Notre Dame-West Haven Senior Lives ‘Rudy’ Moment On Senior Night

WEST HAVEN, CT — The Notre Dame-West Haven basketball team has had many highlights along the way to posting an 18-0 record, but perhaps nothing will be as memorable as what happened at the Green Knights’ Senior Night last Friday. As the Green Knights were on their way to another victory, the crowd began chanting “We Want Matt, We Want Matt” with about 4 minutes to go in the game against Career. They were calling for Matt Callahan, the senior team manager who was in uniform and wearing jersey No. 14 for the game.

Callahan, who has been the team manager for the last four years, helps the team in many ways at practice. He creates highlight videos that he shoots from the end of the team bench, but had never worn a uniform… until Senior Night.

Coach Jason Shea sent him to the scoring table to check in, the buzzer sounded and he entered the game with about 4 minutes to go. It was Callahan’s chance at a “Rudy” moment that inspired the 1993 movie based on Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger at the University of Notre Dame and he didn’t disappoint. After a couple of possessions, Callahan received a screen pass from Ben Carroll and set up outside the 3-point line and calmly sank a 3-pointer that sent the Notre Dame crowd into a frenzy. (Watch the full sequence at the end of this story). Callahan was even lifted up by his teammates onto their shoulders and carried off the court after the game, much like in the movie.

Callahan told Joe Morelli of the New Haven Register that up until that night he had never put a basketball jersey on in his life. He had played Little League Baseball, but that was it and was just happy to put on the uniform and be a part of the pre-game layup line. To make that shot, he said was “incredible.”

Notre Dame went on to win the game, 88-55, and improve to 18-0. Connor Raines led the Green Knights with 26 points, Zach Laput had 13 points and Eddie Zanor added 12 points. The Class of 2019 seniors were named Green Knights of the Game for their collective efforts over their careers.

Callahan also told Morelli that he was thinking of the movie “Rudy,” which he said he loved, while he was sitting in the locker room after the game.

Read more at GoGreenKnights.com here and GameTimeCT.com here.

Photos courtesy of Darcy Ellis/NDWH