You are undoubtedly quite familiar with the phrase “there’s no ‘I’ in TEAM”. Over the years, I have heard everyone from coaches to bosses to sportscasters using the term. I am fairly certain that I have uttered the words over the years when trying to get my family to pitch in on projects. Recently, my eldest son began college at a university that has a rich history and is steeped in tradition. At the University of Notre Dame, which is 177 years old, there are notable traditions for Game Days, Football Fridays, music, Masses, cheers, bagpipes, trumpets, candlelight dinners, the Leprechaun, an annual t-shirt (known as “the shirt”) and more.
While you may not personally know a Notre Dame alumnus, you are probably familiar with one of the school’s most famous graduates - Daniel Eugene "Rudy" Ruettiger who played college football at the University of Notre Dame. His early life and career at Notre Dame were the inspiration for the 1993 film Rudy staring Sean Astin in the title role. Rudy is well known, not so much for his football highlights, but rather for the backstory of his path to the school. You see, Rudy grew up in a very large lower class family of steel mill workers who were all deeply devoted to the football team of their favorite university, Notre Dame. His whole life, Rudy dreamed of nothing but playing football at the University of Notre Dame. He had many obstacles, however, including not having the money for tuition, the grades to qualify for a scholarship, or the athletic skills to earn him a spot on the team. He got a job at the local steel mill instead, but he never let his dream die and he eventually got admitted to the university in his junior year. Of course, he tried out for the football team, but the only position he could get was as a live tackle-dummy.
There are so many reasons that the movie (and Rudy’s story) tugs at your heart strings, one of which is the fact that Rudy was so very proud to have any connection with his favorite team. You can predict how this story ends without ever having seen the movie. By Rudy’s senior year, he had become such a favorite of the football players that they stormed the coach's office and pleaded for Rudy to be given a chance to “suit up” and play in the final home game. No Spoiler Alert here...I won’t give the ending away in case you want to watch the movie. Suffice to say, it’s a storybook ending that is made even more special because the story is actually true.
Full disclaimer: my husband was part of the University of Notre Dame’s football team when he was a student there 30 years ago. His team won the National Championship and he not only proudly wears his National Championship ring, he has the most interesting and glorious stories of his time as part of that team. Lou Holtz was the coach at the time and my husband has often told me over the years how tough Coach Holtz was on every member of the team, even the ones who were on the practice squad and never got to play in a single game. They were held to the same high standards, work ethic, curfews and rigorous practice schedule. If you don’t know, it is a common practice for teams to review films of the opposition and they spend a tremendous amount of time breaking down their opponent’s offense so that their own defense may prepare for the game (and the opposite for the offense being ready for the defense of the opposing teams). The Scout (practice) Squad is then brought in to run plays with the players in order to prepare for game day. Coach Holtz made sure every member of his team, whether they were a starting offensive lineman, a defensive tackle, member of the practice squad, or student manager, felt as if they were the most valued member of the team. They each served an important role and the team was better, stronger and more successful because of each of its members. The “stars” of the team were not treated any differently than anyone else...their lockers were the same size, they were all given the same equipment, they ate the same meals side-by-side, and they prayed together as a team before each and every game. Remember, there is no “I” in team.
Rudy wanted to be part of something bigger than himself. He respected and adored the history and traditions of the team that he was fortunate enough to become a part of. He never took his opportunity for granted, he worked extremely hard (despite the fact that his role on the team meant that he was getting bruised and battered every day), and he was happier for everyone else’s accomplishments than he was for his own. I love Rudy’s story and the fact that he has worked as a motivational speaker most of his adult life, encouraging young people to dream big, work hard, keep the faith, and understand the valuable lessons that may be learned from being part of a team.
One of Notre Dame’s long-standing traditions has to do with a hand-painted wooden sign with the words “Play Like A Champion Today” on it. Many people mistakenly think that the sign was created in the 1940’s but it is actually much younger than that. Coach Holtz wanted those words put on a sign that the players would see every day for motivation and inspiration. In 1986, he asked one of the school’s sign painters to create the sign and specifically asked that it be painted in blue and gold. He wanted the sign to remind his team of their commitment and dedication to something much bigger and more important than themselves. Coach Holtz thought it was essential that each member of the team “Play Like A Champion” as a reminder that it was both an honor and a responsibility to play for the University of Notre Dame. And so the tradition began...the sign hangs in the locker room as you exit into a tunnel to the field and every member of the team taps that sign for good luck and inspiration before each game. The phrase has since been trademarked and can be found on everything from t-shirts, to magnets to footballs. A little-known fact about the original sign is that it was painted by a woman who has Multiple Sclerosis and is visually impaired. She has since retired from the University of Notre Dame, but considers the Play Like A Champion sign one of her life’s greatest accomplishments. I am proud to say that we have one of the signs in our own home and we find encouragement and inspiration in the daily reminder to Play Like a Champion Today.
Whether you decide to see Rudy’s movie or not, we can all use his story as a reminder that most opportunities are not handed over to us on a silver platter. It takes hard work, determination, commitment and the spirit of a dreamer to become a champion. Whatever it is that we hope to accomplish, our own story has a bigger chance of having a “Hollywood ending” if we recognize that there is no “I” in Rudy.