Clint Desjarlais never played football, but he had dreams of stepping onto the field in front of thousands of screaming fans for two years after watching the movie “Rudy,” the real-life story of a young man that worked his way onto Notre Dame as a walk-on and lived his dream by getting into a single game.
Desjarlais, a senior at the Naval Academy, had his opportunity to fulfill that dream recently when he tried out with other Mids for the chance to cover a kick for Navy Saturday against Temple as part of the 12th Mid competition. Coach Paul Johnson started the competition three years ago as a way of bringing the football team closer to the Brigade of Midshipmen.
“After watching ?Rudy,? I wondered why in the world that couldn?t be me,” Desjarlais said.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Desjarlais nearly missed out on his chance when Johnson selected Rich Lippincott of the 7th Company as the 12th Mid. As a consolation, Johnson selected Desjarlais, who is part of the 2nd Company, as the alternate. Desjarlais decided, like Rudy, that he wasn?t going to take no for an answer and showed up to practice every day with hopes of being ready should he be called upon.
Johnson noticed Desjarlais? hard work and decided to reward him by allowing him to join Lippincott on the sidelines while also giving him the chance to participate in a kickoff.
“You know, it?s been a lot of fun and I will tell you what ? we started out this year where we were only going to have one guy, like we?ve done the last couple of years, and an alternate in case he gets hurt,” Johnson said Monday. “The kid that?s the alternate came out here every day last week and ran and he?s out here again today, and I?m going to let them both cover a kick. That kid has worked his tail off.”
Like in previous years, both Desjarlais and Lippincott will wear No. 12 on their jersey, the number of former Naval Academy and Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach, who allows his jersey to be unretired once a year for the 12th Mid.
“Getting to be a part of this team as the 12th Mid is a big deal and a great honor,” the 6-foot, 225-pound Lippincott said. “Plus, getting to wear the same jersey as Roger Staubach is unbelievable.”
