Wake Forest’s Dave Clawson Tweaks Notre Dame for ‘Renting’ QB Sam Hartman

The Demon Deacons coach clearly still feels a connection with his former quarterback.

Wake Forest football coach Dave Clawson had nothing but love and respect after facing his former quarterback Sam Hartman in the Demon Deacons’ 45–7 loss at Notre Dame on Saturday. 

Hartman, who is finishing his sixth college football season, spent five years at Wake Forest before entering the transfer portal and landing with the Fighting Irish ahead of the 2023 season. Although Clawson praised Hartman for making the best decision for his career, he felt it was unusual when Notre Dame used the classic Whitney Houston song “I Will Always Love You” in a video to honor the signal-caller for senior day.

“Here’s a guy that we recruited, and we developed. You know, they’re putting a video on him saying, ‘We will always love you.’ Like, you only dated him for a couple of months. It can’t be love. We’re the ones that love him. We had five years with him. You rented him for a season,” Clawson said. “They bought him and rented him for a year, and now they love him. When that video played, it’s just like, ‘Holy cow, this is where college football is.’”

Dave Clawson’s (excellent) response today:

“[Notre Dame] only dated [Sam Hartman] for a couple months. [ND] bought him and rented him for a year and now they love him? This is where college football is.” https://t.co/YBhX8fhnQl pic.twitter.com/k6YSjCuCoB

— THE DEAC MACHINE (@TheDeacMachine) November 21, 2023

Hartman torched the Demon Deacons for 277 yards and four touchdown passes in Notre Dame’s win. Saturday marked the third time Hartman recorded a four-touchdown performance this season.

Hartman has thrown for 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions for Notre Dame. He will seek to add to that touchdown total when the Fighting Irish (8–3) go on the road to face Stanford (3–8) on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.