Diving into the captivating past while contemplating the present and future of Notre Dame Football.
Episodes
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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!
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and head over the Facebook page for a new contest with some cool prizes!
Wednesday Sep 09, 2020
Wednesday Sep 09, 2020
It's finally here! The 2020 season is imminent! Alas, welcome to the official season preview episode!
Get all the Irish intel you need (and more) as Alex breaks down the schedule, offense, defense, and special teams, complete with position group grades!
Tuesday Aug 18, 2020
Tuesday Aug 18, 2020
Everyone draw a deep, sad sigh. Barring a miracle, Notre Dame and Navy, for the first time in nearly a century, will not meet on the gridiron this year, the historic match-up among the pandemic football casualties.
So, what's the big idea? Who even cares? Well, Alex does! Join him for a rundown of the significance of this historic relationship and rivalry between the two schools, who have played annually without fail since 1927.
Don't miss it!
Tuesday Aug 04, 2020
Tuesday Aug 04, 2020
Man, does five years count as nostalgia? Do you remember the 2015 game against Virginia when Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer was pressed into action...and heroically led the Irish in one of their most spellbinding games of the millennia? You do, huh? Well, do you remember just how exciting that affair was?! Alex waxes poetic about one of his personal favorite quarterbacks in recent Irish memory, using the backdrop of an unforgettable game. Buckle in, Fighting Irish fans, this is a good one!
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
Today, Alex attempts to breakdown a question that has been asked a number of times over the years...is 'Fighting Irish' an offensive team name? Though it seems rather cut-and-dry, Alex attempts to contextualize the issue in both the past and present day to have an honest discussion on the wider topic.
Oh, and an obligatory Covid-19 update as well! This is a situation everyone, including Onward to Victory, will continue to report on.
Enjoy!
Monday Jul 06, 2020
Monday Jul 06, 2020
Remember hearing about how Notre Dame students took on the Ku Klux Klan in the streets of South Bend in 1924? You don't? Well, buckle up and prepare for an incredibly interesting and compelling episode of Onward to Victory!
By the 1920's the Klan's corrosive, bigoted influence had infiltrated nearly every corner of Indiana. Statewide Klan leaders set South Bend in the cross-hairs, home of one of the most reputable Catholic universities in the country. A perfect target for the Klan and their anti-Catholic stance (one of many groups targeted at this time).
Would the students just roll over, or would there be some resistance? Listen to find out!
Monday Jun 22, 2020
Monday Jun 22, 2020
Pretty hard to believe, but the show is one year old! Thank you to every one of the loyal listeners, who make it all possible. It's a cavalcade of fun with episode twenty-five, including:
-A review of Jeff Harrell's new Knute Rockne biography titled "Rockne of Ages".
-With the help of One Foot Down of SB Nation, power ranking the top five ND players heading into the 2020 season.
-Ever wonder what goes into creating and crafting episode? Alex gives you a look behind Onward to Victory's humble curtain!
Thanks all! Here's to another great year!
Thursday Jun 04, 2020
Thursday Jun 04, 2020
Buckle in, and prepare for a 'profile in courage' as we look at the University of Notre Dame and John F. Kennedy's inexorable connection!
In addition, Alex goes over the latest in Notre Dame scheduling news for the fall.
Stay well, all!
Tuesday May 12, 2020
Tuesday May 12, 2020
A show 'first' is always exciting, and episode twenty-three is the first Onward to Victory 'community collaborative project', where we tackle what the 'spirit of Notre Dame' means to us. Why is it so special? What are the hallmarks of the spirit? How is it that it binds us together so tightly?
Alex brings in a number of famous, historical Notre Dame figures to 'speak' on the topic, gives his two cents, and, best of all, shares what a number of very special listeners wrote in on the topic on why the spirit of Notre is special to them. It was truly a collaborative project...and, frankly, I think it's pretty damn cool. Enjoy!
Tuesday Apr 28, 2020
Tuesday Apr 28, 2020
The 85th annual NFL Draft is complete! Who of the Irish were selected? Where did they go? How will they fit? And, perhaps most importantly, who is going to replace them in the blue and gold? Get all your answers in episode twenty-two!
In addition, what does the 'Spirit of Notre Dame' mean to you? Let the show know...you just may win something!
Thursday Apr 16, 2020
Thursday Apr 16, 2020
If you have been alive any time between 1993 and now, there is approximately a 92.5% chance you have watched the movie Rudy. Okay, so I have no clue if that statistic is correct, but the tale of the undersized walk-on who was able to break in with the Notre Dame football team is truly timeless. As is the movie. But, have you ever heard the story of how Rudy actually became a movie? At times, the movie actually being made felt like a longer shot than Rudy himself seeing the game that Saturday against Georgia Tech! Tune in and learn about the arduous, winding path Rudy took to get to the big screen!
Tuesday Mar 31, 2020
Tuesday Mar 31, 2020
Grab a seat! Today, Alex raps about a true classic in the annals of Irish history - Joe Montana and the 1979 Cotton Bowl! Needless to say, never has a bowl of chicken soup played such a pivotal role in the outcome of a football game, season, and a star player's legacy! This is a heck of a story - I hope you enjoy it.
Don't hesitate to reach out to the show any way you'd like. I hope everyone is staying healthy and as well as can be expected during this trying time. Stay up, Irish fans! Brighter days are coming.
Friday Mar 20, 2020
Friday Mar 20, 2020
The third episode of the month?! Phew!
Irish coach Knute Rockne and baseball slugger Babe Ruth's ascent to fame almost perfectly coincided with each other's, and were even the subject of a couple famous photographs. So what's the story here? Ever wonder where and when cross-promoting between sports became much more prevalent? I give you Exhibit A and B...Knute Rockne and Babe Ruth! Today, Alex sets the two legends on a collision course, where they were only destined to meet.
I hope everyone is staying well. I know there are many baseball fans in the audience who are now coping with the postponement of Opening Day. Given that, I hope this episode can scratch the baseball as well as the Irish itch!
Enjoy!
Thursday Mar 12, 2020
Thursday Mar 12, 2020
With such a long tradition of producing quality college and NFL-caliber tight ends at Notre Dame, you ever wonder who were among the first in line? Allow me to introduce Jim Mutscheller, the subject of today's episode! Punishing blocker? Check. Possession pass catcher? Check. Red zone threat? Triple-check. Follow a thrilling college then professional career, all while Mutscheller redefined the tight end position.
I think you will all enjoy this one. Please take all precautions to stay safe and healthy as we ride this Coronavirus storm out!
Monday Mar 02, 2020
Monday Mar 02, 2020
Episode seventeen! Today, Alex makes a pilgrimage to South Bend, Indiana to have a sit down with Jeff Harrell, author of the upcoming, groundbreaking, subversive Knute Rockne biography, titled 'Rockne of Ages'.
This episode, recorded at the legendary Augie's Locker Room, serves as something of an addendum to episode ten, which was last November's 'True Crime' episode about Coach Rockne's plane crash and the theory that it was perpetrated by Al Capone's mob. But boy, Rocke of Ages is going to be so much more!
Sit back and enjoy some against the grain-type of ND talk with Jeff and Alex. You're sure to enjoy!
Sunday Feb 16, 2020
Sunday Feb 16, 2020
The third and final part of the Notre Dame and the Civil War series! Today, Alex tackles the tale of William Tecumseh Sherman, famous Union Civil War general, who also had a deep connection to the University of Notre Dame.
Hopefully you have enjoyed the Civil War miniseries! Please let the show a message if you'd like for any of your thoughts to be read over the next episode!
Tuesday Jan 21, 2020
Tuesday Jan 21, 2020
Episode fifteen is part two of Onward to Victory's Notre Dame and the Civil War three-part series!
For today's episode, Alex hones in possibly the most famous priest of the American Civil War, Father William Corby, and his incredibly significant connection and contributions to the University of Notre Dame.
It's another story of faith, bravery, and commitment as we walk through the conflict through the eyes of an unarmed non-combatant, who served on the front lines in a completely different capacity!
I hope you enjoy this one - there's also some tips on Corby sights around campus!
PS: Forgive the scratchy voice - it wasn't feeling 100% I guess!
Tuesday Jan 07, 2020
Tuesday Jan 07, 2020
How about it? Episode fourteen!
11-2! For the eighth time in school history, we have won 11 games! Congrats, fellas! Congrats to us fans too, for digging such an awesome program. Well, now what? I guess since it's the 'off-season' now, let's do something different. If you're a loyal listener of the show, you may realize I am bit of a history nerd who enjoys to contextualize Notre Dame historically, both from a football and non-football standpoint within these episodes.
With that being said, let's go on a bit of a journey, back over 150 years to the American Civil War!
I am proud to present Notre Dame and the Civil War - Part One: The Student-Turned-Soldier.
As the placard suggests, this will be a three-part series. I sincerely hope you enjoy it. Onward to Victory!
Thursday Dec 12, 2019
Thursday Dec 12, 2019
It's a cavalcade of facts, statistics, opinion, insight, and analysis as Alex looks back at the 2019 regular season and looks forward to the 2019 Camping World Bowl against Iowa State!
Contained within this episode:
*Perspectives on the Camping World Bowl Selection
*2019 Regular season statistical recap
*Thoughts on coach Brian Kelly’s job performance
*A look into the school record book
*George Gipp Minute
Monday Dec 02, 2019
Monday Dec 02, 2019
In episode twelve, Alex will take a quick glance at the 2019 Irish, now that the regular season has officially concluded, and give a an even quicker glance at the 2020 schedule.
For the feature, Alex looks at the time Canadian Football League defeated the National Football League, with former Irish wide receiver Raghib 'Rocket' Ismail in the cross-hairs of the contest! A fun, light story involving one of the most explosive Notre Dame players in history.
The debut of the 'George Gipp Minute', where Alex can gush about The Gipper, and share one of his many cool stories...for roughly one minute.
Enjoy!
Sunday Nov 17, 2019
Sunday Nov 17, 2019
What started as an innocent episode about the origin of Cartier Field, Notre Dame Football's first home stadium, turned into an absolutely thrilling and memorable dive into the life of Joe Savoldi, All-American fullback for Notre Dame, having played from 1927-1930. You seriously do not want to miss this, as most of us can only hope to pack as much life as Savoldi, who scored the first Irish touchdown at Notre Dame Stadium, managed to in his years.
Sunday Nov 03, 2019
Sunday Nov 03, 2019
Today, Alex takes a deep dive into the mysterious side of the tragic death of legendary Irish football coach Knute Rockne...incorporating a heavy dose of good old-fashioned true crime! Was the beloved coach the victim in a nefarious plot...deviously facilitated by the mob? Alex searched high and low to give a fair and honest appraisal of the oft-discussed event. Listen now and come to your own conclusion!
Seriously though, what do you think?! Share your thoughts with the show through Facebook Messenger or email at OnwardToVictoryPodcast@gmail.com
If you do (or if you simply share this episode on Facebook), there will be a drawing of all participants to win an autographed 4x6 photograph of Irish Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack!
Sunday Oct 20, 2019
Sunday Oct 20, 2019
Well, how about it? Episode nine already! Today, Alex digs into the life and football pursuits of all-time great Irish halfback Emil Sitko...who Alex proudly notes is from his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana!
Sitko, though an utterly fantastic runner for the Irish, is still extremely unheralded to this day, outside of the die-hard Irish circles. In fact, he accomplished something that literally no one else in Irish football history has - listen to find out!
Also featured in the episode are the top five 'pleasant surprises' of the 2019 season, at the halfway mark. Enjoy!
Sunday Oct 06, 2019
Sunday Oct 06, 2019
Oh boy! A new episode!
In today's episode, Alex looks back at 1993's 'Game of the Century', #1 Florida State at #2 Notre Dame. What a ride that was - with a little bit of everything thrown in. The instant classic lived up to the hype, and was instantly vaulted into many pundit's 'best game ever'-type lists.
In addition, should college athletes be paid? Get one dude's opinion on this hot-button issue.
Sunday Sep 22, 2019
Sunday Sep 22, 2019
Episode Seven!
Did you know that Notre Dame's Leprechaun has been the program's official on-field mascot since 1965? You did? Okay, how about this - did you know for over four decades before the Leprechaun, the official on-field mascot was an Irish Terrier?!?
Join the program and learn all about it!
Sunday Sep 08, 2019
Sunday Sep 08, 2019
Episode Six!
As the result of a listener's choice poll, we will be covering the origin of the famous Father Ted and MLK Jr. photograph - as well as backgrounds on both individuals!
As an added bonus, you will get to meet one of the coolest six-year old Irish fans around!