“My friends always told me I was short, dumb and ugly. And you know what, I believed them. But when you change your friends, you change your attitude.”

American motivational speaker and author

Rudy Ruettiger is an American motivational speaker and author, best known for his connection to Notre Dame football and for inspiring the 1993 film Rudy. His early life and time at the University of Notre Dame made him a familiar figure in American sports and motivation. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and the story of his persistence there became the basis for Rudy. He is also known for speaking and writing about determination, hard work, and overcoming setbacks.