Notre Dame Football Analysts: Sam Hartman ‘not the problem … nor the solution’

Oct 7, 2023; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Sam Hartman (10) looks to pass against the Louisville Cardinals during the first quarter at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2023; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Sam Hartman (10) looks to pass against the Louisville Cardinals during the first quarter at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /
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As people look to figure out just what went wrong for Notre Dame football in 2023, a pair of analysts have turned their attention to Sam Hartman.

There was a time when Sam Hartman was viewed as many as the savior of Notre Dame football. Arguably the best transfer quarterback in the portal this winter, he was thought to be the one to lead the Figthing Irish back to glory.

It appears for some, the bloom is very much off the rose.

Following the loss to the Louisville Cardinals, where Hartman threw three interceptions and fumbled twice, a pair of Notre Dame football analysts are convinced the former Wake Forest star is not the one to get the Golden Domers out of the mess they find themselves in.

On the latest episode of the “Mike Gooslby Show,” former Notre Dame Fighting Irish captain Mike Goolsby and the show’s co-host Mike Singer talked about the problem with Hartman.

Singer started off the discussion by mentioning that he’d seen several Irish fans talking about how they don’t put the loss on Hartman. The analyst then argued that while he believes the quarterback – who hadn’t thrown an interception until this Saturday – doesn’t deserve all the blame, he gets some of it.

Goolsby then responded that head coach Marcus Freeman went with Hartman at quarterback because the number one trait the coach was looking for was experience.

"“He was supposed to kind of save, or offset the inexperience at the coaching level. He was supposed to ‘elevate the offense’ right?”‘"

Singer then responded that Notre Dame football needs “a better quarterback to save this mess.” He then went on to say that as good as Hartman is, he’s not good enough to save the Irish in the current mess they’re in.

Notre Dame football already looking for new QB?

When Singer asked Goolsby if that was a fair assessment, the former Notre Dame captain made it clear he agreed.

"“That’s the thing Mike, he’s not the problem, nor is he the solution.”"

The two then discussed that it might be time to turn to Cale Williams and see what he can do. Goolsby then laid out exactly why he believes that Sam Hartman is not the solution for this particular Notre Dame football offense:

“If the structure of the play isn’t perfect, he’s not going to thrive.”