In the 1993 film “Rudy,” the lead character, Daniel E. ‘Rudy” Ruettiger, played by Sean Astin, has a memorable dialogue with Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian, played by the late Jason Miller.
I’ve come to realize that God made some people out to be football players, and that I’m not one of them, Rudy said.
I wish God would put your heart in some of my players’ bodies, Parseghian replied.
The film became an inspiration for anyone who had ever been told they couldn’t do something. To this day, it is the benchmark for underdog stories.
At Durant High School, the Barwick Award was established in 2011.
“It goes to a guy that just wants to be a part of Durant football,” Cougars head coach Mike Gottman said.
The inaugural winner and the award’s namesake is Jackson Barwick.
At 5-foot-10 and about 140 pounds when he was at Durant, Barwick was taller but thinner than the real Rudy (5-6, 185) — who was described in the film as “5-foot nothin’ and a hundred and nothin” — but the attribute they share is their heart and love of football.
“Football is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Barwick said. “It taught me how to be successful in life and how to stick with something — even if it’s hard and some say you can’t do it.”
With his playing days over, Barwick is now focused on continuing to follow his passion.
After helping out in a supporting role since he graduated in 2011, Barwick will serve as Durant’s wide receivers coach on a full-time basis this fall.
X’S AND O’S
Barwick never put on pads before he reached high school. And despite being undersized, he decided to go out for the team.
“I had always done band through middle school, but I just really wanted to play football,” he said.
Barwick didn’t play at all his freshman year, but he stuck with it.
“I just kept working at it and tried to get better,” he said.
Despite having virtually no chance of playing, much less starting, Barwick showed up every day for practice and offseason workouts, often taking a beating from the varsity players, who use scout team type players such as Barwick to prepare for Friday nights.
“He got limited playing time but always came to practice with a great effort and determination,” Gottman said. “There are different ways to contribute on a football team, whether you’re a scout team guy, a starter or a special teams player.”
His senior year, Barwick saw limited playing time and got to start at wide receiver Nov. 12, 2010, against Strawberry Crest. He even caught a pass in the game, his only varsity catch. It was for three yards.
“There’s no better feeling than playing football and being a part of a program,” he said. “If you make it through with a program, especially our program, you’ll be successful in life and you’ll see that it was all worth it.”
THE RIGHT PATH
Barwick attended Florida Atlantic University after graduating in 2011 from Durant.
With his playing days over, he wanted to stay involved with the game he loved, so he volunteered his time with the Owls’ program at FAU. He spent time breaking down game film in a secluded room.
“They worked him to the bone,” Gottman said.
Wanting to be more involved with the on-the-field aspects, Barwick decided to transfer back home.
“I thought I wanted to coach college football, so I tried to help out there, but I found out I didn’t like it as much as high school football,” he said. “(College) is more of a big business-type deal, and I like the family-type atmosphere here.”
Barwick is currently taking classes at the Hillsborough Community College’s Plant City Campus, with plans to finish a degree in education at the University of South Florida. He hopes to teach history in high school and coach football.
Barwick has helped on a volunteer basis with the Durant program periodically since he graduated, but Gottman decided to give him his own role as wide receivers coach after he returned home. He has been working in that role since spring workouts.
“In the past, I’ve always been like the sidekick with another coach, but when you’re the actual guy doing it, there’s a lot more pressure,” he said.
Whether his future leads to a paid position teaching and coaching at his alma mater or another high school, his example of hard work and dedication will live on at Durant through the Barwick Award.
“I just love football and love being around it,” Barwick said. “This isn’t a job for me. It’s fun, and it’s my passion.”