Notre Dame football great compares Sam Hartman to Tony Rice

In the midst of a season where Sam Hartman has shown leadership as well as a great throwing arm, the Notre Dame football QB is being compared to some Irish greats.

It’s not remotely surprising that Sam Hartman is already a bit of a legend in Notre Dame football. After all, he might be the first pure passing quarterback the team has had in decades.

He’s also someone who has been seen as quite a leader. He’s someone who both wants to and can take the team and put it on his shoulders, much like he did with a 16-yard fourth-down run against the Duke Bluedevils.

That drive and the way that he handled himself after the game has former Notre Dame football greats singing Hartman’s praises. He’s even drawing comparisons to one of the most popular quarterbacks of the modern Fighting Irish era.

In particular, Hartman hanging out after Notre Dame football won the game against Duke in order to make sure that Bluedevil quarterback Riley Leonard was ok drew a lot of praise. He drew that praise from the national media but also from former Irish players.

One such player Chris Zorich, compared Hartman to Tony Rice.

"“I love my QB Tony Rice, but Sam Hartman is a close second. His leadership is amazing What do you do when no one is watching?”"

It’s hard to think of a Notre Dame football quarterback in the last 40 years who has is as loved as Rice. He was someone who helped legendary coach Lou Holtz to the program’s last consensus National Championship in 1988.

The next year, Rice got a co-National Championship. He’s a legend in his own right.

Zorich certainly knows that. He played alongside Rice. He’s also one of those considered a Notre Dame football legend.

That he’s elevating Sam Hartman to that level should make Fighting Irish fans take notice.