An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Rudy visits JTF Scott

  • Published
  • By Monte Miller
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Straight from the big screen and the football field of the University of Notre Dame, Rudy Ruettiger visited Scott Air Force Base last week to deliver a message of inspiration to JTF Scott personnel.

Mr. Ruettiger, who had his life story made in to a major motion picture in 1994, overcame great odds and diversity to fulfill the childhood dream of making the Notre Dame football team in the mid 1970's after a lifetime of being told he couldn't do it.

"He's a great guy, and he speaks the language," 375th Airlift Wing commander Col. Al Hunt said when introducing Mr. Ruettiger to the crowd at the base theatre. "I've known Rudy for a few years now and he has a lot to offer from a different perspective."

Mr. Ruettiger began his remarks by explaining that he wasn't a hobbit, which was a reference to actor Sean Astin, who portrayed him in the movies as well a playing a main character in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

"It's amazing who you meet because of what you've done," Mr. Ruettiger said. "One play or one tackle doesn't make you great. Never quitting makes you great."

He added that his time in the U.S. Navy before attending Notre Dame set his life on track for the successes he would achieve by instilling in him a never give up attitude and to excel in everything you do, even at the lowest level.

"I was third in my class in high school," he said. "Third from the bottom. The magic of success is confidence and what you put into people's minds. We all want to be recognized for something."

Mr. Ruettiger relayed a story about visiting the White House to screen his movie in 1994 with then President Bill Clinton.

"The White House social secretary never asked me what my SAT scores were or what my class rank was," he said referring to the problems he had in school before being diagnosed with dyslexia. "You have to live in the moment. Preparation is the key. If you do the basics and fundamentals of life, dream big and never give up, great things will happen."

He then challenged the Airmen to encourage each other and put themselves around people who encourage instead of discourage.

"When you think you are somebody, you're really nobody," Mr. Ruettiger said. "Great leaders never surrender to goofy thoughts. That is your challenge."

Mr. Ruettiger, who is one of 14 children, was basically told he would never amount to anything by his family, friends and even teachers throughout his life, but that didn't stop him.

"We've all seen people who have come from nowhere. Some of you might be those people," he said. "It took me 10 years between finishing high school and graduating from Notre Dame. It took another 10 years for me to get my movie made."

The dream to produce the movie of his journey came after he was inspired by the movie Rocky, which came out in 1981. After seeing that, he decided that was what he wanted to do, but he couldn't act.

Mr. Ruettiger then turned his attention to the Airmen in attendance and his prior Navy service.

"Graduating from boot camp was a great victory in my life and it should be in yours," he said. "People want to belong to something and are begging for what you already know. You guys are a great factor in what we are fighting for."

During his visit to Scott, Mr. Ruettiger witnessed a change of command ceremony, took part in a deployment line and weapon demonstration before heading to the Scott Club to meet the troops and sign autographs.

"When you are born, you are given the great gift of imagination. It is yours until people take it away from you," Mr. Ruettiger said. "I didn't quit because a great man told me not to. He was only a maintenance guy, but he had a passion."