The Enduring Legacy of the "Notre Dame Victory March": A History of Tradition, Triumph, and Transformation

Fight songs occupy a special place in the pageantry of college football, with a select few becoming deeply ingrained in the national consciousness. While debates may arise regarding the "greatest" college football fight songs, the "Notre Dame Victory March" and Michigan's "The Victors" have consistently distinguished themselves.

The Genesis of a Gridiron Anthem

The origin of the "Notre Dame Victory March" traces back to 1908, the creative brainchild of two brothers, Michael J. Shea (a 1905 graduate) and John F. Shea (class of 1906). Michael, who later became a priest and served as an organist for St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, composed the music, while John, who was later elected to the state senate in Massachusetts, penned the stirring lyrics.

The song's first public performance occurred in 1908, with Michael Shea playing it on the organ at the Second Congregational Church in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Its on-campus debut took place beneath the famed Golden Dome in the rotunda of Notre Dame's administration building on Easter Sunday in 1909. However, it wasn't until ten years later that the university band performed it at an athletic event for the first time. In 1923, Joseph Casasanta, the university band director, revised the lyrics and rearranged the song, further solidifying its place in Notre Dame's musical landscape.

Eloquent Lyrics and Enduring Appeal

The "Notre Dame Victory March" is renowned for its eloquent lyrics, which evoke a sense of pride, determination, and unwavering support for the Fighting Irish:

"Wake up the echoes cheering her name …Shake down the thunder from the sky …"

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These inspiring words stand in contrast to the lyrics of other college fight songs, such as "Dear Old Nebraska U," which focuses on celebrating the university and its surroundings.

A Rivalry Reflected in Song

The University of Michigan has long been a formidable rival to Notre Dame on the football field, and its fight song, "The Victors," mirrors that competitive spirit.

Written in 1898 by a student named Louis Elbel to commemorate a 12-11 victory over the University of Chicago that secured Michigan's first Western Conference football championship, "The Victors" replaced "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" as the university's fight song. Elbel felt that something more substantial was needed to capture the significance of the victory.

"The Victors" exudes a certain arrogance, evident in its lyrics:

"Hail! to the victors valiant.Hail! to the conquering heroes."

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The song was first performed in public on April 5, 1899, by a student orchestra as part of an on-campus undergraduate musical show. Three days later, renowned bandleader John Philip Sousa, who later hailed "The Victors" as "the best college march ever written," conducted a performance in Ann Arbor. The song's popularity even reached the White House when President Gerald Ford, a former Michigan football player, would sometimes request it be played at state functions.

A Genre Takes Root

Many of today's college football fight songs emerged in the early decades of the 20th century, coinciding with the growing popularity of college football. These include "On Wisconsin" (1909), "Bow Down to Washington" (1915), "Buckeye Battle Cry" (1915), and "Aggie War Hymn" (written during the First World War and adapted in 1920). However, "For Boston," the Boston College fight song written in 1885, is widely considered the first of its kind.

Some college football fight songs were born out of songwriting contests. "Fight On," the iconic anthem of the University of Southern California, was written in 1922 by Mike Sweet, a USC dental student who submitted the words and lyrics to a Trojan Spirit contest. Legend has it that during the Second World War, "Fight On" was played over the loudspeaker system of an American naval vessel as Allied troops stormed a beach held by Japanese forces in the Aleutian Islands.

Other fight songs adapted new lyrics to existing melodies. The official University of Georgia fight song is "Hail to Georgia," but "Glory, Glory to Ole GA" has been sung at Georgia football games to the tune of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" since the 1890s. Similarly, the words to "I'm a Ramblin' Wreck From Georgia Tech" were written in 1908 but are sung to the melody of a drinking song written in 1895.

A handful of fight songs have roots in popular music. "Tiger Rag" was written in 1917 by members of the Original Dixieland Jass Band, and an altered version became Clemson's fight song in 1942. More recently, "Rocky Top" was written in 1967 by the husband-and-wife team of Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, who had penned numerous hit songs for the Everly Brothers. In 1972, "Rocky Top" became the song of choice for Tennessee football.

Controversies and Evolving Traditions

The history of college fight songs is not without its share of controversies. "Yea, Alabama," the University of Alabama's fight song, has intriguing origins that reflect the social and political climate of the early 20th century.

On January 1, 1926, Alabama upset Washington in the Rose Bowl, a victory that put southern football in the national spotlight. In an era marked by racial segregation and the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan, George Denny, president of the University of Alabama, hailed Alabama's triumph as "a great victory for Alabama and the South" and proclaimed, "I come back with my head held a little higher and my soul a little more inspired to win this battle for the splendid Anglo-Saxon race."

To celebrate the victory, a student magazine called "The Rammer-Jammer" held a contest to choose a fight song for the Alabama football team. "Yea, Alabama," written by Ethelred Lundy Sykes, the magazine's editor, won the contest. The last line in the song - "You're Dixie's football pride, Crimson Tide" - carried considerable political and social weight.

The University of Texas plays "Texas Fight" (sung to an up-tempo version of "Taps") and "The Eyes of Texas" (sung to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad") with equal enthusiasm. However, "The Eyes of Texas" has faced controversy due to its origins in a minstrel show in 1903, where white students performed in blackface, a practice that continued for decades. Recent protests regarding the song have become a contentious political issue in Texas.

These controversies raise questions about the role of tradition and the need for inclusivity in the context of college fight songs.

Service Academies and Musical Heritage

America's prominent service academies are well-represented in the pantheon of college football fight songs.

"Anchors Away" was written in 1906 by a Navy lieutenant named Charles Zimmerman (music) and Annapolis cadet Alfred Hart Miles (lyrics) and first performed by the Navy band at the Army-Navy football game that autumn. "On, Brave Old Army Team" was written in 1910 by Lieutenant Philip Egner, then director of the United States Military Academy band.

As for the Air Force Academy, in 1938, Liberty magazine sponsored a contest to choose an official song for what was then called the Army Air Corps. The winning entry was the work of a musician named Robert Crawford. In 1947, when the Air Force became a separate branch of the armed forces, the name of the song was changed from "The Army Air Corps" to "The US Air Force." In 1955, when the United States Air Force Academy opened its doors and fielded a football team for the first time, its football fight song began with the familiar words, "Off we go into the wild blue yonder."

Originality and Inspiration

Oklahoma's choice of "Boomer Sooner" as its fight song has been criticized for its lack of originality. The lyrics consist of repeating "boomer sooner" seven times followed by "OKU." The original words and music were written by several Yale students in 1901 under the title "Boola Boola," which largely consists of repeating "boola boola" multiple times.

While "Boola Boola" is honored at Yale, the school's official fight song is "Bulldog," written by Cole Porter, one of America's greatest songwriters. Porter, who was president of the Yale Glee Club, wrote an estimated three hundred songs (including "Bulldog") before graduating in 1913. He later crafted popular treasures like "You're the Top," "I've Got You Under My Skin," and "In the Still of the Night." For over a century, Yale students and alumni have embraced the sound of "Bulldog! Bulldog! Bow, wow, wow. Our team can never fail … Bulldog! Bulldog! Bow, wow, wow. Eli Yale."

Ivy League Melodies

Other Ivy League schools also boast memorable fight songs. "Ten Thousand Men of Harvard" (written in 1918 by a student listed as "A Putnam") and "The Princeton Cannon Song" (written in 1906 by 1907 graduates Joseph Frederick Hewitt and Arthur Herbert Osborn) are considered autumn classics.

Columbia University's fight song, "Roar, Lion, Roar," has its own unique history. Originally entitled "Bold Buccaneers," it was written with lyrics by Corey Ford (class of 1923) and set to music by Roy Webb (1910) and Morris Watkins (1924) for a 1923 student variety show. Later that year, the Columbia Alumni Federation offered a prize for a new football song. Ford rewrote the lyrics, and "Roar, Lion, Roar" was born.

A Personal Connection and Lasting Impact

Most individuals develop a strong affinity for the fight song of their alma mater. The "Notre Dame Victory March" and "The Victors" are sung in praise of two of the most successful programs in college football history.

A Modern Evolution: Inclusivity and the "Notre Dame Victory March"

Over 115 years since its creation, the "Notre Dame Victory March" continues to evolve. In a move towards greater inclusivity, the lyrics have been updated to specifically reference both the "sons and daughters" of the university.

As Father Jenkins stated, the "Notre Dame Victory March," recognized as America's No. 1 college fight song, will now include the line:

"While her loyal sons and daughtersMarch on to victory."

This change acknowledges the significant contributions of women to Notre Dame's athletic programs and the university community as a whole.

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