All right, guys, line up.
Rudy, take that stupid helmet off. You're not even playing.
Me and Pete, we're Notre Dame. You guys, you're Michigan.
Okay, huddle up. Come on.
- Same play. I'll hand it off to you. - Okay. I got it.
One, two, three, break!
Come on, Rudy. Get on the ball.
Ready! 42, blow!
Set, hut!
One, 1000. Two, 1000.
Oh, no! Oh!
I told you to cut inside.
Do it right.
Come on, Todd.
Try it again. Let's go.
All right, Todd. Same thing, okay?
Break.
- Ready? - Let's go. Get on the ball.
I'm sick of being all-time center.
- What? - I'm sick of being all-time center.
I told you five times.
You can't play anything else but that.
You're too small.
- I can too. - You guys, I'm going. I'm sorry.
- I gotta go. - We need you.
- Come on. - Let Rudy play in my place.
Good idea, Frank. Let Rudy play.
Come on. Why not?
Okay, you can rush the passer.
All right, Rudy.
We gotta get them.
- Break. - Okay.
Okay, let's go.
Ready!
Set, hut!
Get him, Rudy. Get him.
- The snow, for the touchdown. - Yeah!
All right!
What a spaz.
All right! We won, guys!
Oh, yeah!
- There you go. - Thanks.
Pete, you got your own home?
- Last time I looked. - You're welcome here anytime.
Excuse me, young lady. Who are you?
Sherry Walinski.
- Bob's kid? - Rudy's girlfriend.
She is not.
Yes, I am.
- Everybody has a job at the mill. - But I don't want that.
Where else you gonna get 5 bucks an hour? You got union protection.
You got relatives watching your front and your back.
Tell me where you'll find this...
...and God be with you. - But, Dad, Pat's going there...
- You gonna give me indigestion here? - Leave the boy alone.
But this boy can go off on his own. You heard him.
That's enough.
Has anybody else got anything to say before I start this meal?
After high school, I'm gonna play football at Notre Dame.
Play football at Notre Dame?
And I'll buy a mansion on Lake Shore Drive.
Rudy...
What are we watching? Channel 7.
- Don't you want something to drink? - That's okay. Thanks.
- Mr. Ruettiger? - Yeah, Pete.
At halftime, could we watch some of the Indiana-Purdue game?
There's only one team we watch in this house, right?
Right.
And I want the ends in there fast, every play, every play.
We're under control.
Any men in the backfield, analyze before you move.
If they throw a forward pass, see the ball in the air...
...and then go and get it. When we get it...
...that's when we go on offense. That's when we go to them.
We're going inside and outside them, inside and outside them.
We'll get them and keep them on the run.
We won't pass unless our secondary comes up too close.
But don't forget, we'll get them on the run and go, go, go, go!
Don't stop until we're over the goal line.
Don't forget men, today's the day we're gonna win.
They can't beat us in the fight and we'll fight, fight, fight, fight!
What do you say, men? Yeah!
Ruettiger! Hey, Rudy!
Kill that halfback. Move that secondary back.
- We gotta get ready for those... - Come on, offense. Break!
Black, 80!
Set, hut!
- Bring it on down. Come on! - All right, let's go.
Come on, Pete. Come on, buddy.
I didn't hurt you, did I?
Take a knee, guys.
Listen up.
You seniors, this is your last practice.
And with the exception of Thomas, Lee, Bo...
...Sypitch, you get on the weights...
...tomorrow night will be the last time you put on a football uniform.
You know these last four years have gone by too fast.
They always do.
And I gotta tell you guys...
...that I really appreciate the hard work and effort...
...that you've given to me, to the coaches...
...and to the Hilltoppers.
As a reward...
...I'll give each one of you seniors...
...one final hit on me and my friend down there.
All right. Seniors, stay here.
Underclassmen, two lines, five yards apart. Let's go!
You're first, McConnell!
Give me your best shot! Remember, it's gonna be your last!
Good shot!
Shower room.
Constantino!
Come on, David!
Ruettiger!
Okay, Rudy. Okay.
Hey, Rudy, we're gonna miss you.
Come on, Pete!
I can't believe it's over.
The bicameral legislature originated...
...not in the United States, but where?
Rudy, Rudy.
Mr. Ruettiger, would you be interested in joining us?
- The House and the Senate... - Don't even try.
If I were giving out grades for daydreaming, you'd be getting an A.
But in civics, you're failing.
You see, ladies and gentlemen...
...the problem with dreamers is, they usually aren't doers.
Their achievements are grand up here...
...but here where it counts, they fall short.
Now, the bicameral legislature originated... Hold up.
I have an announcement.
"If you are a student interested in the University of Notre Dame...
...a bus will be leaving here at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 15th...
...for a one-day guided tour of the campus.
Please sign up by Wednesday, November 5th."
And Raciniak, good.
Whoa, wait!
Where are you going?
I'm going to see Notre Dame.
Do you have some friends in South Bend?
- No. - Then there must be some other reason.
When you announced it in class, I thought anybody could go.
I'm sorry. This bus is for students who want to attend the university.
It's not a sightseeing tour.
Maybe someday I'll go to school there.
- Father Joseph, take over for me. - Of course.
Rudy...
...you don't have the grades for Joliet Community, much less Notre Dame.
The secret to happiness in this life...
...is to be grateful for the gifts the good Lord has bestowed upon us.
Rudy...
...not everyone is meant to go to college.
Dad, wait up!
What about this order?
We have to change the rollers on number 13.
- Thirteen? - Yeah.
All right, we'll have the crane ready for you, okay?
Hey, Rudy.
Rudy!
You were late again today?
You were late?
Get serious.
No special days here.
What is today?
- Friday. - No, no, I mean the date.
August 23rd.
And that is...?
My birthday.
Twenty-two big ones!
Pete, it's starting to go by too fast.
Well, I didn't have time to wrap it, but...
- Go ahead, open it. - You shouldn't have.
This is fantastic.
Where did you find this?
I saw it in this surplus store and I said, "That's gotta be yours."
This is unbelievable.
Pete, I don't know how I'm ever gonna thank you.
How's it look?
You were born to wear it.
Do you know Ara...
...is the only coach in Notre Dame history who encourages walk-on players?
You probably know more about the team than half the players.
I can't wait to get there.
Guess how much money I have saved up?
Twenty?
Eighty? Fifty?
1000 dollars.
That's a good start!
You're the only one who ever took me serious, Pete.
Well, you know what my dad always said.
"Having dreams is what makes life tolerable."
- 2-2-0-5. - 2-2-0-9.
That's 2-2-0-9. That's the house, Rudy!
Isn't it cute?
We can afford this.
And know what else it has? Wall-to-wall carpeting.
It has a fireplace.
And a big kitchen.
It's close to the schools.
What's wrong?
Nothing.
It's great, Sherry. It's great. You did a great job.
Look, buddy...
...I've put in my time.
I've been very patient waiting for us to save up...
...so we could get married and do this right.
You owe me.
Come on.
I think you're gonna like it.
Hey, Joe, what do you know?
- Can I get another beer down here? - Sure. Coming right up.
What are you doing tomorrow night?
A little TV.
Coach Parseghian is speaking at the Chicago Grid Iron Club. Wanna go?
Sure. If Rhonda lets me stay out late.
Tell her the D train gets back no later than 10:30...
Ara Parseghian? You just can't give it up, can you?
He's the greatest coach in the country, Frank.
Are you gonna kiss his autographed picture every night?
- What is your problem? - Or maybe he'll let you wipe his ass.
- Why don't you leave him alone? - Mind your own business.
As long as my brother talks this crazy Notre Dame shit, he deserves this.
Hey, you were a pretty big Notre Dame fan.
I used to collect baseball cards too.
Forget about it.
You know what Coach Gillespie said about you, Frank?
He said you had a lot of talent.
But your problem was, you were too afraid of getting hit.
You had no guts.
Go to hell, Pete.
- Come on. - It's okay.
He used to tell me if you had one half of Rudy's heart and desire...
...you could have been all-conference.
He said you were a pussy.
Frank!
Come on, Frank.
Rudy!
- Rudy! Rudy! - All right!
That's enough!
Do you hear me?!
That's enough!
Frank, good!
Don't nothing ever change?
Throw them out, Mary Ann.
You didn't have to get into it with Frank. I can take care of myself.
I know you can. That was between him and me!
Ever since he started working here, he's been pissed off.
Because he's not the same kind of god around here...
...that he was in high school.
We got a breakout!
Rudy, I need more water!
I'm not getting any!
Try another valve!
I'm not getting any, Pete!
Come on, goddamn it.
There's no pressure in the line. We need to get out of here!
Turn something!
Pete!
Let us pray.
O, God, who alone are ever merciful and sparing of punishment...
...humbly we pray You in behalf of the soul of Your servant, Peter...
...whom You have commanded to go forth today from this world.
Do not hand him over to the enemy, and do not forget him forever...
...but command that this soul be taken up by the holy angels...
...and brought home to Paradise. So that, since he hoped...
...and believed in You, he may not undergo the punishments of Hell...
- I'm so sorry. He was a friend. - Thank you.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
You okay?
You wanna just go home?
I'm going to South Bend.
Now is not the time.
If I don't go now, I'll never be any good for you or for me or anybody.
I'm sorry.
Well...
...if you have to go, then you'll have to go alone.
I know.
I'm sorry.
Dad.
What are you doing here?
You can take a couple of weeks off.
Your grandfather saved all of his life...
...to bring the family to this country.
He got a good job in the stockyards. He had a nice little house...
...South Chicago.
I was about 12.
Somebody sold him on the idea he ought to move to the country...
...and become a dairy farmer.
Well...
...he buys some land, you know, and gets a couple hundred cows.
Within five months, every one of those cows was dead with disease.
It was the Depression.
Couldn't sell the land.
There was no work.
So one day...
...he took off.
Didn't come back.
My brothers and me, we split up...
...to live with friends and relatives.
Chasing a stupid dream...
...causes nothing but you and everyone around you heartache.
Notre Dame is for rich kids...
...smart kids...
...great athletes. It's not for us.
You're a Ruettiger.
There's nothing wrong with that. You can have a damn nice life.
Frank is gonna take over plant number two.
A couple years, he'll make more than me and Johnny.
He's in charge of the expansion program.
I don't wanna be Frank or John.
Excuse me, I need to see somebody about going to school here.
Now?
Admissions office doesn't open for another couple of hours yet.
There's gotta be somebody I can talk to now.
Please?
Well, you could talk to a priest. Maybe that's what you need, son.
Yeah, I'd appreciate that.
Just a minute.
Mr. Ruettiger?
- Rudy. - I'm Father Cavanaugh.
How long have you thought about this decision?
For as long as I can remember...
Have you taken the proper steps, investigated the process?
- Yes. I have more to learn, but... - Are you fully aware...
...of the sacrifices you'll have to make?
I am.
I'll do whatever it takes.
What brought you here today?
I just came from my best friend's funeral. He said that...
Of course.
What do you mean, "Of course"?
Well, it's very common for people...
...suffering a crisis to seek escape into the cloth.
- We recommend a grieving... - Escape into the cloth?
That's just an expression that we use...
...for those who are running away from emotional or psychological pain...
...by choosing priesthood.
You think I want to become a priest?
Don't you?
Nothing against being a priest, but I don't think it's for me.
Why are you here?
I want to go to school at Notre Dame.
Well, have you applied?
No, my grades have never been very good, even though I tried.
But I'll try harder. I'll study 20 hours a day if I have to.
This university, it's not for everybody.
Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to go to school here.
And ever since I was a kid, everyone said it couldn't be done.
My whole life, people have been telling me what I could do and couldn't do.
I've always listened to them, believed in what they said.
I don't want to do that anymore.
Okay, Mr. Rudy.
Here's the deal...
...Holy Cross Junior College is nearby. I can get you one semester there.
You make grades, you get another semester.
Maybe with a good GPA...
...you might have a chance of getting into Notre Dame.
Hey, kid!
You're not supposed to be here!
Hey, this place is really something else, huh?
Someday, I'm gonna come out of that tunnel and run onto this field!
Well, it ain't gonna be this day.
I'm here to play football for the Irish.
Coach Parseghian know about it?
No, not yet.
Well, maybe you best tell him first.
Yeah, you're right.
Yeah, that's what I should do.
Thanks.
I'll see you around.
Is he expecting you?
This'll just take a second.
- Now just a moment... - Coach?
- Can I talk to you for a second? - I'm sorry, coach, I tried.
- No, it's all right. I've got it. - Shall I close the door?
- How can I help you, son? - I'm Rudy Ruettiger.
I'm here to talk about playing football for Notre Dame.
Our walk-on tryout date was two weeks ago.
I'm not talking about this year. I was thinking about next springtime.
Are you a student here?
No. I'm at Holy Cross. But I'm gonna be a student here.
I've been a Notre Dame fan for as long as I can remember, since I was little.
In high school, I started... Is it all right if I sit down?
In high school, I started at cornerback.
I wasn't the quickest guy on the team or the biggest...
...but I lead in tackles.
But anyway...
...I've been working at a steel mill for about four years.
And I've been saving up my money.
And I've been planning on coming here. But...
My friend Pete really understood what my dream was.
And he told me not to waste any more time.
But I don't know. For some reason, I couldn't...
See, he died in an accident on Friday.
And I came here right after the funeral.
You see what I mean?
Son...
...I think you're in the wrong office.
Come on, now.
I don't understand.
You might want to go and talk to Father Cavanaugh.
I talked to Father Cavanaugh. He got me into Holy Cross.
He did?
He said that if I got good enough grades at Holy Cross...
- and I will, I promise... that I'd be admitted here officially.
I just wanted to introduce myself and say I look forward to practice.
- Thank you. - So long.
Sorry.
For us, divine inspiration does not mean that God possesses a man...
...and simply dictates the inspired text to him.
Rather...
...that God implants into a man's mind the general concept.
When God does that...
...He allows the man to write that in his historical context.
The sitz im leben, or, "That is the setting in life."
So a man may have historical inaccuracies...
...but God allows those misunderstandings...
...because what is important and inherent...
...is the theological concept that God is getting across to mankind.
I think that's all for today.
We will have a quiz on Monday, so please prepare yourselves for it.
Well done, Father.
Please grade these for me.
- Appreciate it. Thank you. - Certainly.
You learning stenography or what?
Everything he's mouthing is in the book.
I gotta make an A in this class.
Just remember your sitz im leben, and it shouldn't be a problem.
I'm not talking to you, man. Not after what you did.
You brought a girl to meet me...
...and the next thing you know, she sits next to Brian...
Hi, could you hold this?
- Yeah, sure. - Thanks.
So you're interested in a room to rent?
I don't know. Maybe.
My brother has a house about five blocks from campus.
I'm sick and tired of...
- I have an extra card I can give you. - Just forget it.
Forget it. See you.
So if you're interested, call soon.
Maybe tonight. All right, bye.
You don't have a goddamn clue, do you?
About what?
About how to get an A in that class.
I could help you.
Look, besides being an honor student at Notre Dame...
...and a TA in Father...
I'm also a tutor for hire.
I can't even afford a room to rent.
Wait, maybe we can make some other kind of deal.
What kind of deal?
Well...
...I got Notre Dame pretty well staked out.
Staked out?
Girls.
- I don't know here... - Excuse me.
- Sorry. - Sorry.
I don't know the girls here at Holy Cross.
- What's your point? - Well, maybe you could...
What?
- Introduce me to a few... - I don't know any girls here.
So be it.
Wait a minute.
Hey, wait!
Hey, wait a minute.
Maybe I do know some girls.
In fact, I know a lot of girls.
- I just gotta find them. - That's the spirit.
As you can see, I'm pretty goddamn desperate.
I'm D-Bob.
- Rudy. - And I'm in love.
- Hey, how you doing? - Don't say anything.
Pretty sweater you're wearing. This is D-Bob.
He's feeling not well.
Will you cut it out?
Branski twisted his knee.
He's not gonna make...
- Is this the practice field? - All practices are closed.
- I know Coach Parseghian. - Are you...
- I talked to him the other day. - Watch out.
- Step back, okay? - All right.
Hey, coach!
You gotta keep your eyes open around here, kid.
Hey, coach!
Coach Parseghian...
...anything I can do to help the team, you just let me know.
See you.
- Who's that? - Your lunch breaks are too long.
Go plug in the end zone.
- Tell Jake I need to talk to him. - All right, boss.
- What did I tell you about trespassing? - You're the guy I need to talk to.
- I need your help. - Why should I help you?
- I want to be your assistant. - I've got a full crew.
Couldn't you use somebody else? I mean, I'll work for free.
What's in it for you?
I volunteered to help the team do anything I can, but...
...I can't, because I'm not a student here.
But I will be.
I figured if I'm gonna play here, I need to know the lay of the land.
You're nuts.
I've heard that a lot.
Well, you've got to be nuts to want to work for nothing.
I just want to be a part of this university.
Okay.
Meet me here tomorrow, 10 a.m.
- Thanks. - Minimum wage.
- Thanks again. - All right.
Did you understand what I was trying to say?
You don't understand.
- Let me give you a hand. - Are you sure?
- No problem. Here. - I got it.
- Keep it straight, kid. - Okay.
- Poet. Scholar. - Dickinson. Dickinson.
Hut, hut. Blue and gold, let's go.
- Hi there, what's your name? - Donna.
- Great. My name's Rudy Ruettiger. - Hi, I'm Colleen.
- I've got this buddy, D-Bob. - D-Bob with the two watches?
Mr. Marshall Fields?
- His name's D-Bob. He's a sweetheart. - Well, maybe I'll see you around.
- No, I have class. - I sit behind you in 235.
- Two watches! - Two watches!
Don't waste time reading the question if it's a long test in a short period.
- All right. - Two of them will be similar.
It'll be one of those two. One's absurd. Forget that one.
- This is important. - "Increase...
...in psychological responses." - What do you think?
Excuse me.
I'm sorry to interrupt, but I just have to ask you...
...have we met somewhere before?
You know, you look really familiar to me.
Maybe psych class. Do you have psych on Monday, Wednesday, Friday?
I'm in there at 10:00.
Yeah, he's in that class.
I bet that's where. I knew you looked familiar.
Well, anyway, this is kind of embarrassing, but...
...you heard about the dance on Saturday night, right?
- Right? - Yeah, we've heard about it.
Okay. All right, well, I was just wondering, do you have any plans?
- That's great. So you're available? - D-Bob would love to go.
Really? This is so great.
I would love to introduce you to my roommate, Elza.
Elza, come here.
D-Bob was suspicious, so he made me go to a language lab to take these tests.
They said I had a slight case of dyslexia.
It's when the words get mixed up in your head when you're reading.
I'm doing exercises to help me, and...
...I got an A on a literature test. - That's great, kid.
Hey, do you live in here?
Believe it or not, got my own home.
That cot's for when my sciatica acts up.
Okay, let's go to work.
See that hose on top of the locker?
Bring that with you.
So you're in student housing?
Huh?
No, I'm living with a friend in town.
Where in town?
- I haven't found a place to stay yet. - Funds pretty low, huh?
All my savings went for tuition.
I shower at Holy Cross. I'm all right.
- So this is it, huh? - This is where it starts and finishes.
"I've gotta go, Rock.
It's all right. I'm not afraid.
Sometime, when the team's in trouble...
...and things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys...
...tell them to go in there and win just one for the Gipper.
I don't know where I'll be then, Rock, but I'll know about it...
...and I'll be happy."
The Four Horsemen.
Knute Rockne.
Moose Krause.
Angelo Bertelli.
Johnny Lujack.
Leon Hart, Terry Hanratty, Jack Snow.
John Lattner.
Paul Hornung could've dressed in this locker.
We got work to do, kid.
"We're gonna go inside. We're gonna go outside.
We're gonna get them on the run. We're gonna keep them on the run.
Then we're gonna go, go, go, go, go!
We won't stop until we're across that goal line.
This is a team they say is good. Well, I think we're better than them.
They can't lick us.
What do you say, men?"
By the way, Gipper, I got your gym card.
- Great! - Wait, we had a deal.
- I do your laundry for two months. - This was hard to get.
- It's gonna be a semester. - Of doing your laundry?
- Come on, let me see. - A semester.
All right, fine. Just let me see the card.
- Come on, that's impossible. - It's your job to give it a shot.
She's out of our league.
Tell her I'm a Fields.
As in Marshall Fields. She'll know. Just tell her that, please.
That looks great. I think you'll really enjoy it.
Hi, are you interested in joining a student activity?
Here's your choices.
Do you see that guy over there? Over by the pillar.
Could you wave at him a little bit? Just kind of humor him.
Please?
That was perfect. Thank you.
Well?
Choir looks good. I used to sing in the high school choir.
- What's Football Boosters? - We organize the pep rallies and...
...paint the helmets the night before the game.
The actual football helmets? You guys...
That's definitely me. Where do I sign?
Right here.
You are a student at Notre Dame, right?
Yeah. Why, don't I look like one?
Oh, no, we're just supposed to ask.
Yeah, I'm Notre Dame gold and blue, through and through.
The first meeting is tomorrow night at the ACC, 7:00.
- See you there. - All right, bye.
Like to sign up for a student activity?
- Strike? - Out.
She has a boyfriend who's on the football team.
- You looked like you were in. - Well, I'm sorry.
You look awful goddamn happy about this.
Thank you.
- Did you get the field passes? - Chuck hasn't given them to me yet.
Mary.
Mary!
- Watch yourself. - Oh! Sorry.
Hey...
...isn't this fantastic?
There's 24-karat gold in the paint!
- What's your name again? - Rudy Ruettiger.
I need your student I.D. To get your card section pass.
I don't have it now, but I'm gonna get it.
- I'll have it by tomorrow. - I gotta send the names in tonight.
Couldn't you let it slide this once?
It's the rules, sorry. Next game.
Are you gonna come to Corby's? It's where we all go afterwards.
Yeah, I'll be there. Thanks.
Is that Bob Gladieux and Ron Dushney sitting at the end of the bar?
- How about another one? - Sure.
Now, that's a game to remember: 1966 against Michigan State.
Gladieux caught the greatest pass in Notre Dame football history.
Hey!
"Mary, Mary quite contrary, what makes your garden grow?"
Excuse me, could I get change for a dollar, please?
Thank you.
You all right?
Yeah. I just wanted to say it's been a pleasure working with you.
Thanks.
You said before you were the greatest Notre Dame football fan in history.
I thought I was, so I guess that means we got something in common.
In fact, I'm gonna be playing football for the Irish next fall.
I've talked to Coach Parseghian about it.
You see, I'm at Holy Cross for a semester, maybe two at the most.
Father Cavanaugh says if I make the grades...
...I'll have a real good shot at getting in.
And for the first time in my life, my grades have been really good.
You're not a Notre Dame student?
Not officially.
- But I will be next semester. - You can't be a part of the Boosters.
- I'm sorry. - Mary, wait a minute.
Will you please forget I said that?
- You know what a tremendous fan I am. - It's the rules.
I know, but...
Damn!
I need one ticket.
No way.
- Mister, I got 10 bucks for a ticket. - Ten bucks? You're 90 short.
- Kid, can I buy that ticket from you? - Yeah, for 20 bucks.
- Please, can I get in? I got $10. - I couldn't do it. I'd lose my job.
Really.
I'd like to, buddy.
- Hands off to Eric Penick for the Notre Dame touchdown.
Do you have an extra ticket? Please?
- One ticket. I just need one seat. - I'm sorry, no.
Point after attempt is good. Score: Irish, 7, Northwestern, nothing.
Fortune, did you see Eric Penick's kickoff return yesterday?
I saw it on TV.
He broke free right about here.
The 40. The 35. The 30!
The 25! The 20! The 15!
The 10! The 5! Touchdown Irish!
Hey, hey, hey, we got work to do.
Down, set, hut!
- You ever see a game from in here? - Nope.
Well, then your first game will be one I'm playing in.
Whatever you say, kid. You gonna watch me or help me?
Thanks for the blanket and the key.
I don't know nothing about it.
Then who put the key on the cot?
You hear what I just said?
Yeah.
All B's.
And an A.
I know my grades have gone down, Father, but...
...I have a lot of extracurricular activities.
You did a good job, kid.
Admissions people, you never can tell. They're a funny bunch of squirrels.
Have I done all I can?
Excuse me.
Hi, I need box 620, please.
Thank you.
"Dear Mr. Ruettiger, Your application for admission...
...to the University of Notre Dame has been evaluated by..."
- Merry Christmas. - Merry Christmas to you.
Tommy, where did you get that? Oh, you're all sticky.
It's okay, but it's just gonna get everything all over the place.
Rudy!
Where have you been for so long?
I've been going to college at Holy Cross. It's in South Bend.
If you're going to Holy Cross, why do you have a Notre Dame jacket?
- I'll go there next year. - Then that's where I'll go too!
Do you want something to eat?
An A and three B's.
Good for you.
I didn't make it into Notre Dame this semester. I saw a few home games.
I thought about you. You'd have loved it. You gotta come over for a game.
It's so exciting. You've...
I watch the games here on my television. That's fine for me.
I know, but it's not the same thing.
What if I were in the game?
Jesus, we still have to listen to this crap?
That semester at college didn't make you smarter.
I'm glad you made good grades.
Come on, Johnny. Please tell me.
It wouldn't be a surprise if I tell.
You can do better than that.
Okay, one more hint.
Hey, Johnny-boy, aren't you gonna wish your brother a merry Christmas?
How you doing, Rudy?
Fine.
I just want to tell you that you going to college and all...
...I think that's great.
Thanks, Johnny.
I'll be in the kitchen.
I gotta go.
Why don't you stay for a while?
I have to go to work.
Rudy, I'm sorry.
I just want to tell you that I hope you make it. I do.
Hi.
Twelve o'clock. Closing time.
- Thanks, Mrs. Mackenzie. - You're welcome.
Thanks.
Vacation, that's all I hear from you. "I'm gonna go on vacation."
After this game you're gonna pay my money, right?
What about the end of the month?
Total failure.
Everything I did.
Work, the studying, four hours a night's sleep in a dungeon.
I've blown another year of eligibility.
This entire year's been a waste.
A waste, huh?
You got your head so far up your ass about that damn football team...
...you don't get that you just got one year of top-quality education.
"Waste."
Don't be wasting my time.
Ain't you got some work to do?
First three chapters for next week. Start thinking about those.
Thank you.
Damn it!
We gotta do our own cooking and laundry.
I'm not very good at that either.
You gonna invite me?
You'll be the first one.
- First? I'm gonna be the guinea pig? - If you live through it, why...
- Excuse me. - Sure.
Taking your appeal to a higher court.
I'm desperate.
If I don't get in next semester, it's over, done.
Notre Dame doesn't accept senior transfers.
Well, you did a hell of a job, kid, chasing down your dream.
I don't care. If it doesn't produce results, it doesn't mean anything.
I think you'll discover that it will.
Maybe I haven't prayed enough.
I'm sure that's not the problem.
Praying is something we do in our time.
The answers come in God's time.
Have I done everything I possibly can? Can you help me?
Son, in 35 years of religious studies...
...I've come up with only two hard, incontrovertible facts:
There is a God...
...and I'm not Him.
Is there anything in box 620, please?
"...has been approved.
You've been accepted as a freshman for the fall semester..."
Oh, thank God.
What's wrong?
Read it.
"Congratulations, you are..."
I did it.
You did it.
Hey, guys.
My son's going to Notre Dame.
All right, Rudy. Way to go!
Hey, you guys!
My son's going to Notre Dame!
You hear that, Johnny? Your brother's going to Notre Dame.
Can you believe it, Frank?
Congratulations.
So, listen, you wanna work till it's time to go to school?
I gotta get back, Pop. Football tryouts start this week.
I'll call you.
One, two, three...
...four, five, six...
...seven, eight!
Let me tell it to you as clean as I can.
We have 95 players here...
...so accomplished as athletes in high school...
...they have full scholarships to the best football program in the country.
NCAA regulations allow us to dress just 60 for home games...
...which means at least 35 scholarship players...
...will be watching the game from the stands.
So if any of you has any fantasies...
...about running out of that tunnel with your helmet shining in the sun...
...you best leave them right here.
Of you 15 dreamers out there, maybe we'll keep one or two.
My job is to basically beat the shit out of you for the next five days.
And whoever is still standing at the end...
...maybe we'll use for our scout teams.
You'll be running the opposition's plays week in and week out.
Your greatest value to us is, we don't care whether you get hurt.
Our first teams are gonna pound on you like you're their worst enemies.
Like what you hear so far?
Any of you want to run home to Mama? Now's your chance.
Joe, they're all yours.
Don't just stand there trying to think. Let's hit those ropes. Move it!
Move it, I said! Come on!
Pick them up, pick them up!
High knees! Let's go, gentlemen, let's go!
Pump your arms, keep your heads up.
That's it, don't step on that rope!
Up and down, let's go! We want to see how quick you are here.
Keep it rolling, keep it rolling.
Heads up, keep moving, keep moving.
Pump those arms, pump those arms when you're backwards running.
Move it, move it, move it!
Keep your heads up, keep your heads up!
Run!
Get in there, Ruettiger, get in there!
All right, let's concentrate and get it right.
Go hard, charge him.
What is that? What are you doing? Come on!
Who has the play? Who wants to do it right?
I got it.
All right, stay low.
Come on, let's do it again!
- Get out of here. - Coach, I can do it.
Oh, yeah? All right, we'll see.
This is where we separate the men from the girls.
30, hit the spot.
Get in there. Now pick him off. Pick him off, damn it!
All right, if you want to make this team...
Relax for a few minutes.
If it was up to me, I'd get rid of all of them.
If they can't protect themselves, I don't want them.
The kid with blood on him.
Ruettiger?
Have you been watching? No athletic skill.
- He's put more effort than anybody. - You fellows decide.
Not in my defensive backfield. You want him, you got him.
All right, shower up. We'll let you know.
You think you made it?
Unfortunately, yeah.
What is so unfortunate about making the team?
This is my third year as a walk-on.
I had scholarships to two Big Ten schools.
But my father was an all-American here...
...so I get a lot of family pressure.
I don't understand.
If you haven't been cut, then you still have a chance.
- What, a chance to play? - Yeah.
The only reason they keep me on here is because I'm a legacy.
To them I'm no more valuable than a tackling dummy.
Ruettiger, come with me.
Yeah, coach.
You want on the team pretty bad.
You have no idea.
- You sure busted your balls out there. - Coach, I'll do anything.
You think you can give the same effort...
...day in and day out for the next five months?
Sir, I have no doubt.
Fine. If you do lighten up one hair...
...I'll throw you off this team so fast you won't know what hit you.
Wait a minute.
Throw me off? That means I gotta be on the team first.
- Don't let me down. - Does that mean I'm on the team?
- Yeah, kid, you're on the team. - Thank you!
Hey, hey, come on.
Go put some shoes on.
Thanks for everything.
Here.
What's that?
It's the key to the maintenance room.
Don't know nothing about it.
Yeah...
You promised. You'll come see your first game if I ever dress.
Well, I'll stop by every now and again, just to bother you.
See you later.
Hey, kid.
You ever dress...
...I'll be there.
Rally, sons of Notre Dame
Sing the glory and sound the fame
Raise the gold and blue And cheer with voices true
Rah-rah for Notre Dame
We will fight in every game
Strong of heart and true to her name
We will ne'er forget her And will cheer her ever
Loyal to Notre Dame
Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame
Wake up the echoes cheering her name
Send the volley cheer on high
Shake down the thunder from the sky
What tho the odds be great or small
Old Notre Dame will win over all
While her loyal sons are marching
Onward to victory
Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame
Wake up the echoes cheering her name
Send the volley cheer on high
Shake down the thunder from the sky
What tho the odds be great or small
Old Notre Dame will win over all
While her loyal sons are marching
Onward to victory
Sloppy!
Run it again. Sloppy, for chrissake!
38 counter.
The back missed the hole. He's gotta go to the outside.
You all right, man? Come on, get up.
- Get in the huddle. - Ruettiger!
Ruettiger, get out.
I can do it, coach!
- Ready? - Let's go, fellas.
What are you doing?
Don't treat me like your kid brother. I'm playing defense for Purdue.
You ain't here to be no nanny in no kindergarten!
- Now, go play ball. - Hit me, man.
Red 40!
Keep your ass down.
So on Eagle, do I go on "set" or "2"?
You gotta go on "set." You gotta pick the man up.
On Eagle Slant, do I let him slide or do I pick him up too?
Hey, little buddy! Hold up, man.
I'm not talking to you. You keep going.
I'm sorry about what happened at practice today.
Don't be sorry.
If you don't cool it out there, you'll get yourself killed.
If I cool it, I won't be helping you get ready for the games. Got it?
I got it.
He's just a showboat, man. That's all he's about.
He's just doing his job, Jamie. Can it.
Go Irish!
- Let's go. Come on. - Come on, here we go.
What are you doing, huh?
Break it up!
Get off me!
Come on, Ruettiger!
Break it up, I said. And cool down.
You brown-nosed suck-ass! You suck ass!
What's your problem, O'Hare?
Last practice and this asshole thinks it's the Super Bowl.
You just summed up your entire sorry career here...
...in one sentence!
If you had a tenth of Ruettiger's heart, you'd have made all-American.
As it is, you just went from third team to prep team.
Go on, get out of here. Get me another tailback.
- Huddle! - Let's run it.
Come on, let's rock some ass.
- Huddle! - Let's go. Defense, come on out.
Rudy, I want you to ice this twice more in your room tonight.
We'll see you tomorrow.
Keep that pack on that shoulder for at least 15 more minutes.
Hey, Jim.
Your bullshit out there makes us look bad, so dial it down a notch.
Dial it down?
Everybody's sick and tired of hearing, "Put out more like Ruettiger."
What do you get out of getting your head kicked in?
It's not worth it, you know?
You gotta be in at least one play during a game...
...to officially be part of this team.
The only uniform you'll put on is that grungy thing you've been wearing.
If you hate it so much, why don't you just quit?
I can't.
Why not?
If I quit, my father won't pay my tuition.
Is that why you're here?
I'm under the delusion that I might get a chance to run out that tunnel.
Does he think I'm lying to him?
Nobody said nothing about lying.
I have to get pictures taken of practice to prove I'm on the team?
I believe you.
What happened to my face? Where did I get these?
- So you're a glorified waterboy. - Oh, you just don't get it.
If you are on that team, my opinion of Notre Dame just hit the shits.
Leave him alone.
There's no "if."
I wear a uniform, I block and tackle. You just don't understand.
Actually, it's simple.
Every Saturday when we turn on the TV to watch...
...we see players wearing the blue and gold. We just don't see you.
You will.
- What? - You will. Now shoot.
Just shoot.
Coach, Rudy Ruettiger's here to see you.
Send him in.
This won't take long, coach.
First, I'd like to thank you for the opportunity of being on the team.
I never thought I'd be saying this...
...but it's been a pleasure. Now what can I do for you?
Well, one of the many things that I've learned this year...
...is that no matter how hard I try, I'll never get above the prep team.
I've accepted that God made some people football players, but not me.
I wish God would put your heart in some of my players' bodies.
My father loves Notre Dame football more than anything else in the world.
He doesn't believe I'm on the team...
...because he can't see me during the games.
Next year, my senior year, I'd love to be able to give him this gift:
I'd really appreciate it if you'd let me dress one game next season.
Look, Rudy...
...the NCAA really hamstrings us with this 60 rule.
In some positions we only have one backup.
You know every year we're competing for the national championship.
Is this just for your father?
No, it's for everybody who told me that it would be impossible.
It's for my brothers...
...the kids in my high school, the guys I work with at the mill.
They can't come to practice and see that I am part of the team.
Okay.
You deserve it. You'll dress for one game next season.
Thank you, coach.
Yes!
I don't know which game yet, but it'll definitely be next season.
I'm sure.
I guess they'll tell me a few days before the game.
Look, just be ready, okay?
Thanks, Dad.
All right, bye.
V-l-C-T-O-R-Y
Victory, victory, that's our cry
Gipper. Hey, Gipper!
Goddamn Miami law school beckons.
Miami!
I had to go.
What's wrong with you?
Look.
Ara quit?
I'll be goddamned. Who's the new coach?
- Dan Devine from the Green Bay Packers. - Wow...
I'm sure Ara's gonna let him know about his promise to let you dress.
Come on, let's take a walk.
When are you leaving?
- In about six minutes. - Really?
The spring semester starts in two weeks.
We've had a hell of a goddamn...
We've had a hell of a goddamn run, haven't we?
Yeah, we have.
You let me know when you dress. I'll fly out for that.
There's no way I can thank you for everything you've done.
You already have.
You remember Elza, right?
- Hi. - Good to see you again.
She's my girl now. She's coming with me.
- Isn't that goddamn something? - Dennis.
I forgot. I'm not allowed to say "goddamn" no more.
What's a lapsed Catholic to do?
- We should get going. - Yeah.
I'll see you next fall, right?
Thanks for everything.
- You take care of him. - We're going.
Don't I know you?
Ruettiger, get your ass back out here!
Touchdown!
Sorry, man.
It just ain't right.
No, it's not.
- Where are you going? - I quit.
- Wait up. - The hell with Devine, with Yonto!
Wait up. In two years, you haven't missed one practice.
And now you just quit?
- That's what I said. - I don't want you to quit.
What the hell is it to you?
You're one of the reasons I stayed on this last year.
Well, I'm sorry.
You're sorry?
You're full of crap!
Everything you did and everything you said is bullshit!
Tell Jake to make sure the top's ready.
We'll check with the weather service by 5, and we'll make a decision then.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
What you doing here? Don't you have practice?
Not anymore. I quit.
Well, since when are you the quitting kind?
I don't see the point anymore.
So you didn't make the dress list.
There are greater tragedies in the world.
I wanted to run out of that tunnel for my dad.
To prove to everyone...
Prove what?
- That I was somebody. - Oh, you are so full of crap.
You're 5 feet nothing. A hundred and nothing.
And you've got hardly a speck of athletic ability.
You hung in with the best college football team in the land for 2 years!
And you're gonna walk out of here with a degree from Notre Dame.
In this life you don't have to prove nothing to nobody except yourself.
And after what you've gone through, if you haven't done that by now...
...it ain't gonna never happen.
Now go on back.
I'm sorry I never got you to see your first game.
Hell, I've seen too many games in this stadium.
- You said you never saw a game. - I've never seen one from the stands.
You were a player?
I rode the bench for two years.
Thought I wasn't being played because of my color.
I got filled up with a lot of attitude, so I quit.
Still not a week goes by, I don't regret it.
And I guarantee a week won't go by, you won't regret walking out...
...letting them get the best of you.
Now, you hear me clear enough?
Yeah.
Bill? The pitch was too soon. Wait. Make him commit.
38 option, 38 option.
Hustle up.
It's Rudy.
Welcome back. Line up.
What's going on down there? Get back to work.
Yeah?
Oh, hi, Roland. Come in.
I want Rudy to dress in my place.
He deserves it.
Don't be ridiculous.
Georgia Tech's one of the top offensive teams in the country.
You're an all-American and our captain. Act like it.
I believe I am.
Me too, coach.
I want Rudy to dress in my place.
Coach, this is for Rudy.
This is for Rudy, coach.
I promise. This is the real thing.
I'm gonna be on the sidelines, in uniform.
Frank, I've never asked you for anything in my life.
Promise me he'll be on that bus tomorrow.
Frank, I want you to be there too.
Please.
Here you go.
What a day for a game, huh?
You bet.
All right. Go Irish!
- Go Irish! Thank you. - Thank you.
I'll get you on the way back. I don't got my wallet.
This is our gate.
Hey, Rudy?
I just want you to know that I think this is a great thing.
Thanks.
You're welcome.
It's your day.
- I wish you could be out there with me. - I know.
This is the most beautiful sight these eyes have ever seen.
Come on, Dad.
Huddle up.
Bring it in, guys.
Father.
Everyone, take a hand.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now...
...and at the hour of our death.
Notre Dame, Our Mother.
Pray for us!
You all know what you have to do.
Remember...
...no one...
...and I mean no one...
...comes into our house and pushes us around.
This is your game now, gentlemen.
And for you seniors, it's your last one, so make it count...
...because you'll remember it for the rest of your lives.
Let's get 'em.
Rudy!
You ready, champ?
I've been ready for this my whole life.
Then you take us out on the field.
All right, let's go.
Here they go!
- That's him. 45. - 45. You see him?
Forty-five! Forty-five!
That's him! I know him! That's Rudy!
You guys already know this...
...but this is the most important game of your lives!
No excuses! Do the work!
- Our Lady of Victory! - Pray for us!
What the hell? They're across the line.
Watch number 70. He's waltzing with him.
Forty yards for a Notre Dame touchdown.
It's the fourth quarter with 3 minutes to play and the issue still in doubt.
As Barratt fades back to pass for Georgia Tech from his 30-yard line.
Looks upfield, throws.
Intercepted by Roland Steele!
He has a convoy of blockers down the sidelines.
Steele going in unmolested for a Notre Dame touchdown.
It's a backbreaker for Georgia Tech.
Joe, play all the seniors!
And Rudy?
- Let him in for one play. - Absolutely not.
Coach, you gotta play him. Come on, coach. One play.
Give him a chance, coach!
Notre Dame all over the ball. Thompson recovers for the Irish.
Rudy!
Rudy! Rudy!
Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!
37 seconds remaining and it'll be all over here at Notre Dame.
To our left...
...I'm picking up a chant from the Notre Dame student body.
Can't quite make out just what it is.
Devine's gonna empty his bench with a little time remaining in the game.
One of the players going into the game is Jamie O'Hare.
O'Hare was heavily recruited throughout the country several years ago.
He came to Notre Dame...
...and it's safe to say that his career has been a disappointment.
They're chanting for Rudy.
Tell him to go to a knee.
Listen up. Victory formation.
The hell with Devine.
If the offense is here, Rudy can't play.
- We gotta run the play. - No, we gotta score now.
- Let's get a score for Rudy. - It's the last game!
All right, this one's yours. Pro right.
38 halfback pass on one. On one. Ready?
What the hell is he doing?
Touchdown. Notre Dame, 23. Georgia Tech, 3.
That was for you.
What was that? Who called that play?
It's just occurred to me...
...what they've been chanting for the last few minutes.
It's the name "Rudy."
Dan Ruettiger, a walk-on senior...
...subject of an article in yesterday's student newspaper, The Observer.
All right, go get 'em, kid!
He's so little!
Come on. One more play.
What do I do?
Stay in. Stay there!
Who's the wild man now?!
That's it.
You won.