SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- When there are only two customers in the Notre Dame Varsity Shop and one of them is named Rudy, suddenly the souvenir schedules aren't the only thing magnetic.
But there he was in the somewhat-pudgy flesh Monday morning, perhaps the second-most famous Notre Dame icon. Yes, that Rudy browsing before being recognized. Then suddenly he was signing anything the cashiers could grab, while being asked where he'd been.
Away mostly, until the night before when Rudy Ruettiger, the world's most celebrated walk-on, was invited by new coach Charlie Weis to speak to the Fighting Irish.
It was the first time in 30 years Rudy had stood before Irish players who weren't his teammates. No one is really sure why it had been that long -- jealousy by ND officials over Rudy's perceived self-promotion over the years? But it took Weis -- mover, shaker and old softie -- to make it happen.
"The players didn't know I was there," Ruettiger said of Sunday night. "We showed the movie. I was sitting in the back. I felt their emotions, I felt their feelings.
"Charlie comes up afterward and says, 'We could talk about the movie all you want. But let's have Rudy come up and tell you about the movie.'
"They were, like, side-swiped. Their eyes were big. They cheered."
Did we say second-most famous Notre Dame icon? Only Touchdown Jesus might be bigger (figuratively, literally and spiritually). But the sight of the new coach embracing a bit of the old school proved that the Notre Dame schmaltz isn't dead yet.
Just re-packaged.
"Now they don't watch Knute Rockne, they watch Rudy," Ruettiger said.
And long for the old days which are getting older by the minute. Notre Dame has gone 17 years without a national championship, 13 years without a bowl win. Why not bring in a 5-foot-6 chunk of blue and gold mojo?
Rudy isn't a believer just because Weis gave the Henderson, Nev.-based motivational speaker his latest stage. The two were "classmates" in the 1970s, or at least overlapped a couple of years during the Dan Devine administration.
Truth is, they both have something to sell -- themselves. Rudy the Schmooze is a master at it with his own movie, website and -- coming soon -- soft drink.
But there he was in the somewhat-pudgy flesh Monday morning, perhaps the second-most famous Notre Dame icon. Yes, that Rudy browsing before being recognized. Then suddenly he was signing anything the cashiers could grab, while being asked where he'd been.
Away mostly, until the night before when Rudy Ruettiger, the world's most celebrated walk-on, was invited by new coach Charlie Weis to speak to the Fighting Irish.
It was the first time in 30 years Rudy had stood before Irish players who weren't his teammates. No one is really sure why it had been that long -- jealousy by ND officials over Rudy's perceived self-promotion over the years? But it took Weis -- mover, shaker and old softie -- to make it happen.
"The players didn't know I was there," Ruettiger said of Sunday night. "We showed the movie. I was sitting in the back. I felt their emotions, I felt their feelings.
"Charlie comes up afterward and says, 'We could talk about the movie all you want. But let's have Rudy come up and tell you about the movie.'
"They were, like, side-swiped. Their eyes were big. They cheered."
Did we say second-most famous Notre Dame icon? Only Touchdown Jesus might be bigger (figuratively, literally and spiritually). But the sight of the new coach embracing a bit of the old school proved that the Notre Dame schmaltz isn't dead yet.
Just re-packaged.
"Now they don't watch Knute Rockne, they watch Rudy," Ruettiger said.
And long for the old days which are getting older by the minute. Notre Dame has gone 17 years without a national championship, 13 years without a bowl win. Why not bring in a 5-foot-6 chunk of blue and gold mojo?
Rudy isn't a believer just because Weis gave the Henderson, Nev.-based motivational speaker his latest stage. The two were "classmates" in the 1970s, or at least overlapped a couple of years during the Dan Devine administration.
Truth is, they both have something to sell -- themselves. Rudy the Schmooze is a master at it with his own movie, website and -- coming soon -- soft drink.
