He Never Gave Up

On His Dreams

Rudy Ruettiger

Motivational Speaker

  "Ever since I was a kid I wanted to go to Notre Dame and everyone said it couldn't be done," recalls Rudy Ruettiger. "My whole life people were telling me what I could do and what I couldn't do. I'd always listened to them and I just didn't want to do that anymore. I had my own dream and there wasn't anything that was going to stop me from achieving it."

You've probably seen the empowering, award-winning TriStar Productions blockbuster movie - RUDY - a few years back...the story of the little guy with the big heart who continued to chase after his dreams against-all-odds? Believe it or not, it took Rudy nine long years to bring his true life story into a full feature movie. Since 1993, his hit movie and motivational speeches have inspired millions worldwide to believe in their dreams.

Rudy, the third of 14 children rose above his circumstances and broke away from being stuck in a blue collar rut in his home town as an oil refinery worker to achieve great success through hard work and perseverance.

While working in the refinery, Rudy lost his best friend in an industrial accident. Just prior to the accident, his buddy Pete gave him a Notre Dame jacket he had purchased at a surplus store for Rudy's 22nd birthday. To this day, he still remembers his buddy's encouraging words, "Rudy, you were born to wear this jacket."

Rudy was never one to let anybody down, especially Pete or most importantly, himself. Immediately after his best friend's funeral, he jumped on a bus and headed for South Bend, Indiana with a goal of meeting Notre Dame Championship football coach, Ara Parseghian, never giving up on his dream, "I'm here to play for the Irish."

Over a two-year period, Rudy first had to enroll in Holly Cross Junior College to get his grades up prior to ever being considered for Notre Dame. With nowhere to live, he slept in the maintenance room. After numerous applications and tryouts, Rudy was finally accepted to Notre Dame and made the football team as a walk on.

Amazingly, in the last play of the last game of his senior year, Rudy, who never once missed a practice, had finally suited up in uniform and was energized when the crowd started chanting Rudy, Rudy, Rudy. Coach Dan Devine put him into the game in the last 27 seconds where he sacked the quarterback and was carried off the field in triumph on the shoulders of the fighting Irish.

Today, Rudy is one of the most requested motivational speakers in America. He travels the country and shares his passionate message - YES I CAN - with a wide range of audiences, from students to corporate America. His talks on the human spirit, overcoming-the-odds and turning adversity into triumph leave all with an upbeat feeling that anything is possible by following and applying Rudy's Insights for Winning in Life.

When it comes to giving back, Rudy and wife Cheryl created the Rudy Foundation to help children build self-esteem and become positive role models for other children and families across the nation. The Rudy Award Program and Leadership Camp teaches Middle School students the values of Character, Courage, Contribution, and Commitment.

"All in all, people don't remember statistics, they remember the spirit," stresses Rudy. "I'd rather be remembered as Rudy...never quit, than Rudy, how many tackles did you get? It's about leadership by example. It's not about power. It's not about status. It's not about how much money you have. It's about believing in yourself. It's about believing in the values and morals. It's about believing in how this country was built, hard work, a dream...and everybody has  a chance.