Episodes

Tuesday May 23, 2023
Eighty: ’Spring Fling’ - Playing Catch-Up
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Glad to be back! After a month off podcasting, I gotta say, I missed it terribly! Today, join host Alex Painter for a recap of the Blue/Gold Game from both a family and fan perspective, as well as having the opportunity to meet Head Coach Marcus Freeman in, of all places, Alex's hometown of Richmond, Indiana.
We are indeed playing a bit of 'catch-up' today, but look out for a great summer here with Onward to Victory.

Thursday Apr 13, 2023
Seventy-Nine: Alex’s Irish Anecdotes - Volume Three
Thursday Apr 13, 2023
Thursday Apr 13, 2023
An idea so nice, let's try it thrice! Welcome to the third edition of Alex's Irish Anecdotes. One episode, four short stories, including:
-When the first bicycle reached Notre Dame's campus
-A generational rock star's close connection with the Fighting Irish
-Knute Rockne...professional football player?
-A short history of campus tradition the Bengal Bouts!
Enjoy, Irish fans!

Monday Mar 20, 2023
Monday Mar 20, 2023
In honor of Spring Training, the World Baseball Classic, and the beginning of the college baseball season, join host Alex Painter on a dive into the origins of baseball at Notre Dame campus, and a memorable ride to the present day!
For a university synonymous with the gridiron, get a load of all this amazing history on the diamond today!
Enjoy!

Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
Iconic Sights of Notre Dame - Part One: ’Touchdown Jesus’
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
As the show puts some energy towards the officially unofficial 'podcast tour' of campus by way of the 'Iconic Sights...' miniseries, the Word of Life mural on the Hesburgh Library, better known as 'Touchdown Jesus' seemed like a grand place to start!
Join host (and de facto tour guide) Alex Painter as he runs down the history of the library and the spectacular mural which made it famous!
Enjoy the show? Please like, subscribe to receive all the latest updates. Please visit Paypal.me/onwardtovictory or Patreon.com/OnwardToVictoryPodcast to chip in and help the show!

Thursday Feb 09, 2023
Thursday Feb 09, 2023
A show tradition continues! Tune in and learn about the sisters of Saint Mary's, who served in battlefield and military hospitals as nurses, and their indelible impact on the Northern war effort! Truly an inspiring story.
Additionally, Alex shares the tale of Thomas Bulla, an ardent abolitionist and 'stationmaster' on the Underground Railroad who lived on the modern-day Notre Dame campus!
Enjoy, Irish and history fans alike!

Wednesday Jan 25, 2023
Seventy-Five: ’All-Time Great’? The Legacy of Ian Book among all Irish QBs
Wednesday Jan 25, 2023
Wednesday Jan 25, 2023
2023 marks three years since the end of Ian Book's tenure as a Notre Dame quarterback. Yes, football is the ultimate team sport, but, fair or unfair, it is the quarterback who is largely credited with both the team's successes and failures. That being said, it's high time we have the discussion of his place among all the Notre Dame greats at the position! You may be surprised of the assessment.
Enjoy the show and want to plink a few coins in the collection plate? Visit paypal.me/onwardtovictory or patreon.com/onwardtovictorypodcast to make a contribution.
Thanks for listening!

Tuesday Jan 03, 2023
Seventy-Four: A History of Notre Dame Head Coaches Converting to Catholicism
Tuesday Jan 03, 2023
Tuesday Jan 03, 2023
In September 2022, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman did something that no Irish head coach had done in ninety-seven years...he converted to Catholicism! The last guy who did was a pretty good coach too, I'd say!
Whether this is important to you personally or not, I guarantee you'll enjoy this very interesting parallel between these two men! Enjoy, Irish fans!

Monday Dec 12, 2022
Seventy-Three: John Huarte - Notre Dame’s Improbable Heisman
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Winning a Heisman before earning a varsity letter? Who knew?! Today, host Alex Painter does a deep dive into the playing career of Notre Dame quarterback John Huarte - easily one of the most improbable Heisman Trophy winners in history. Not only did Huarte come out of Notre Dame with the most coveted of all awards, but he also helped turn the tide of Notre Dame football - which was in peril of losing some shine off the golden helmets at the time.
Before the Huarte story, Alex also recaps the 2022 year for Onward to Victory.
Enjoy!

Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Seventy-Two: Onward to Victory Celebrates Native American Heritage Month
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Today, Onward to Victory has a special charge - celebrating a few Native American athletes who have (or will!) made a huge impact on our beloved Fighting Irish. Learn about the following:
Wynter Jock, an incoming women's lacrosse player and member of the Mohawk tribe - who just signed her letter of intent! She's breaking down barriers as she sees them, and we can't wait to see her suit up for the Irish!
The first openly Native American player in the football program, Tommy Yarr was an All-American Rockne-era center, as well as part Snohomish on Washington State.
Perhaps the true breaker of baseball's color barrier in 1897, who knows the name Louis Sockalexis? You're in for a treat. Who would have thought the member of the Penobscot tribe began that legendary year at South Bend?
Enjoy, Irish fans.
Want to donate to the show? Please visit paypal.me/onwardtvictory or patreon.com/onwardtovictorypodcast - thank you, kindly!

Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Seventy-One: The Greatest Game on the Gridiron for the Galivanting George Gipp
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
We all know George Gipp...but do we all *know* George Gipp? Join host Alex Painter as he attempts to peel back the many fascinating layers of the Gipper himself, using his best and most memorable game as the backdrop to the episode! Gipp is perhaps best known as the first player in program history to be selected to Walter Camp All-American First-Team.
George Gipp was truly a one-of-a-kind. Enjoy, Irish fans!
Want to donate to your favorite Notre Dame football podcast? Please visit paypal.me/onwardtovictory

Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Seventy: The Cemeteries of Notre Dame - A Halloween Special
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Just in time for Halloween, join host Alex Painter for a tasteful, historical overview of the cemeteries on Notre Dame's campus - which are nearly as old as the school itself!
As a pleasant bonus, Notre Dame's cemeteries find a rich context within a general discussion of the prevalence of cemeteries on college campuses.
Want to plink a few coins in Onward to Victory's virtual tip jar? Please visit paypal.me/onwardtovictory

Thursday Sep 29, 2022
Sixty-Nine: ’Talkin’ Irish with Artist Kathleen Keifer’
Thursday Sep 29, 2022
Thursday Sep 29, 2022
Buckle up those chinstraps, Irish fans! Today, Alex is joined by Notre Dame alumna and artist Kathleen Keifer, whose vast portfolio includes a countless number of timeless pieces dedicated to preserving the spirit of Notre Dame and celebrating her football team.
Enjoy her and Alex's conversation, which details not only her career and inspirations as an artist, but encapsulates her pure, unadulterated love for the Irish!

Wednesday Sep 07, 2022
Wednesday Sep 07, 2022
For today's selection, we head back to the time 'before Rockne' to celebrate a duo of friends and teammates who helped turn the tide of the Notre Dame football - and who just may have stirred up some serious eligibility controversy along the way! To be fair, there were very few rules regarding this then.
Dimick and Philbrook, members of the excellent 1909 team that was first dubbed the 'Fighting Irish', distinguished themselves as Notre Dame men. One died an incredibly tragic death, while the other experienced the triumph of a lifetime just mere months later. Enjoy!
Want to help the show? Please subscribe, share, or even donate at Paypal.Me/OnwardToVictory

Sunday Aug 14, 2022
Sixty-Seven: 2022 Season Preview
Sunday Aug 14, 2022
Sunday Aug 14, 2022
Buckle up those chinstraps, Irish fans - it's the fourth annual season preview episode! Join hosts Alex Painter and Matt Gehring as they break down, position group by position group, your 2022 Fighting Irish.
Also included in the preview is preseason team awards, record predictions, and our hosts 'sound off' on a few topics of their choice. You simply can't miss this one as you ready yourself for the 2022 campaign! Enjoy!
Want to donate to the show and become a 'Consensus All-American'? Please visit paypal.me/onwardtovictory or patreon.com/onwardtovictorypodcast !

Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Sixty-Six: ’I Carried My Weight’ - The Life & Legacy of Jim Lynch
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
On July 21, 2022, the Notre Dame football program lost an all-time great in linebacker Jim Lynch, who served as captain of the 1966 national championship team and enjoyed a long, productive professional career after that.
But Jim was so much more - he was a humble, blue-collared kid from Lima, Ohio, and the model of a Notre Dame man. He was a beacon of servant leadership, and many said a fountain of kindness.
Jim Lynch is also a member of my family, or, I should say I am lucky enough to be a member of his. Enjoy this tribute to an Irish great.
Want to donate to show? Please visit paypal.me/onwardtovictory or patreon.com/onwardtovictorypodcast !

Sunday Jul 24, 2022
Sixty-Five: Alex’s Irish Anecdotes - Volume Two
Sunday Jul 24, 2022
Sunday Jul 24, 2022
Let's get after it! After rave reviews on the first one, a second helping of Alex's Irish Anecdotes seemed appropriate. Strap-in as we discuss:
-Inventor/Innovator/Philanthropist John Brisben Walker...an 1860s Notre Dame man (which that took a bit of unraveling), a jack-of-all-trades, including editor of Cosmopolitan Magazine?! Learn more about this fascinating man.
-How about the time that the ever-controversial 'Snake Dance' took over campus, much to chagrin of university administration?
-2022 marks 100 years of Notre Dame football on the radio. Learn more about the humble beginnings the school and the medium.
-An ode to Johnny 'One-Play' O'Brien, an Irish hero of far more consequence than anyone could possibly believe.
Enjoy, Irish fans! Wanna tip the show and become a Consensus All-American? Visit Paypal.me/onwardtovictory or patreon.com/onwardtovictorypodcast to support!

Monday Jul 11, 2022
Sixty-Four: Alex’s Irish Anecdotes - Volume One
Monday Jul 11, 2022
Monday Jul 11, 2022
Presenting the first volume of Alex's Irish Anecdotes! Featuring five short stories, you'll want to check out these can't-miss topics, including:
*The (very) early football history on Notre Dame's campus, including the grand prize for the winning team.
*Egregious errors in the media guide as far as head coaching records? Gah!
*Whoah, Notre Dame once missed 20 extra points in a single game? What's the scoop?!
*Who's the best Irish quarterback you (probably) haven't heard of? Check it out!
*The Great Milk Riot of 1952! Epic!
Enjoy, Irish fans!

Tuesday Jun 07, 2022
Sixty-Three: A Third Anniversary with ’Father Sorin and the Great Fire of 1879’
Tuesday Jun 07, 2022
Tuesday Jun 07, 2022
Happy third anniversary to...us? Yes, us! Enjoy a special tale today of the time that Notre Dame, led by their intrepid former president Father Edward Sorin, managed to turn one of the most cataclysmic events in their history into one of the most enduringly positive.
Thanks for the ride. Here's to year four!
Visit Paypal.Me/OnwardtoVictory for a t-shirt designed and printed by WCScreens.com.

Sunday May 22, 2022
Sunday May 22, 2022
Today, Alex and co-contributor Matt Gehring walk through one of the most spellbinding episodes in program history; the march to 2012 BCS National Championship Game, the larger-than-life Manti Te'o, and his subsequent girlfriend scandal.
Alex and Matt try to give a candid, yet distinctly human look at the legacy of the season and Manti's integral part in it. You don't want to miss this one!
Enjoy, Irish fans!

Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
Happy Mother's Day! Who would've thought that this very special holiday had such a close connection to Notre Dame football?
Enjoy this episode about Frank E. Hering, who not only brought the football program to prominence, but others at Notre Dame as well. Additionally, he was an early pioneer of Mother's Day. What a show-off!
Cheers!

Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
Sixty: The Fighting Fundraising Irish? One Game with the Rockne All-Stars
Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
Another Rockne themed episode? You bet! Today, in observance of the 91st anniversary of best coach in college football history's sudden and untimely 1931 death, we discuss Notre Dame football's philanthropic exhibition games in the final months of Coach Rockne's life.
Sound boring? Phooey! You'd be missing out on this critical, not often told chapter of Notre Dame football history. Enjoy!

Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Fifty-Nine: ’Grace and Gumption’ - The Chet Grant Story
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Irish fans, I hope you enjoy this latest installment about one of the most unheralded figures in Notre Dame football history...Chet Grant!
Chet is...well, hard to explain in just a sentence or two. Between covering the Irish, playing for Coach Rockne, coaching under a Four Horseman, becoming the program's first historian, and writing a compelling history of early Notre Dame football, Chet takes the cake as the biggest Note Dame fan ever.
But he was so much more than that. He knew what it meant to be a Notre Dame man. He was a living incarnate of the spirit of Notre Dame. Even standing just 5'6 and tipping the scales at 138 pounds as a player, he was larger than life.
Sadly, Chet has been widely forgotten. Let's start changing that today.
-Alex

Sunday Feb 20, 2022
Fifty-Eight: The State of the Program Address
Sunday Feb 20, 2022
Sunday Feb 20, 2022
Just in time for President's Day, Onward to Victory discusses the 'State of the Program' as the Fighting Irish heads into the 2022 spring season.
Oh, and a very special day - a new member of the OTV team is making a debut! Folks, you are going to love new contributor Matt Gehring's insight and knowledge into the program. Not only will Matt, who is a veteran at covering the Irish, be joining for select episodes, but he will be helping with the brand new website as well! Psst, head over to OnwardToVictory.blog!
Alex and Matt will be discussing the new 2022 class, coaching staff, and upcoming schedule, among many other topics of interest!

Monday Jan 24, 2022
Fifty-Seven: Remembering Terry Brennan and the Upset of a Generation
Monday Jan 24, 2022
Monday Jan 24, 2022
Our offseason 'march' continues with Alex telling the tale of the Terry Brenna Era, including perhaps the most epic, improbable win in Notre Dame football history.
Terry Brennan was the youngest man ever to take the reins of the Notre Dame football program - he was 25 when he succeeded the legendary Frank Leahy. Despite his age, and the obvious challenges of the position, he was always cool, calm, and collected. Enjoy, Irish fans!
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Monday Jan 03, 2022
Fifty-Six: The Origin of Cartier Field - ’The First Home of the Irish’
Monday Jan 03, 2022
Monday Jan 03, 2022
In an episode host Alex Painter calls a 'palate cleanser' after a disappointing Fiesta Bowl, pull up a locker room stool and learn about Cartier Field - which served as the home field of the Irish from 1899-1928.
The origins of the facility are fascinating - and tell the story of the state of Irish athletics at the time. Discover how the field has ties back to the very first Notre Dame football team, and how the Irish were nearly unbeatable at home.
Enjoy!

Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
Fifty-Five: Finding Hope and Perspective Within the Brian Kelly Era
Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
Is it possible? Of course, Irish fans! Join Alex as he attempts to shed, despite the former coach's dastardly exit, a bit of insight and perspective on the Kelly Era's true place in Notre Dame history...even with minimal swear words.
Enjoy, Irish fans.

Thursday Dec 02, 2021
Fifty-Four: Gridiron Groundbreakers of the Fighting Irish Part Three - Clifton Brown
Thursday Dec 02, 2021
Thursday Dec 02, 2021
Despite all the excitement surrounding the program this week (which is lightly discussed), we have some serious work to do! Today, Alex recalls and discusses the legacy of the first Black quarterback to start a game for Notre Dame...Cliff Brown.
What challenges did he (and other Black quarterbacks) face at this time? Historically, and particularly in the early 1970s, this was not an easy proposition across college football.
Together, we can restore Cliff's legacy as one of the most culturally significant players in Irish football history. Enjoy!
EDIT: at the approximate 15:30 mark, I mistakenly say that Brown is 'six-foot, 100-pounds'. Since Brown was not actually a twig, he was in reality 'six-foot, 190-pounds'.

Sunday Nov 14, 2021
Fifty-Three: Project 1871 - Life as a Notre Dame Student 150 Years Ago
Sunday Nov 14, 2021
Sunday Nov 14, 2021
Today, Alex unpacks what life was like for a Notre Dame student...in 1871!
Sharpen up those pencils and polish those apples - we are heading to college! You don't want to miss this immersive experience as we hurtle through time to see what being a 'Golden Domer' meant in 150 years ago.
Enjoy, Irish fans!

Sunday Oct 17, 2021
Fifty-Two: An Ode to Avery Davis: ‘The Heart of the Fighting Irish‘
Sunday Oct 17, 2021
Sunday Oct 17, 2021
Well, I suppose this will blow the lid off who the host's favorite current player is!
No matter - join Alex as he breaks down the awe-inspiring career of the program-first, unflappable Avery Davis. Who, despite being one of the very best at his position in the country, has played multiple spots for the Irish, wherever he's been asked and whatever it took, all for your Irish.
Enjoy this one about a modern pillar of the program!

Thursday Sep 30, 2021
Fifty-One: The Millers of Notre Dame: ‘The First Family of the Fighting Irish‘
Thursday Sep 30, 2021
Thursday Sep 30, 2021
Today on Onward to Victory, host Alex Painter does a dive on the most prominent Fighting Irish football family...the Millers of Defiance, Ohio. No one can hold a candle to these lads!
Five brothers (plus two nephews) worth of Notre Dame lore - phew! Some are famous, others are less so but nonetheless incredibly noteworthy. Buckle in and enjoy Irish fans!

Sunday Sep 12, 2021
Sunday Sep 12, 2021
Episode #50! It's pretty surreal - but man, thank you for being along for the ride. Make no mistake...what a ride it's been!
Today, appropriately since it's episode fifty, we turn the clocks back fifty years. Even more appropriately (since it's our opponent this week during the 2021 season) we will revisit the long, storied Purdue/ND rivalry, and the 1971 game, featuring the infamous 'Genuflect Play'. What, you're kinda unfamiliar with it?! Did you know the 1971 Purdue/Irish game was decided by a bold coaching move compounded by a cunning play call?
Oh, you better peep episode #50 then. Buckle up those chinstraps, Irish fans!

Wednesday Aug 25, 2021
Forty-Nine: 2021 Season Preview
Wednesday Aug 25, 2021
Wednesday Aug 25, 2021
The day has arrived, Irish fans! The 2021 season is bearing down on us like linebacker Drew White on a ball carrier, and with that, the third annual Onward to Victory Season Preview episode!
Join Alex as he breaks down every position group, each game of the schedule, as well as the famous Onward to Victory 'All-Sleeper Team'! He may even make a prediction or two! Enjoy!

Thursday Aug 05, 2021
Forty-Eight: Talkin' George Gipp with Author Bill Fuller
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
Thursday Aug 05, 2021
Folks...you simply can't miss this one. Hear George Gipp discussed in a manner seldom heard when Alex is joined by author/Notre Dame alumnus Bill Fuller!
Bill wrote 'The Forever Year', a historical fiction/romance novel about the Gipper and the mysterious relationship he had with Iris Trippeer over the last year of his life. As a pleasant bonus, hear Alex eat a bit of crow and explain why you should never judge a book by its cover as he gives his personal review.
Given their respective knowledge on the Gipper, Alex and Bill are able to hold a conversation about who may be one of the most misunderstood sportsmen in American history with a vigor and eloquence rarely heard.
Enjoy this one, Irish fans!

Monday Jul 26, 2021
Forty-Seven: Origins of the 'Fighting Irish' Nickname?
Monday Jul 26, 2021
Monday Jul 26, 2021
Today, Alex investigates the question perhaps you have asked yourself...when was the first documented time Notre Dame football team was called the 'Fighting Irish'?
To his surprise, the answer took him to shortly after one of the biggest moments in Notre Dame football history at the time! You won't want to miss this epic inquiry!

Monday Jul 05, 2021
Forty-Six: 'That 80s Show' - Investigating the Gerry Faust Era
Monday Jul 05, 2021
Monday Jul 05, 2021
In 1985... a headline splashed across the front page of the Indianapolis Star:
'Boilermakers Crush Notre Dumb'
Gasp! Though the Irish faithful were up in arms with the not-so-subtle jab, the fall from grace experienced by the Notre Dame football program in the early 1980s was unmistakable. Curiously, though the team slogged through five mediocre seasons with head coach Gerry Faust, many found it literally impossible to dislike him. What's the story? Join Alex on a journey to a great decade with your favorite lads of the gridiron.

Thursday Jun 10, 2021
Forty-Five: A Two-Year Anniversary with Rockne, Texas!
Thursday Jun 10, 2021
Thursday Jun 10, 2021
Buckle up those chinstraps, Irish fans! Today, Alex celebrates the two-year mark of the show by taking the class on a field trip down to tiny Rockne, Texas.
What's the story here? How did the unincorporated community get such a name? The town's methodology may surprise you. Pull up a locker room and stay for a while!
Thank you all for two great years!

Monday May 24, 2021
Forty-Four: Memorial Day Remembrance Special
Monday May 24, 2021
Monday May 24, 2021
Today, Alex examines Memorial Day, the holiday's presence on Notre Dame's campus, as well as some of the former Notre Dame football players who gave the last full measure.
Enjoy, Irish fans.

Monday May 03, 2021
Monday May 03, 2021
Continuing to celebrate those trailblazers of the Irish gridiron, Alex zeroes in on center Tommy Yarr, who played for the Irish from 1927-1931. Yarr, a Rockne recruit, team captain, and Consensus All-American, was the first self-identified Native American in program history. And he was exceptional.
Join host Alex Painter for another deep, rewarding dive into the lore of the Fighting Irish - with yet another captivating subject. You don't want to miss this one!

Thursday Apr 15, 2021
Forty-Two: 2021 Spring Preview
Thursday Apr 15, 2021
Thursday Apr 15, 2021
Signs of spring...flowers, rain showers, Blue and Gold Game!
Join Alex for a position-by-position breakdown of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as they head into the annual Blue and Gold Game on May 1. Who is back? Who is new and exciting? Enjoy the blow-for-blow coverage!

Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Forty-One: The St. Paddy's Day Special!
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Welcome to yet another show first...a St. Paddy's Day special! Grab that green beverage and huddle around your favorite podcast provider - Alex is going to tell you an abbreviated history of St. Patrick himself, as well as the early history of St. Patrick's Day on Notre Dame's campus.
...Would you have guessed St. Paddy's Day was outlawed on Notre Dame's campus for a time!? Me neither! Listen to find out more. Enjoy!

Monday Mar 01, 2021
Forty: Academic Standards and the Irish Recruitment Efforts
Monday Mar 01, 2021
Monday Mar 01, 2021
In today's episode, Alex tries to answer an age-old (okay, maybe not that old) question as comprehensively and exhaustively as he can...do the academic standards of Notre Dame help or hinder their recruitment efforts?
Regardless of anything, this is not a simple answer. Alex pieces it together using a myriad of criteria to allow folks to muster a very educated guess. You won't want to miss this one - don't forget your sharpened pencil and paper!

Monday Feb 08, 2021
Thirty-Nine: Gridiron Groundbreakers of the Fighting Irish - Wayne Edmonds
Monday Feb 08, 2021
Monday Feb 08, 2021
To celebrate Black History Month, Alex goes back to one of his favorite decades...the 1950s! Wayne Edmonds was the first Black football player in Notre Dame history to earn a Monogram award - get the scoop on his story - it's a dandy! This will be the first installment in a semi-ongoing 'Gridiron Groundbreakers' series.
Enjoy!

Wednesday Jan 20, 2021
Wednesday Jan 20, 2021
A real treat today! Alex expands on the show's 2020 three-part 'Notre Dame & the Civil War' miniseries with a new installment.
Simply, who knew that the most famous private eye in American history had such strong Notre Dame ties? Enter Allan Pinkerton, who rose to national prominence during the Civil War.
Click that 'play' button and listen in as fast as you can say 'teenage spies' to find out more!

Tuesday Jan 05, 2021
Tuesday Jan 05, 2021
It sure has been a long three week layoff from the show! I hope everyone had a restful holiday break!
Today, Alex breaks down the athletic career and life of former Irish center, and teammate of Knute Rockne, a certain Al Feeney. This episode came about uniquely, even for this show, but believe me, you don't want to miss this one. Feeney was a phenomenal athlete at Notre Dame during some watershed years for the football program, but went on to lead a life full of athletics and public service. The episode ends in a place I never even imagined!
And to think...this guy doesn't even have a Wikipedia page! Sheesh!
Enjoy, Irish fans!

Tuesday Dec 15, 2020
Thirty-Six: George Gipp...100 Years Later
Tuesday Dec 15, 2020
Tuesday Dec 15, 2020
On today's episode, Alex investigates and celebrates the player, person, and legend of George Gipp, 100 years after his passing.
'Tis true, many folks don't know what 'to do' with Gipp in properly contextualizing his place in college football and Notre Dame history - but Alex will lay it all out for you to decide in this centennial celebration of the most captivating player in Notre Dame history.
Enjoy!

Wednesday Nov 18, 2020
Thirty-Five: A Tribute to the 'Golden Boy' Paul Hornung
Wednesday Nov 18, 2020
Wednesday Nov 18, 2020
On today's episode, Alex pays homage to a recently-passed Irish great, the 'Golden Boy' Paul Hornung. Hornung was a Heisman Trophy winner for Notre Dame, but perhaps saved his most brilliant gridiron action for the professional ranks. Alex breaks down some of his most exciting seasons, while sharing a serendipitous personal story regarding Hornung.
Enjoy!

Monday Nov 09, 2020
Monday Nov 09, 2020
Pack your bags, Irish fans, we are going on a trip! Let's journey back to the Indiana wilderness back in the mid-1800s and follow a young priest named Father Edward Sorin - who traveled thousands of miles, all to eventually found the University of Notre Dame.
Braving the elements by way of the harshest winter on record, Sorin (a Frenchman whose school would inextricably be connected with the Irish!) courageously defied the odds to stablish a humble school in South Bend, Indiana - starting with a lone log chapel. Discover, blow-for-blow Sorin's journey and Notre Dame's origins in this episode!
Irish fans, you won't want to miss this one!

Thursday Oct 22, 2020
Thirty-Three: 'Ghost Stories for Golden Domers' - Tales of a Haunted Notre Dame
Thursday Oct 22, 2020
Thursday Oct 22, 2020
With Halloween quickly approaching, let's embrace some holiday spirit! Join host Alex Painter on an in-depth look at some of the spellbinding, paranormal, and sometimes downright spooky side of Notre Dame's campus!
The Ghost of Washington Hall? How about unexplained noises, voices, and ghostly presence in the middle of the night? Could it be the Ghost of George Gipp? Prepare yourselves for a different kind of Notre Dame history, Irish fans...you just might need to flip on your night light when it gets dark!
Enjoy, and happy Halloween!

Wednesday Oct 07, 2020
Thirty-Two: 'The Pigskin Magician': The Forgotten Lore of Louis 'Red' Salmon
Wednesday Oct 07, 2020
Wednesday Oct 07, 2020
Ten years before Rockne, and seventeen years before the sensational 1920 season of a certain George Gipp, Louis 'Red' Salmon was the first Notre Dame football hero. The star was as quiet and reserved as we was breathtakingly good on the gridiron between 1900-1903. He literally (literally) did it all. His legend is obscured today, even among diehard Irish fans. Let's change that today!
Please enjoy this enthralling story of an early Notre Dame legend - you surely don't want to miss this one!

Wednesday Sep 23, 2020
Thirty-One: 'Sing Her Glory' - The Origins of the 'Victory March'
Wednesday Sep 23, 2020
Wednesday Sep 23, 2020
Ever wonder what the origins of the most famous fight song in America are? Notre Dame's 'Victory March' is recognized by people all across the country, world, and the span of history. You wouldn't believe the humble backstory!
Follow Alex where he loves going...back in time, to discover the series of events that sprang 'Victory March' into motion, and even catapulted it to fame!
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