Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman partners with Under Armour, gifts Irish shoes
Name, image and likeness (NIL) in college sports has the ability to be the ultimate gift that keeps on giving, not just a solitary money grab, when used the right way. Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman proved that this week.
Hartman has an NIL deal with Under Armour, Notre Dame’s athletic apparel provider. During a Fighting Irish practice this week, head coach Marcus Freeman gave the floor to Hartman for a short speech. He said he didn’t want to accept his deal with UA unless he knew his teammates would benefit from the agreement too.
Under Armour seemed to have no problem with that.
Hartman presented every Notre Dame player with SlipSpeeds, “the most versatile training shoes” Under Armour has ever made. Per the company’s website, “They feel great, feel cool, cushion better, fit perfectly, handle your toughest training, AND have a heel that converts easily from recover mode to train mode.”
In a video posted on Notre Dame’s social media accounts, the Irish players were in awe of their new kicks.
“Shoutout Under Armour for hooking you guys up, hooking us up every day,” Hartman said. “Protect this house. Go Irish.”
Hartman was recently one of seven Notre Dame football players quoted in a BlueandGold.com story documenting what the Irish think of Under Armour being the university’s apparel supplier. Hartman, the media-savvy veteran he is, was coy. The signal-caller who wore Nike for five seasons at Wake Forest said, “It’s just gear.”
To him, it’s free gear. Perhaps more of it than the average Irish student-athlete gets because of his NIL deal. The players who aren’t getting extra bags seem to be satisfied with Under Armour though too. Running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price wore Under Armour at their high schools, as did senior wide receiver Chris Tyree. They all gave satisfactory reviews of the brand.
“Under Armour’s a good brand,” Price said.” I wear it outside of football. It’s comfortable. That’s what I’m used to. I’m pretty excited with what we’re doing in the future with Under Armour.”
Notre Dame has been attached to Under Armour since 2014 when athletics director Jack Swarbrick struck a then-groundbreaking deal with the company. Swarbrick, who is leaving his post as the AD early next year, was influential in concocting one more big-time contract with UA. Earlier this month, Yahoo Sports reported the new agreement could be the most lucrative one in college athletics.
“Throughout this entire process of the apparel deal, I’ve been in communication with Jack,” Freeman said. “I trust Jack Swarbrick. He’s going to do what’s best for Notre Dame. That’s exactly what he’s done.”
