Marcus Freeman explains his confidence in Sam Hartman

Some things in life are priceless, and for Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, experience is one of those things.

The Fighting Irish head man is entering just his second season at the helm in South Bend, and is doing so with a new quarterback under center with Sam Hartman transferring in this offseason from Wake Forest.

Notre Dame is one of 14 teams playing in Week 0 of college football this year, kicking things off a little bit earlier than most programs with a matchup versus Navy on August 26 in Ireland at Aviva Stadium. And with their opener right around the corner, Freeman was asked what he’s seen from Hartman in his limited time with the team that gives him confidence heading into the team’s first game of the season.

“Going into his sixth year of experience, I didn’t mention this earlier but Sam Hartman this was his fourth time being named a captain. So three times at Wake Forest and one time here. There’s no substitution for experience, none,” Freeman said. “I don’t care if you’re a head coach or the quarterback. So that’s what gives me confidence in Sam Hartman.”

Hartman’s experience and resume at Wake Forest is hard to deny, stepping away from the program as the school’s career leader in completions, attempts, total touchdowns, and total yards as well as the ACC’s leader in career passing touchdowns, also ranking second in the conference’s history career passing yards only behind Phillip Rivers.

“There’s nothing that’s going to be able to make him too high or too low,” Freeman said. “He’s thrown interceptions, he’s made bad decisions, he’s made great plays, and long touchdown throws. He knows what to expect and that’s to me the number one thing he brings.”

Hartman has definitely seen the highs and lows in his career, leading the Demon Deacons to just four wins in a bizarre COVID-19 season in 2020 then following that by leading the team to their second double-digit win season in program history behind his 4,319 yards and 39 touchdowns (which both ranked top 10 in the country).

But what’s really separated Hartman in Freeman’s eyes is his ability to lead and bring others along.

“But he also makes those guys around him better. He’s starting to challenge other positions, he challenges his offensive line in his own way. He’s raising the play of the people around him so that gives me confidence that this ain’t his first rodeo,” Freeman said. “He’s been in the fire multiple times.”

Freeman and his new battle-tested quarterback step into the fire together across the pond on Saturday, as they face Navy at 2:30 p.m. ET in a matchup airing on NBC.