Rudy: My Story

For most people who are aware of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, it's because of the film, Rudy, which is based on his life and the struggles and challenges of getting into Notre Dame and onto its football team. The majority of those who have seen the movie are blown away by how this lone individual persevered against all odds to achieve his dream. I know I was when I first saw it at the theater.In the fall of 2009, I nearly died from leg problems and blood infection. I was in the hospital for a month, and the only thing that gave me the will to fight my illness, and then to follow my dream were two movies I watched over and over again on a portable DVD player while in bed. The first was The Shawshank Redemption, which was directed by Frank Darabont and based on the Stephen King novella. The message I got from the film was that a person has to either "get busy living or get busy dying." This statement became my mantra. The second movie was Rudy, starring Sean Astin. The message I got from Rudy was that" if you did the hard work and never gave up, your dreams could be achieved, no matter how impossible they might seem." In many ways those two movies saved my life and gave me the will to continue living and to move forward with my dreams, even at the ripe-old age of 59.A few months after getting out of the hospital, I wrote Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger a short letter about the inspiration his movie had given me and how it had saved my life. He was kind enough to write back and to tell me "to never give up on my dreams, no matter what the obstacles...that dreams can be achieved." Three years later, at the age of 62, I'm still working towards making my dream come true with minor successes along the way.Rudy's autobiography deals with his life from its beginning up to the end of 2011. His parents, who lived in Joliet, Illinois, had twelve children, and Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger was the oldest of the siblings. Because there were so many children, his father had to work three jobs to make ends meet. His dad never complained. Rudy's mother found ways to stretch every dollar that her husband brought home. To keep things straight for the parents and friends of the family, all the kids were nicknamed "Rudy". Rudy was therefore Daniel's nickname and not his given.Throughout Rudy's early years in school, he was told by many of the teachers that he would never be a college-bound student and would have to settle for a job at one of the local plants. Since he had problems reading, studying, and his grades were low, he grew to accept that evaluation of himself. He seldom, if ever, received any positive reinforcement until a counselor told him that he could attend college, if he put his mind to it. Rudy also got some positive reinforcement from his football coach. Then, he got a chance to visit Notre Dame and to actually meet Ara Parsegehian in the football locker room. He told the coach that one day he'd be attending Notre Dame and playing for the Fighting Irish. Parsegehian told him it wouldn't be that day.When Rudy graduated from high school, he signed up in the Navy and travelled around the world, learning what it meant to work as a team aboard a ship. One night when he was stationed with a naval officer who'd attended Notre Dame, Rudy asked the man if he thought it was possible for him to go to the university. The office gave him an affirmative and was dead serious in his answer.Once Rudy got out of the service he moved back home and started working in the plants around Joliet. He had a close friend who encouraged him to live his dreams. When his friend was killed in an accident, Rudy went back and talked to his high school counselor. That was when he discovered the government would pay for most of his tuition if he wanted to go to college, and he did. The counselor managed to get him into Holy Cross Community College, which was just across the lake from Notre Dame. The dormitory Rudy stayed in, however, was on Notre Dame's campus.Once he was in college, Rudy began to meet a series of people who would help him to achieve his dream of getting into Notre Dame. Unlike the movie, there was a long list of individuals who came into Rudy's life. Whenever he would become unsure about getting into the university, someone would come along with either encouragement or a plan to help. Of course, it was up to Rudy to do the necessary work and to prepare himself.Eventually Rudy made it into Notre Dame, and the rest is history. What this book does is take you beyond Notre Dame and what took place in Rudy's life after he was carried off the football field by his team mates.Rudy became a car salesman and excelled at it. The one thing Rudy had always been good at was talking to people. It didn't matter who they were. In time, however, the seed was planted in his mind that the whole Notre Dame episode would make a great film. So, turning his early life's story into an actual movie became his next project. It took over ten years to achieve it. The right people came into his life as did some unsavory characters who later took advantage of him once the film was in production.A lot of people think Rudy became rich after the movie was made. Not true. What money he received for his story was used to pay off the people who sought to stop the film from being made until they received some sort of compensation for work that was never done. Rather than fight them, Rudy gave them what they wanted because he wanted to see the movie get completed. A legal fight with the people would have certainly ended production and Rudy didn't want that to happen.After the movie was released and Rudy became an overnight sensation, he found himself financially broke and wondered how he was going to make a living. The idea of being a motivational speaker had occurred to him when he was selling cars. He loved the idea of inspiring people to do their best and not give up. So, through trial and error, that's what he did. He became a motivational speaker who traveled around the country, talking to high schools, universities, corporations, and sports teams. He eventually set up a charity for children who wanted to live the "Rudy" message.Living out of a suitcase three hundred days of the year can become grueling over a period of time, especially when you have a family at home. This was what Rudy faced in his later years. He decided to find a way to make enough money so he could spend more time with his wife and children. This led to some bad choices. What Rudy learned from all this is that he'd taken his eyes off the ball and had paid a horrible price for it. Everything he'd struggled so hard to achieve had been lost.Rudy discovered that though a person may achieve his dreams, it doesn't mean there won't be highs and lows. He also learned it was vital he start over again and apply everything he had to making a new inspiration a success...a dream of helping the young people of America to reach their goals and to become happy and successful.Though I've covered many of the major highlights of Rudy's autobiography, this is really only the tip of the iceberg concerning the many things that occurred throughout his amazing life. None of what Rudy achieved came easy. He had to work hard, which was something his father had taught him as a child. Rudy also needed motivation, determination, patience, and the ability to recognize a window of opportunity when it opened.Rudy definitely proved it was possible for a boy from the opposite side of the tracks to make his dreams come true. Nothing was handed to him. He had to work to achieve everything that came into his life. The important thing is that though he hit many low periods, he never gave up. Often that makes the difference between a winner and a loser. A winner never gives up, no matter how hard everything seems to be.Rudy is also the first to say that none of it could have been achieved without the help of God. He prayed on many things, especially understanding. God was always there to guide him on the right path as long as he kept his focus on the important things of life.One very important message that Rudy's life story presents is that each person must find their own path to follow. Rudy's own personal journey wouldn't necessarily be right for someone else. Each individual must examine his or her dreams and then do it. Find out what it takes to make the dream come true, and then do the hard work required to making it happen.Anybody can be a "Rudy" by doing this.Rudy: My Story certainly came to me at a time when I needed a boost in my own journey. This is the inspiration I needed, and I personally feel this book will inspire anyone attempting to make their dreams happen. Watch the movie, and then read the story behind it. Or, do the opposite, but always remember that dreams can come true if you're willing to do the work.

I have been a Notre Dame fan since my Irish-born grandfather indoctrinated me into the "Irish" when I was 9. I also loved the movie Rudy when it was released. The book by the real Rudy, Daniel Ruettiger, starts strong and goes into much more detail than was allowed in the movie. It is truly inspiring to read about the challenges that faced Dan as he grew up. The message is very clear: Don't allow anyone to tell you that you cannot accomplish something if you really want it. Mr. Ruettiger's description of the hurdles he had to clear to make the movie are amazing. Most people would have quit many times over. Based on the problems he had with scriptwriters, one wonders why he didn't write his book and then sell the movie rights. Anyway, after his description of the making of the movie he brings the reader up to speed on his life after the movie. At this point the book starts to lose its momentum. He talks in general terms of poor investments, chasing the wrong dreams and the challenges in his married life, but the reader is left without the details that he elaborates on during his early life. The ending is however, very Rudy-like.

The best. An inspirational tale of a man who dreamt big and kept at it despite the naysayers. Lots of lessons to be learned and applied. I am sure this book will add more color to those who had watched the "Rudy" movie and wondered if most of it was true. Not to worry, although there were some artistic licensed involved, the movie pretty told his story to the letter! Read it, get inspired and go chase your dream and never stop chasing no matter what!

Great reading about a interesting person that would not give up on his dreams. Very inspirational to think you can achieve anything you want to if you are persistent enough to stay with it.

I love this story and the book just to let you know. I bought this book for my 14 year old son for his summer reading. While he was reading the book he got to about page 68 and stopped. He brought me the book and pointed to the corner of the page and had a surprising look. I saw it and was immediately pissed off. On the page was the “N” word written down in pen. This caught me off guard I was surprised to see this. I can send you pictures if you would like.

Really, what else do you need to know? Ordered it, gave it to a neighbor friend of mine and he cried reading it. It explains the making of the movie and sorts somethings out compared to the movie. It's all good.

I enjoyed reading Rudy after seeing the movie many times. Through the book, the reader learns much more about the life of Rudy Reuttiger than the movie provided. For example, few people realize the Rudy joined the navy after high school and wouldn't have gone to Notre Dame without help from the GI Bill. The only down side to the book was that I found Rudy to be a bit egotistical at times, constantly bragging about his successes. He could have been a bit more modest. all-in-all, a very good book.

My son picked this book out for his evening/bedtime reading (I require he read each evening for 1 hour... his choice of title). He is a Jr High student and is a football player and is fighting for recognition as a serious player. He is reading "Rudy" and is relating to the story on a personal level... truly inspired. He's finding himself reading on his phone when on the school bus and when ever we travel about town. Loved the moviw but the book is where the real story of Rudy really tells the story! Great read!!!!