“To my father, Notre Dame represented the underdogs of the world, the Italians, and the Polish people. I told him that one day I would play football for Notre Dame and worked hard to make that dream come true.”

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.