For weeks heading toward the end of the regular season Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman mentioned how many games were left and add one for the bowl game. It seemed he was going to play in the bowl game. It turns out that was not the case.
And it wasn’t a decision Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman agreed with.
“I’ve told the guys and it applies to Sam (Hartman), I can disagree and think you should play but still support you,” Freeman said during his media availability on Saturday.
When asked what changed with Hartman’s decision, Freeman noted the quarterback spoke to those closest to him before making a decision, but said, for further information, one would have to ask the veteran quarterback.
In Hartman’s absence, Steve Angeli will make his first career start in the Sun Bowl and will do so behind a makeshift offensive line, without All-American running back Audric Estime and without the majority of Notre Dame’s leading receivers this season.
“We have complete confidence that Steve Angeli can lead us where we want to go” Freeman added Saturday.
Notre Dame’s Sun Bowl contest against Oregon State will take place on Friday, Dec. 29 and can be seen on CBS.