Notre Dame’s first football game is a little over a week away. In case you didn’t know, Notre Dame’s opening day is the 4th most sacred day of the year, behind Easter, Christmas and the Saint Louis Cardinals opening day. Every year to prepare for this blessed time of year I plop myself down in front of the TV and watch Rudy (Rudy (Special Edition DVD)
This post is not about my love for the movie or my love for Notre Dame per se, rather it’s about Pete.
“Who’s Pete?” you ask.
Pete is Rudy’s best friend growing up. If you’ve seen the movie there are many people trying to dissuade Rudy from even thinking about Notre Dame. His brothers, his girlfriend, his teacher at the Catholic school he attended all thought Rudy needed to get his childhood dreams of going to Notre Dame out of his head and face reality. Even his dad tries to convince him to forget about his dreams.
Then there’s Pete.
Pete was there by Rudy’s side all through his childhood, high school and played along side him on the high school football team. After high school they ended up working in the same factory. Unlike all Rudy’s detractors, Pete was Rudy’s biggest fan. He always encouraged Rudy to follow his dreams. He saw something in Rudy that no one else saw. To say he was a good friend would be an understatement.
There’s a scene in the movie when the two friends are on lunch break at the factory. It was August 23rd, Rudy’s birthday. Pete remembered. While they were sitting there Pete gave him a birthday present–a Notre Dame jacket. By this time Rudy was 22 years old, and every day it seemed that his dreams were getting farther and farther away. But again, Pete kept encouraging him, so much so that he got into a fight with Rudy’s older brother to stand up for him. Pete was a real friend.
[Spoiler Alert...if you haven't seen the movie yet, watch it first or skip this next paragraph]
What happened next in the movie, I’ll admit, gets me every time. Pete ends up dying in a factory accident shortly thereafter. Rudy is then left with no supporters. The only person that believed in him was gone.
[End spoiler]
Rudy is a movie about determination. However, the more I watch it the more I realize what an integral part Pete had in this story. Had Pete not encouraged Rudy he may have never fulfilled his dreams. He may have given up, continued to work in that factory and watch his ordinary life pass away. But because of his good friend Rudy made playing football at Notre Dame his life’s work, despite his size, despite his age, and despite his academic shortcomings.
And even if you haven’t seen the movie, you can guess what happens…he makes it!
Hold on while I grab a tissue. Ok. I’m back.
Here’s the thing, well two things:
- I wish I was a friend like Pete.
- I wish I had a friend like Pete.
How about you?
Do you have a friend like Pete?
Would you consider yourself a friend like Pete?
