Daniel Eugene Ruettiger

Most people would say a real hero is someone who made a difference to benefit mankind. Sort of like what Gandhi and Martin Luther King did. But my hero is an inspiration. Daniel Eugene "Rudy" Ruettiger is my hero. He was born on August 23rd, 1948 in Joliet, Illinois, United States of America. He was the first of two to be carried off the field by The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.

In his early life, he had a hard time in school because of his dislexia. Not only that, but he was the third of fourteen children in a lower middle class household. He attended Joliet Catholic High school. There, he played football for a locally famous coach, Gordie Gillespie. After high school, he joined the United States Navy.

Rudy Ruettiger served the Unites States Navy as a yeoman on a communication command ship for two years. Then worked in a power plant for two years. He applied for the University of Notre Dame but had to do his early college work at Holy Cross College. Despite spending two years at Holy Cross College and three rejections to transfer to the University of Notre Dame, in the fall of 1974, he was accepted as a student. He always dreamed of playing for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team despite being was 5'5" and weighed 165 pounds. He earned a place on the scout team, a squad that helps the team for games. In the 1974 season, Dan Devine was named head coach. In Rudy's last opportunity to play, Dan put him in as defensive end and he sacked the quarterback and then was carried off the field by his teammates.

Rudy and his wife created the Rudy Foundation to benefit the children's advocacy programs. The College Football Rudy awards was created by the Rudy Foundation to honor Division 1 football players who demonstrate what Rudy refers to as "The Four C's": character, courage, contribution and commitment. Now he launches the Rudy Awards for high schools.

Daniel Eugene "Rudy" Ruettiger is my hero because he shows that heart is more important than skill. It's good to have some skills in what you do but to make it great would be to put your heart in it as well. Rudy shows me this, everyone can sack the quarterback but he showed heart while playing to his teammates and therefore was carried off the field. Rudy Ruettiger is a true inspiration.