Sam Hartman makes dazzling Dublin debut in 42-3 Notre Dame Week 0 victory over Navy

DUBLIN, Ireland — Pageantry paralleled promise for Notre Dame in Dublin.

Notre Dame Stadium public address announcer Chris Ackels, who made the trip with the rest of ND’s media team to help put forth a feeling of home away from home some 3,614 miles north-east of South Bend, had a message for 49,000 spectators at Aviva Stadium moments before kickoff of the 2023 Aer Lingus College Football Classic on Saturday.

“For some, this may be your first American football game,” Ackels said, “for others, you’ve been to many. But either way, this is one you won’t forget.”

He was right. The Fighting Irish trounced the Navy Midshipmen, 42-3.

“For us to be a part of this game to start the season, this is a great win,” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said.

If you bleed blue and gold — and you definitely do if you made a costly overseas adventure to watch 60 minutes of ball — that final will stick with you forever. It’ll certainly never leave Freeman, who earned his first win in a season opener in his first ever trip outside the United States.

Freeman said the atmosphere was unbelievable and the production of the game itself was awesome. Everything he heard it would be, and then some.

“You couldn’t draw it up any better,” Freeman said.

But it was potential for Freeman’s team’s future — promise — that was just as invigorating as the spectacle (and subsequent score line) of American football on European soil to inaugurate the 2023 college football season — pageantry — that pervaded the Ireland air on a cool summer night in the Emerald City.

The Temple Bar entertainment district is worth the price of a trip to Dublin on its own, for some. Add in the rich history of the country; castles, cathedrals and Catholicism abound. Ireland is a tourist’s trance for a reason. Many reasons.

This weekend’s No. 1 reason? To see what graduate student quarterback Sam Hartman could do for the Notre Dame offense. Folks left the grounds wondering what he can’t do.

In front of an enthusiastic, energized, sold-out mixture of locals and Americans, Hartman put Irish fans from all over in trances of their own. He also put some icing on the Guinness Chocolate Cake that was Notre Dame’s Week 0 win. He went 19-of-23 for 266 yards and 4 touchdowns in his ND debut.

“I’m going to have to make another visit back here,” Hartman said in his MVP acceptance appearance. “But for now, Go Irish.”

The Irish can go with Hartman, that’s for sure. And he forever has a home in Dublin after what he did there Saturday. That too is certain.

Hartman and the Irish put the game away by halftime; he was 14-of-17 for 200 yards and two touchdowns at that point. The Irish led, 28-0. On his second attempt of the second half, Hartman side-stepped a pass rusher to buy himself more time in the pocket. Then he hurried to the line of scrimmage and fired a scoring strike to wide receiver Jaden Greathouse inside the near left pylon for the freshman’s second touchdown of the game.

Hartman was the total package. On the throw before Greathouse’s first touchdown, which was perfectly placed itself, Hartman took a hit but still fired a completion across the field to the right sideline. Junior wideout Deion Colzie gained 17 yards before Hartman and Greathouse went for 35 more and the TD.

That sequence was everything, akin to not simply touring the Guinness Storehouse but also paying extra to learn how to pour the perfect pint and plus retrieval of another pint with your selfie imprinted on the foamy head.

It wasn’t just Hartman either. His supporting cast completed the party. Colzie and Greathouse were two of nine Notre Dame pass catchers to record at least one reception. Junior running back Audric Estimé got the scoring started with a one-yard plunge on a drive in which he had 50 other yards from scrimmage. He finished with 121 yards on 18 touches. An efficient night for RB1.

The rest of the Irish tailbacks carried a combined 16 times for 108 yards. Sophomore Jadarian Price galloped into the end zone from 19 yards out on his first career carry. The going was good for all involved. Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick was certainly aware that; he fist-bumped four offensive line starters on the sideline in the waning moments of the game.

Everyone got their due.

“Up front, it starts there,” Hartman said.

And then that Notre Dame defense. It pitched a shutout until there was 3:33 left in the fourth quarter. Navy kicked a 31-yard field goal to merely put points on the board as a formality. The Irish help the Midshipmen’s triple-option offense to 2.6 yards per carry on 48 attempts. Translation: It was as stout as a pint of O’Hara’s.

Graduate student linebacker Marist Liufau said the focus all week was on attacking the football and keeping eyes behind the line of scrimmage. It worked.

“Obviously with the triple option it’s hard to see the ball sometimes,” Liufau said. “Knowing our keys, reading our keys and being detailed helped.”

Sure, when Irish fans far and wide recite the indelible tally years from now, they’ll always have to say, “Navy, three” instead of “Navy, zero.” But they’ll also always have memories that will last a lifetime from a game they won’t forget.