Notre Dame’s newest quarterback is getting the feel of what the spotlight under the Golden Dome is all about. Sam Hartman spent his first five college football seasons in relative obscurity at Wake Forest, but after transferring to Notre Dame for his sixth season of eligibility, he spent some time on ESPN’s SportsCenter on Thursday.
Anchor Matthew Barrie lobbed a few questions at Hartman, starting with his transition from Wake Forest to Notre Dame.
"It's been surreal,” Hartman began. "I mean, I think hearing your name, side by side by one of the most historic programs in the country is very cool, but also humbling. You know the expectations when it comes to being a Notre Dame football player and also being a Notre Dame quarterback. So, a lot of excitement, a lot of nerves but like you can see on the (TV) screen, the guys, the 11 guys or the 22 guys on the field are what make it happen and they've been great introducing me to the Notre Dame way and then obviously Coach (Marcus) Freeman, showing me the standard of what it takes to get it done.”
Hartman could have taken the chance and declared for the NFL Draft this past spring rather than elect for a sixth season of college football. He discussed why he made the decision to stay in school and why he chose the Irish.
“I love playing football, and I know that going to NFL is a tough task,” Hartman explained. “There's small percentages and I do believe I can play in the NFL but I knew I had an extra year of eligibility and why not try and take a shot at a new place and a new scheme and again, it's Notre Dame. I feel like that kind of answers itself of the history. You know, the legacy that's been left for our team this year to try and fulfill were all huge positives in my thinking about going back to school and then being Coach Freeman was a big part of it and what he is and who he is as a man, as a father and as a coach.(I) just wanted to come give it another shot in college year number six and try and make it happen.”
There’s obviously a lot of tradition that’s embedded in the Notre Dame experience and Barrie asked Hartman if he has taken the opportunity to “nerd out” about the history of Notre Dame.
"I think so,” Hartman said. "I mean, I think there's different things, like I had a class my first spring in the Golden Dome, which was very cool. Then also my other class was in (Notre Dame) Stadium, so that felt pretty prestigious to be able to walk in there. I've only played now in the stadium twice. We had two scrimmages there. You get the feel when you walk down the tunnel that there's something special about, something special about putting on the gold lid for the first time. It's something I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity and hoping to make the most of it.”
Hartman’s first game in a Fighting Irish uniform will be in Ireland when the Irish open the season in week zero against Navy. It will be his first trip to the Emerald Isle.
"I had to get my passport renewed,” Hartman acknowledged. "It's going to be an experience for sure. But again, we got to a tough task on the road. Both teams being on the road and you know Navy poses a big challenge for us on defense schematically and what they like to do. It's a first game for me and a first game for this team and this 2023 season. So, it's going to be exciting. I know it's sold out already and the Irish faithfuls are going to be there in numbers.”
In his final season at Wake Forest, Hartman missed the beginning of last season due to a blood clot condition.
"(It was) very challenging,” Hartman recalled. "But you know, I kind of go back with really to your family, the people closest to you (and) the team. I will always be forever grateful for Wake Forest and everything that they've done for me and the coaching staff and the training staff, everyone who was involved in that process. But I have to give a shout out to mom. She was there obviously from day one and then until now and she was there with me in the hospital when all the different news and the different stories and the different speculations of what it could be or couldn't have been. Then again, I just think like anything in life, if you just keep showing up and keep pushing, it kind of comes back to you and I was grateful to continue playing and it also showed me how much I love the game and how much more I want to play and it kind of alludes back to what I talked about for coming to Notre Dame. It was an opportunity to play football again and I really couldn't pass it up.”
Hartman and the Irish will attend the New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers game on Friday night in Queens, NY, where head coach Marcus Freeman is slated to throw out the first pitch before the game.
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