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Clarion Area, Redbank Valley School Districts, CUP, Area Businesses And Individuals Join To Bring Rudy To Clarion County

(Above images courtesy of Rudy International)

Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, the famed Notre Dame walk-on football player, inspirational speaker and subject of the 1993 film “Rudy” which has inspired millions ever since, will be making a special visit to Clarion County, in March. The “Rudy Event” will be held at Clarion Area and Clarion University of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, March 30th and at Redbank Valley on Thursday, March 31st. The Event at CUP’s Marwick Boyd is free, and the public is invited to attend.

(Image courtesy of Rudy International)

There are a number of individuals and businesses who have come on board to make this event happen.

A number of sponsors have helped make the “Rudy Event” a possibility for the local communities.

Sponsors of the “Rudy Event” for the Clarion Area and CUP programs include: Bob’s Subs, Cozumel Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, Hollenbaugh’s Hometown Meats, Mauthe’s Country Corner, Sawmill Restaurant, County Line Market, Trails End, MacBeth’s Cabins, Cooksburg Café, DB’s Smokin BBQ, Fryburg Sportsmans’ Club, St. Joseph’s PTO and Carriage Inn.

Sponsors of the “Rudy Event” for the Redbank Valley programsinclude: Widnoon Corner Store, Sweet Delights, Distant Village Mart, Village Pizza, Evermoore’s, Joe’s Pizza, Gabriels, M&S Meats, Moose Lodge 366, Snug Harbour, Woodlands Tavern, Mayport

Mr. Ruettiger’s itinerary for his visit:

Clarion Area School District – 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. All School Presentation in the Auditorium; 9:30 – 10:00 Trivia Game and Meet and Greet; 10:00 – 10:50 Grade Six Visit and Building Tour; 11:00 – 12:15 Lunch with the Faculty, Staff and invited guests; 12:30 – 2:30 Classroom Visits. 

Clarion University of Pennsylvania – 7:00 – 8:00 Presentation at Marwick Boyd Auditorium; 8:00 – 8:45? Meet and Greet.  (* Free and open to the public. All are welcome.)  

Redbank Valley School District – 8:30 – 9:30 All School Presentation; 9:30 – 10:00 Trivia Game and Meet and Greet; 10:10 – 11:00 Visit with Athletes; 11:10 – 12:30 Lunch with Faculty; 12:40 – 1:40 Classroom Visits.

(Image of video conference courtesy of Ron Wilshire [top left], others seen in the shot – top (L-R): me and Clarion Area Superintendent Dr. Joe Carrico, and Clarion Area Rudy Event Ambassadors Jill Spence and Dave Constantino. And at bottom, Mr. Ruettiger.)

To help coordinate getting the information out on this great event, a Zoom video conference for media and others involved, with Mr. Ruettiger was held on Friday, February 11th.

(Image by CHS Technology Director Jim Smyton) The view from Dr. Carrico’s and my end.)

From Mr. Ruettiger’s website: “He co-founded the Rudy Foundation whose mission is to strengthen communities by offering scholarships in education, sports and the performing arts. The foundation’s focus is “to make a positive impact by bringing people together cognitively, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

“The Rudy Awards is another program that the Rudy Foundation developed to recognize children who make outstanding, exceptional effort to do their personal best every day, overcome obstacles, set goals, stay on track and reach their dreams.”

And those were some of the key themes that were highlighted during the video conference. A number of examples of individuals overcoming obstacles, from his own life – to some of those involved with the movie – to the people who were helped by the movie’s message and the hundreds of presentations through the years.

(Image Courtesy of Rudy International: Rudy and Sean Astin who portrayed him in the film.)

He mentioned that some of the actors in the movie were chosen, in part, for being overcomers, who worked through those struggles, including Sean Astin who had the title role, and Ned Beatty who played his father. Mr. Ruettiger also mentioned Sylvester Stallone who would not take no for an answer, pushing to get the “Rocky” produced.

In a humorous note, he mentioned going to an elementary school for a presentation, and the kids were disappointed at first. With many being familiar with the movie, they were expecting Sean Aston.

I mentioned a number of famous Fighting Irish football alums, such as Joe Montana, Paul Hornung, Tim Brown, Jerome Bettis, Knute Rockne . . . and asked how it felt that he was named in the same breath and that as time goes on and the memory of the others fades, and because of the enduring impact of the movie, he may one day, if not already, he may become the most famous Notre Dame football player of all time.

In a very humble response, he mentioned that it is just the impact of this message.

It was also asked if he ever shared the platform with Cathedral Prep grad Mike McCoy (All-American for the Irish, NFL player with the Packers, Raiders and Giants, and Mercyhurst University coach) who has done many motivational presentations over the years. In answering, Mr. Ruettiger mentioned another humorous instance. They shared the platform at a correctional institution, and it was Mr. Ruettiger the inmates really wanted to see. Again, he took no credit for that. He said it is just that impact of the life changing, encouraging message of the film.

The film “Rudy” is rated the number one “Best Football Movie of All Time, by USA TODAY, but Mr. Ruettiger said “Rudy” isn’t a football movie, it is a Notre Dame movie, but what it really is a movie about is (my paraphrase) overcoming, persevering and striving to be the best you can be.

Mr. Ruettiger also mentioned that one of his main thrusts is to instruct teachers and coaches how to deal with students/athletes with learning disabilities, saying that these kids make up around sixty percent of students. Mr. Ruettiger was among that group, having to deal with dislexia.

(Image courtesy Rudy International)

Dave Constantino shared that, in the movie, one of Rudy’s high school teammates is David Constantino and shared about the fun he had telling folks he was Rudy’s teammate, until folks caught on to the age difference. We all got a kick out of that.

Dr. Carrico numerous times through the conference, thanked Mr. Ruettiger for bringing his great message to this area. He also mentioned his thanks for those helping to make this all possible.

After the conference I asked him for a few words. Dr. Carrico shared, “We are very thankful for our local community, the restaurant businesses that are going to provide this opportunity for the kids. We’re grateful that the district has the ability to put this on for the community at night. We hope as many people come out and enjoy it as they can. Good to see Redbank as a part of it. And we are trying to include as many of the other school districts, as much as we can, try to make it a county-wide initiative. Dave Constantino and Jill Spence here at Clarion Area are going to be our ambassadors for Mr. Ruettiger. So, they will spend the day with him and make sure that he’s taken care of, gets where he needs to go and get what he needs.”

Redbank Valley Football Coach Blane Gold said, We’re excited for the opportunity to have Rudy come and share his story to our students. His story of determination and resiliency is something that can resonate with sports and non-sports fans alike.

Thanks to Dr. Carrico (and all the others for putting together this great event).

Link to Rudy’s Bio:

28ffd6_8945ef34383c4f85a070fd8791ee464d.pdf (rudyruettiger.com)

Thank you to all involved in making this event possible!!!!