Rudy is the true story of a young overachiever (played by Sean Astin) and his tenacious pursuit of his dream to attend the University of Notre Dame and play football for the Fighting Irish. However, the road leading to his goal was filled with obstacles.

First, because he was small and had barely average speed, there was little chance he would be able to make the Irish's football squad as a walk-on. Second, Rudy was dyslexic, and his high school grades had suffered as a consequence. It would be almost impossible for him to be accepted by the prestigious university in the first place.

Refusing to give up, he took a Greyhound into South Bend and met Father Cavanaugh, a scholastic priest who agreed to get him into a semester of Holy Cross Junior College. If his grades were good enough there, perhaps Notre Dame might consider letting him in.

In the following scene, Rudy's grades have improved dramatically. But three semesters and three rejection letters later, he is devastated and hopeless. His next semester is his last chance, because Notre Dame never allows seniors to transfer. He has managed his way to South Bend, labored in class, and even scraped up enough odd jobs so he can eat. He has been diligent and worked every angle he knew. But it hasn't been enough. Rudy finds himself in the chapel where he had first met Father Cavanaugh. And once again, he pours out his soul to the elderly priest.

"Maybe I haven't prayed enough," Rudy says, almost frantic.

Father Cavanaugh answers with kind, narrow eyes, "I'm sure that's not the problem. Praying is something we do in our time. The answers come in God's time."

Rudy isn't satisfied. There has to be something else he can do. "Have I done everything I possibly can? Can you help me?"

Father Cavanaugh's answer is measured but sure. "Son, in 35 years of religious studies, I've come up with only two hard, incontrovertible facts: There is a God, and I'm not Him."

Elapsed Time: DVD track 17, 01:02:47 – 01:03:41