Week 14

While watching the movie, Rudy…again…I am struck by the interaction between Rudy and coach Parseghian. Having a mastermind I see that my advice is being thrown back in my face. We all have reasons…but we hide the real reasons for our goals.

It’s not that our goals are not our goals but the reasons that we achieve them or the excuses that we give for not achieving them are not always as honest or obvious until we discuss them with another person.

Rudy came into Parseghian’s office and explained to his coach that he stated that he wanted to be with the team because his father loved Notre Dame football. If he dressed out…he could give his father this “gift.”

The coach said that he wished that he could put Rudy’s heart into his starting players bodies…a compliment that should have made Rudy understand that it wasn’t his lack of heart…but just his physical build that prevented him from playing with the team in competition.

While the coach was subtly moved by this “gift” idea, he was smart enough to dig a little deeper. He asked Rudy if this was the only reason he wanted to dress out. Rudy then confided that it was for everyone who said that it was impossible.

It was for his friends, his family, fellow teammates on the practice squad. He saw the reason for the commitment when there was no guarantee. He saw the bravery of this young man coming into his office and asking that the commitment he showed gets rewarded with the seemingly smallest of gestures of allowing him to dress.

I believe that Parseghian relented because he recognized that whether Rudy dressed or not…he already was “first team”. In the long run it was better for Rudy and the team if he dressed to show that to the list of people that Rudy had confided…and also the persons that Parseghian never mentioned what it really meant to be a Notre Dame football player.

Well we all know that it wasn’t that simple. The coach left and it became apparent that Rudy’s dream to dress wasn’t shared by Dan Devine, the new coach.

All was not lost though. Along the way, Rudy had built a list of persons who recognized his commitment and dream that supported his desires and they included a priest, a tutor, a grounds person, legacy players who never played, scholarship players that never achieved their potential and first string starters who recognized when something “just ain’t right.”

Armed with this group of supporters, Rudy not only dressed but he also played and all those naysayers were there and became fans of this little engine…that Could!!!