Onward to Victory: A Notre Dame Football Podcast

The march continues!   This episode of Onward to Victory: A Notre Dame Football Podcast marches into the 1910s. From pioneering stars to the rise of a national power, we’re building another decade of Irish legends. Hope you enjoy!

Step into the early 1900s as Notre Dame Fighting Irish football continues to take shape. With the game evolving and competition growing, we spotlight the players and personalities who helped turn a young program into a rising force - mixing history, storytelling, and a little roster-building fun, just the way we like it on Onward to Victory!

Step back to the very beginning of Notre Dame football as we build an All-1880s/1890s team from the program’s formative years. In an era of short schedules, evolving rules, and true pioneers of the game, we highlight the players, leaders, and personalities who laid the foundation for everything that followed. It’s history, storytelling, and a little roster-building fun all rolled into one - just t...

In this episode of Onward to Victory, we explore Curly Lambeau’s time at Notre Dame during the pivotal 1918 season under Knute Rockne. Before he founded the Green Bay Packers, Lambeau was part of the foundation of a program still defining its identity. One of his touchdowns that season serves as a time capsule from the very beginning of the Rockne era. Enjoy, Irish fans! 

Rockne: The Legend Lives On - Ep. 9: The Legacy (1931-Present) Presented in conjunction with The History Museum (South Bend, Indiana), Onward to Victory is proud to present episode one of "Rockne: The Legend Lives On", a nine-episode series to celebrate the incredible life and enduring legacy of Notre Dame head football coach Knute Rockne.

Rockne: The Legend Lives On - Ep. 8: The Head Coach, Part Five (1930-1931) Presented in conjunction with The History Museum (South Bend, Indiana), Onward to Victory is proud to present episode one of "Rockne: The Legend Lives On", a nine-episode series to celebrate the incredible life and enduring legacy of Notre Dame head football coach Knute Rockne.

Ep. 7: Rockne: The Head Coach, Part Four (1928-1929) Presented in conjunction with The History Museum (South Bend, Indiana), Onward to Victory is proud to present episode one of "Rockne: The Legend Lives On", a nine-episode series to celebrate the incredible life and enduring legacy of Notre Dame head football coach Knute Rockne.

Ep. 6: Rockne: The Head Coach, Part Three (1925-1927) Presented in conjunction with The History Museum (South Bend, Indiana), Onward to Victory is proud to present episode one of "Rockne: The Legend Lives On", a nine-episode series to celebrate the incredible life and enduring legacy of Notre Dame head football coach Knute Rockne. In episode six, the head coach of Notre Dame's football team become...

Ep. 5: Rockne: The Head Coach, Part Two (1921-1924) Presented in conjunction with The History Museum (South Bend, Indiana), Onward to Victory is proud to present episode one of "Rockne: The Legend Lives On", a nine-episode series to celebrate the incredible life and enduring legacy of Notre Dame head football coach Knute Rockne. In episode five, while Notre Dame football is reeling from the sudden...

Ep. 4: Rockne: The Head Coach, Part One (1918-1920) Presented in conjunction with The History Museum (South Bend, Indiana), Onward to Victory is proud to present episode one of "Rockne: The Legend Lives On", a nine-episode series to celebrate the incredible life and enduring legacy of Notre Dame head football coach Knute Rockne. In episode four, Rockne's first few seasons as head coach are examine...

Ep. 3: Rockne: Life After Graduation (1914-1918) Presented in conjunction with The History Museum (South Bend, Indiana), Onward to Victory is proud to present episode one of "Rockne: The Legend Lives On", a nine-episode series to celebrate the incredible life and enduring legacy of Notre Dame head football coach Knute Rockne. In episode three, Rockne's time spent at Notre Dame as an assistant coac...

Ep. 2: Rockne: The Student-Athlete (1910-1914) Presented in conjunction with The History Museum (South Bend, Indiana), Onward to Victory is proud to present episode one of "Rockne: The Legend Lives On", a nine-episode series to celebrate the incredible life and enduring legacy of Notre Dame head football coach Knute Rockne. In episode two, Rockne's time spent at Notre Dame as a student-athlete is...

Ep. 1: The Norwegian and Immigrant (1880–1910)   Presented in conjunction with The History Museum (South Bend, Indiana), Onward to Victory is proud to present episode one of "Rockne: The Legend Lives On", a nine-episode series to celebrate the incredible life and enduring legacy of Notre Dame head football coach Knute Rockne. In episode one, Rockne's childhood is covered, his discovery of various...

Join host Alex Painter today for part two of the Gipp miniseries! Picking up where part one left off, revel in George Gipp's incredible playing career, nonconformist attitude, and his ultimate, tragic, death just weeks after being named a First-Team All-American. You don't want to miss this one folks. Enjoy!

To celebrate Notre Dame's legendary George Gipp's 130th birth month - welcome to 'The Gipper: An Imperfect Masterpiece"! Join host Alex Painter for part one of this two-part series, as he aims to preserve the legacy of Notre Dame's greatest football player and give an authentic view of 'The Gipper', a man steeped in legend and lore. For part one, Alex will dive into Gipp’s early years, from his ro...

Hey, Irish fans! Do you ever pass by the Log Chapel on campus and wonder what's the deal? Are you curious how Notre Dame commemorates the founding of the university? Join host Alex Painter today to learn more about one of the oldest structures on the university grounds, one that tells the story of the College like no other! The Log Chapel is truly a glimpse into the earliest days of both Notre Dam...

Have you ever wondered what Notre Dame's very first football victory was like? As the team gears up for significant December football in 2024, it’s fascinating to look back to December 1888. That month not only marked their first-ever December game, but also their inaugural football win in program history. Join host Alex Painter as he delves into the campus culture of 1888 and explores the histori...

Welcome back to Onward to Victory! Today, host Alex Painter is joined by author Jim Lefebvre to talk about Notre Dame's famed Four Horsemen backfield. Lefebvre's award-winning work Loyal Sons: The Story of the Four Horsemen and Notre Dame Football's 1924 Champions remains the gold standard in Horsemen scholarship. Tune in to learn more about the Horsemen, their legacy, and the environment and happ...

Wow! One-hundred episodes on the nose! I'll be. Very happy, thrilled, honored, and all the above to share more about my book "Louis Salmon: All-American" today! After four years of writing and research, which started as an episode of this show, I can't wait for folks to learn more about Lou, who was Notre Dame football's first All-American back in 1903. I'll even read a short excerpt from the work...

For a sixth consecutive year, Onward to Victory brings you a season preview! Join host Alex Painter and special guest pundit Colton Painter on a breakdown of the current team, position group by position group, the schedule, and other brotherly hi-jinx! We are on the cusp of another go-round, Irish fans. Let Onward to Victory get you prepared for the upcoming season!    NOTE: We had some audio issu...

Happy Olympic Season to those who celebrate! Today on the show, join host Alex Painter on a dive on Tom Lieb, a standout Notre Dame football player, assistant (and sometimes acting head!) coach, and...Olympian medalist in the discus! 100 years ago this year, Tom not only crossed the pond to compete in the Paris Summer Olympics, but he also returned to coach perhaps the most famous offensive line i...

Wow! How'd we get so lucky?! Legendary Notre Dame running back (see: National Champion, Consensus All-American, and Cotton Bowl MVP) Vagas Ferguson joins host Alex Painter show today to ring in the five-year anniversary of your favorite Notre Dame football podcast. I think you'll really enjoy it! Hope you enjoy. Here's to five more great years of Notre Dame legacy, lore, and legends. Take care, Ir...

Today, and in honor of the Memorial Day holiday, host Alex Painter delves into the storied life of Notre Dame halfback and coach Jack Chevigny, who gave the last full measure on the beach of Iwo Jima during World War II. Hope you enjoy this one, Irish fans.

What an offering! Ever curious about Notre Dame's one-year head coaches? No? Yes? Well, I'm here to tell you that some of these guys were (and still are!) integral pieces of the program as they carried the early years of Notre Dame football often squarely on their shoulders! Take in the fascinating history of the one-year Notre Dame football coaches, and their crucial place in the history of the p...

I bet you have heard of the 'Four Horsemen'...so what about the Seven Mules? Join the show today as host Alex Painter breaks down the other unit on the 1924 team, the impeccable offensive line known as the 'Seven Mules'! Delightfully random, this group made an indelible mark on Notre Dame history exactly a century ago - and has been unfortunately a bit obscured since. Hope you enjoy!