy” resounded throughout the stadium. The little man would not be denied his small moment in history. The coach gave the nod and Rudy ran out into the field of battle.

The little fella with the magnificent heart ran two plays that day; the last two plays in the game. In the last play of his last game he tackled the offensive receiver before the whistle finalized the game forever. It was thirty years ago, but to this day Rudy is the last player ever carried off that famous field; on the shoulders of his team members.

Dreams and Discipleship. Rudy had a Dream. He believed when almost no one else did. Rudy is remembered. His friend named Pete is virtually forgotten. But it was Pete who believed in him, when no one else did. Pete had been Rudy’s first, albeit momentary mentor. He believed in him for a little while, and that set the sails of his whole life.

I love and choose to emulate the qualities of both Rudy and Pete. Like Pete I am raising up disciples; those who would submit themselves to discipline and the encouragement that is mine to give. Like Rudy I dream Dreams; some known to all, and some which remain unknown to any.

Like Rudy my life has been difficult, and things have been slow “coming to me.” But I follow after, and press towards the mark. Like Pete, I and many like me remain unknown, but that’s entirely okay, if we are to influence a few and win some. It may sound paradoxical and contradictory, but I’m glad for the opportunity to live out Colossians, Chapter One… “Filling up in my own body the unfinished sufferings of Christ.”

Rudy and Pete have some extraordinary and eternal lessons to teach us.

by William McDonald, PhD. "Musings" Copyright 2005.

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