Former Notre Dame radio voice Tony Roberts passes away at 98

The Notre Dame family suffered a tough loss this weekend, as former legendary radio voice for the Fighting Irish Tony Roberts passed away on Saturday according to a report from U.S. Naval Academy sports information director Scott Strasemeier via Roberts’ daughter Tracey.

Roberts called Notre Dame football games from 1980 through 2005, serving as the voice of numerous iconic moments from Harry Oliver’s 51-yard field goal to defeat Michigan in 1980 to Tim Brown’s two punt returns for touchdowns versus Michigan State in his 1987 Heisman Trophy-winning season.

A Chicago native, Roberts graduated from Columbia College with a degree in journalism, working at radio stations in Iowa, Indiana, and Washington, D.C. before his career with Notre Dame with the Mutual Radio Network, now known as Westwood One Radio.

But his radio abilities went beyond making calls for the Fighting Irish football team, also calling NFL, MLB, and NBA games along with college basketball, the College World Series, and multiple Summer and Winter Olympic Games. He also anchored the daily program ‘America in the Morning’ alongside talk show host Jim Bohannon.

Roberts was replaced by Don Criqui following the 2005 season, leaving radio and retiring following Westwood One removing him from play-by-play. His career accomplishments included being inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the Holiday Bowl Hall of Fame, and winning the Chris Schenkel Award in 2005.

“My love for Notre Dame football is understandable,” Roberts said in an interview with Her Loyal Sons. “It made my career and enabled me to get into the broadcast wing of the College Football Hall of Fame. Along the way I met many of the Irish gridiron luminaries and found them to be kind, gracious and giving of themselves.

“They wore their love for Notre Dame as they say ‘on their sleeves.’ For six Saturdays every fall for 26 years I was on the Notre Dame campus and it was like being home. You are embraced by the surroundings, the fans, the students, the Golden Dome, Touchdown Jesus, Our Lady and the ghosts who made a Notre Dame Saturday so very special over the past two centuries.

“It was the place to be and I was so fortunate and honored to be a part of it all. I hope and pray Our Lady will welcome me once again.”