Since college football starts this weekend, you will have to put up with excessive football analogies from me this week. The first is the title of this blog, which is modelled on the sign above the stairwell leading from the locker room of the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame stadium.This evening I felt like Rudy (the movie one, not our local speedster Rudy Rocha) since I got to run with the big boys, Ben Harvie, Chad James, Mark Henderson, at the Monday evening On the Run Store group run. Needless to say, I peeled off after about 15 minutes before they pounded me too badly at their (not my) easy pace. If you saw the movie Rudy, you'll know the first team beats him up every day in practice but he keeps coming back for more. I'll bet a number of us runners know the feeling. The link above goes to the real Rudy's web site.
Since I was at ND at the time and was also a student manager with the football team that year, people ask me if the Rudy story is a true one. As explained on Rudy's website FAQ, every detail in the movie is not true, but key facts are. My family likes to think that the nerdy student manager that talks to Rudy before the Georgia Tech game in the movie is me. If you look at a game program from that season, there is no doubt that my picture is in the running for the that 70's nerdy student manager look award.
But I deny it. The only home game I remember much of that year was the Southern California game. I was assigned ball duties for the game, which means I was the nerdy guy shuttling in footballs as needed for the Irish. Because of this, I was in close proximity to the Southern California cheerleaders on the USC sidelines for portions of the game. Now why would I remember that?
If you pick up a Notre Dame yearbook (titled "Dome") from that year, there is a picture of Rudy about to tackle the Georgia Tech quarterback in it. There is a short write-up of his story as well. Above his picture is a picture of Joe Montana, one of our two quarterbacks that season. You may have heard of him.
Sunday morning I did not run like a champion, though I got in 5.5 miles. Today was better.
8 comments:
in the running? you are the only one of the managers with glasses - plus the tall, lanky nerdiness.
oh how I yearn to tell the story of why you *really* remember that USC game... but I figure it's one thing to have a laugh about it at Corby's with my friends, another to tell *your* friends :)
My boss' son is a sophomore at ND; sounds like they're expecting to have another great football year. IU? Not so much. At least both schools are consistent.
Oh, Christine, please, please tell!!!
Joe, I love that movie. My son does too.
I can't wait till Tech wins.
;p
sorry vic, i have been banned from telling the story. if my tickets to the michigan game didn't depend on it, i'd probably spill the beans... you'll have to get my dad to tell you :)
Sarah,
You'll be a masters runner before that day comes.
Touche!
Who is this Joe Montana person?
Post a Comment