Newsstand: Sam Hartman speaks to media for first time as Notre Dame QB

by:Tyler Horka•03/09/23•

tbhorka

It’s been over two months since Sam Hartman announced his decision to spend his final year of collegiate eligiblity at Notre Dame. The new Irish signal-caller spoke with the local media in South Bend for the first time on Notre Dame’s campus Wednesday evening.

Hartman chatted with print reporters for 15 minutes and spent another 10 or so with videographers. His messaging was consistent to both sets of journalists: he’s at a new destination to play the best football of his already highly-successful career, and he’s going to help the Fighting Irish win — and win big — as a result.

“Once I stepped foot in here, it’s not like, ‘Is this going to help me?’ It’s more, ‘Is this going to help the Irish win on Saturdays or in Ireland?” Hartman said. “That’s really the whole goal right now. All the NFL stuff after, that just happens and takes care of itself.”

Hartman is the ACC‘s all-time leader in touchdown passes. He threw 110 in five seasons at Wake Forest. With 75 touchdown passes in the last two seasons, Hartman has chance to have one of the most prolific quarterbacking seasons in Irish history if he continues on that kind of pace.

Stay locked in with BlueandGold.com for more coverage of Hartman’s first interview session and for wall-to-wall coverage of Notre Dame spring football practices starting on March 22.

Notre Dame tweets of the day

Hartman is a grizzled veteran at the interview table.

Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman sure speaks like a sixth-year senior. Confident and composed. Very polished in a media setting.

As for Tommy Rees leaving? He says it feels like ages ago. And it’s not going to affect his time at ND.

“Everything is full-steam ahead.” pic.twitter.com/4HrezO6zgZ
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) March 9, 2023

Small world.

Virginia Tech grad transfer WR Kaleb Smith was a scholarship WR commit to Wake Forest before he chose to walk on at VT. He was in the same recruiting class as Sam Hartman, and they were planning to be roommates.

Smith said he still had some pictures of them on visits at Wake.
— Patrick Engel (@PatrickEngel_) March 9, 2023

No place like it.

Notre Dame early enrollee freshman OL Sam Pendleton spoke to reporters for the first time today and gave a ringing endorsement of his first eight weeks on campus.

“Notre Dame is like no other I’ve heard of. They’re a class A education with the culture of a football school.” pic.twitter.com/mp6QUjOh5B
— Kyle Kelly (@ByKyleKelly) March 9, 2023

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Quote of the day

“That was my favorite coach ever in college. He showed me a different perspective on life almost. He was the first coach I feel like really elevated my game to a point where I felt like I had a chance to play professionally. Coach Parker is credited with a lot of my success.”

— Former West Virginia wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton on Irish offensive coordinator Gerad Parker, his former OC at WVU