$10 Things You Didn\'t Know About Rudy$

10 Things You Didn't Know About Rudy

By Michael Terrill

10 Things You Didn't Know About Rudy

Rudy — When talking about the greatest sports movies of all time, there is no denying that Rudy has to be in the discussion. Despite the similarities between the real life version of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger and the film version of him, there still needs to be separation between fact and fiction. Along with that, there are facts about the movie that most fans don’t know about. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about Rudy.

10. Rudy in the Stands

Rudy in the Stands

10. Rudy in the Stands

Rudy in the Stands — The real Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger actually plays a small role in the movie. He can be seen in the stands as one of the many Notre Dame fans towards the end of the film. He’s the one who gets tugged on by Rudy’s father as Rudy is carried off the field by his teammates.

9. Hoosiers Connection

Hoosiers Connection

9. Hoosiers Connection

Hoosiers Connection — Director David Anspaugh and writer Angelo Pizzo did an amazing job bringing Rudy’s story to life. As astonishing as it may be, Rudy was not the first sports film the two collaborated on. Anspaugh and Pizzo are also responsible for making Hoosiers (1986), the legendary basketball film starring Gene Hackman.

8. Dan Devine’s Selfless Act

Dan Devine’s Selfless Act

8. Dan Devine’s Selfless Act

Dan Devine’s Selfless Act — Dan Devine served as the head coach for Notre Dame from 1975 to 1980. In the film, he was portrayed as the villain, but in reality, that could not have been further from the truth. Devine was said to be very supportive of Rudy suiting up and playing. However, he knew the only way the film about Rudy’s life would get made is if he was the villain, which is why he agreed to allow the movie to be made with him as the bad guy.

7. Players Lay Down Jerseys Scene

Players Lay Down Jerseys Scene

7. Players Lay Down Jerseys Scene

Players Lay Down Jerseys Scene — The scene in which the Notre Dame players lay down their jerseys on Devine’s desk in an effort to have Rudy dress in their place never happened. In fact, despite Devine allowing him to be portrayed as the villain in the film, that scene really ticked him off.
“The jersey scene is unforgivable. It’s a lie and untrue,” Devine said, according to the Houston Chronicle.

6. Filming

Filming

6. Filming

Filming — The final scene of Rudy was filmed during the halftime of a 1992 college football game between Notre Dame and Boston College. The crowd is as real as it gets, as is their chants of “Rudy, Rudy” that echo throughout the stadium.

5. Frank Doesn’t Exist

Frank Doesn’t Exist

5. Frank Doesn’t Exist

Frank Doesn’t Exist — Rudy’s older brother, Frank, who makes fun of Rudy and didn’t believe he could earn a spot on the Notre Dame football team, actually never existed. In real life, Ruettiger doesn’t even have an older brother. He has two older sisters. Ruettiger has stated that the person of Frank was a combination of everyone who told him it couldn’t be done throughout his entire life.

4. Jerry Goldsmith

Jerry Goldsmith

4. Jerry Goldsmith

Jerry Goldsmith — Legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith left his mark on film prior to his death in 2004. His notable works includes films such as Chinatown, Basic Instinct, Patton, Planet of the Apes, Hoosiers and three Rambo films, among many others. He also composed the tear-jerking music for Rudy. It is rather impressive that a movie that made only $22 million at the box office landed an Academy Award winning composer.

3. Vince Vaughn

Vince Vaughn

3. Vince Vaughn

Vince Vaughn — Vince Vaughn is an incredibly famous actor who has seen plenty of success thanks to films such as Wedding Crashers, Dodgeball and Old School. What many fans may not realize is that Rudy was the first movie Vaughn ever appeared in, although he did have minor roles in six TV shows prior to his film debut. Believe it or not, Vaughn plays Jamie O’Hara, the tailback who makes a big deal about Rudy tackling him in practice.

2. Fortune

Fortune

2. Fortune

Fortune — Fortune is the name of the groundskeeper who Rudy befriends in the movie and gives him motivation to keep playing. In reality, Fortune was not one single person, but rather, three separate inspirational people who were made into one for the sake of the film.
“He was a composite, but that was reality, and that’s what happened in my life ... all through my life,” Ruettiger said, according to his website.

1. Special Tribute

Special Tribute

1. Special Tribute

Special Tribute — Despite popular belief, Ruettiger was indeed carried off the field by teammates after his lone sack in the only game he appeared in. In the film, there is a special tribute for the two players who lifted Ruettiger on their shoulders. In the scene in which Rudy uses his fingers to look at the list to see if he made the team, there are two instances in which his fingers start on two different names. Those two names are the players who carried him.

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