Sam Hartman makes dazzling Dublin debut in 45-3 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 to with the rest of ND’s media team to help put forth a feeling of home away from home 3,614 miles from South Bend, had a message for 49,000 spectators at Aviva Stadium moments before kickoff of Navy vs. Notre Dame 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 Midshipmen, 45-3.

If you bleed blue and gold — and odds are you do indeed 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 Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, who earned his first win in a season opener.

But it was potential for the Irish’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.

In front of an enthusiastic, energized, sold-out audience, graduate student quarterback Sam Hartman put Irish fans all over in trances of their own. He also put some icing on a Guinness Chocolate Cake. He went 19-of-23 for 266 yards and 4 touchdowns in his Notre Dame debut.

Hartman and company 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 in Notre Dame game one. 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 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 eight 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.

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. So when Irish fans far and wide recite the indelible tally years from now, they’ll always have to say, “Navy, three.”

But they’ll also always have memories that will last a lifetime from a game they won’t forget.

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