[Hammock Parties]

This is great.

In Reel Life: Rudy struggles to pay tuition at Holy Cross.

In Real Life: Rudy's tuition should have been paid under the GI Bill.

In Reel Life: Like many people who have a single, concrete goal, Rudy sometimes comes off as being very self-absorbed.

In Real Life: Has he changed? Not long after the movie came out, the L.A. Times reported that he had seen the movie 26 times. And Newsday, after Rudy's 24th viewing, reported he "cries every time."

In Reel Life: The night before the final game, Steele leads the players as they walk, single file, into new Head Coach Dan Devine's office, and place their jerseys on his desk, saying they want Rudy to suit up.

In Real Life: According to the Houston Chronicle, Devine was furious about the scene. "The jersey scene is unforgivable. It's a lie and untrue. coming on the heels of 'Under the Tarnished Dome' (a book critical of the university's football program). I don't think it's a very good thing for Notre Dame."

And Ruettiger knew he would dress for the final home game. "Dan made the announcement that I'd be playing at practice and everybody cheered," he told the New York Times. Linebackers coach George Kelly added, "There's no question he was on the dress list. It was posted on Thursday."