Team Boehner marked the first day of the Ohio Republican’s third term as speaker by posting a documentary-style, 10-minute film on the congressman’s life that features a crucial 2006 pep talk from former Notre Dame football coach Gerry Faust.  

John A. Boehner reclaimed the speaker’s gavel Tuesday, despite opposition from 25 Republicans who have long argued that Boehner is too much of a Washington insider for their taste.  

But the short film, “John Boehner: The Longest Shot,” makes the case that the son of a bartender and the second-oldest of 12 siblings remains a man of the people.  

At one point in the video, Boehner talks about getting an unexpected phone call from Faust, who was his high school football coach.  

Faust, who went on to coach Notre Dame, appears in the clip and remembers telling Boehner in 2006 not to let temporary setbacks deter him in what was then a long-shot bid to succeed Tom DeLay as House majority leader.  

“I told him, ‘I want to tell you something. You’re going for the majority leader. Don’t quit. You never quit in high school,'” the legendary coach said. “You may not get it the first time. Just like football, you may have to long snap it more than once to punt but eventually you’re going to win the game. You stick with it.’ He said, ‘I will coach.'”  

Boehner tells the camera, “God’s never talked with me directly, but this is about as close as I’ve ever been.”  

The entire clip, which also includes testimonials from Boehner’s wife, Debbie, and numerous childhood friends, is online.  

https://youtu.be/NreM7wBjKQc  

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