What Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said about facing Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman
Dave Clawson’s scouting sessions have been more difficult this week than ever. That’s because this week, Wake Forest’s objective is to go after one of their own. It’s to make Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman’s life on Saturday as tough as it’s been for Clawson to watch him play in a uniform other than that of the Demon Deacons, which he spent five seasons sporting.
“I think the world of Sam,” Clawson, in his 10th season at Wake Forest, said Tuesday. “Quite honestly, it’s hard for me to watch Notre Dame football. That’s the Wake Forest quarterback playing for them.”
When Wake Forest (4-6) beat Pitt on Oct. 21, which still stands as the Demon Deacons’ lone Atlantic Coast Conference victory in 2023, one of the first congratulatory text messages Clawson received came from Hartman. Notre Dame’s one-year rental QB has alluded to the reality of him checking on on his former program quite frequently this fall. Who can blame him?
Conversely, Clawson closely follows the Fighting Irish — emotionally unbearable as it may be. He’s heard critics come down hard on Hartman for ineffective play. Hartman has 18 touchdown passes through 10 games in 2023. He had 38 touchdown tosses in 12 games in 2022 and 39 scoring strikes in 14 games in 2023. Notre Dame fell short of overall expectations this season. An inconsistent offense is primarily to blame.
Clawson contends people aren’t understanding the totality of Hartman’s situation, though. He had much to say about that.
“He’s playing a completely different offense,” Clawson said. “What we do at Wake Forest is very quarterback-centric. Everything we did flowed through him. Their offense is different. They have a big offensive line and an excellent tailback. I’m sure he’s learned a lot of things that will help his future. They run different protections and checks. I’m sure his football knowledge has grown from learning a different system, but he’s still an excellent football player.
“When I hear people giving him a hard time, where would they be without him? I know that the standard at Notre Dame might be to make the College Football Playoff, but I still think they’re a much better team because they have Sam than they would be without him. When people are critical of him, it bothers me. He’s one of ours and always will be. When you watch the tape as a coach and hear the criticism, it’s not justified. He’s a good player.”
Clawson and Hartman have not talked this week. That’s uncommon. It’s an uncommon week. For Clawson. For Hartman. For everyone in a Wake Forest uniform that spent time with the program’s record-setting signal-caller.
“I joked with our team that for five years Sam wore a green jersey and they weren’t allowed to hit him. This is the first time any of our defensive guys will be allowed to hit him,” Clawson said.
Hit, not hurt. There is absolutely no ill will from one side to the other. But Saturday is still a business venture for both parties; Wake Forest wants to win. Notre Dame needs to win. Mentorship, friendship and all that went into the last five years will be put on pause for upward of four hours.
“I’m sure it’ll be a little awkward before the game, but after the game I’ll give him a big hug and tell him how much we care for him,” Clawson said. “I’ve told him I’ll root for him every game this year except for one, and this is the one.”
