Perhaps the best-known walk-on story in all of sports is the story of Daniel Eugene Ruettiger. You know him best as Rudy Ruettiger from the 1993 film, based on a true story, of a dreamer’s journey from steel mills of Joliet, Illinois to the golden gridiron in South Bend, Indiana.
Rudy – infamously known for his late game sack against Georgia Tech now has a paradoxical sequel as Kentucky Fried Chicken’s latest Colonel Sanders.
The late Ebert and Roeper may have given Rudy “two thumbs up” but my take on this parody trailer is simple – that it finger lickin’ sucks that KFC stole our Rudy.
Home of the Kentucky Fried Chicken
Rudy 2 seems to be the brief story of Rudy following his new passion, Kentucky Fried Chicken. I suppose it could be inspirational to some, perhaps those in the Louisville, Kentucky where Notre Dame fended off a hungry Louisville Cardinals team on September 2, 2019, Notre Dame 35 – Louisville 17.
The Cardinals are now 2-1 heading into a rather weak ACC schedule. Hey, maybe they will be the team that knocks off the Clemson Tigers. Arguably the toughest game left on the Tigers schedule.
The commercial was released by KFC days after the Notre Dame victory in Louisville. I suppose it was their way of getting back at us for coming into their house and stealing their biscuit.
Win One for the Gipper’
With many to choose from, one of the more iconic scenes of Rudy was when he was in the locker room, standing on a stool reciting Knute Rockne’s legendary speech:
“We’re gonna go inside, we’re gonna go outside, inside and outside. We’re gonna get ’em on the run boys and once we get ’em on the run we’re gonna keep ’em on the run. And then we’re gonna go go go go go go and we’re not gonna stop til we get across that goal line. This is a team they say is… is good, well I think we’re better than them. They can’t lick us, so what do you say men?”
Of course, it is worth noting that in a minute long commercial, KFC does capture the major points of the original movie including the legendary speech scene. Sean Astin (actor that played Rudy) is another of a long line of moderately accomplished actors to play the role of Colonel Sanders.
Overall, it was all in good fun and fans were able to remember the original through the parody.
“RUDY – RUDY – RUDY”
Rudy will always represent the spirit of Chicago for his determination to make his ultimate dream a reality the right way. To pay off as it did – getting to play for the University of Notre Dame – even if it was only a single play, well that is better than any $12 bucket of chicken.
I do not even care that he was offsides.
