NGWA announced Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, perhaps the most inspiring graduate of the University of Notre Dame, will deliver the keynote address at Groundwater Week 2023 December 5-7 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ruettiger carved his name into the Notre Dame football team’s history books when he — a self-described “five-foot nothin’, a hundred and nothin’…without a speck of athletic ability” — sacked the quarterback on the only play in the only game of his college football career.
Fans cheered “RU-DY! RU-DY!” as he was the first player in the school’s history to be carried off the football field on the shoulders of his teammates.
Ruettiger rose from valleys of discouragement and despair to the pinnacles of success. It took years of fierce determination to overcome obstacles and criticisms, yet Ruettiger achieved his first dream — to attend Notre Dame and play football for the Fighting Irish.
The 1993 film, Rudy, immortalized Ruettiger’s life story. The inspirational film was ranked by USA TODAY as the best football movie of all time.
Today, Ruettiger is an Emmy Award-winning motivational speaker, author, and producer. His captivating personality and powerful message of “NEVER QUIT” and “YES I CAN” comes from his personal experiences of adversity and triumph and lasts a lifetime.
Celebrate NGWA’s 75-year anniversary at Groundwater Week 2023. Click here to learn more about the event.