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Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson was surprisingly candid when talking about facing former Demon Deacons QB Sam Hartman in the aftermath of losing to Hartman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Speaking to the media this week, Clawson found it weird that Notre Dame honored Hartman so much during their Senior Day. He pointed out that Hartman was really only with the team for a few months, so he compared it to dating rather than love.
“That’s reality, and there’s no point in complaining about it. You know, we saw it last week in South Bend. 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, via On3. “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.’ … It is what it is. Sam and I had a great discussion before the game and after the game, and I love the young man. I really do. I don’t blame him at all for what he did. I mean, you can’t — that’s the system now. For him to have the opportunity to have that experience, and make that type of money in one year, who can fault him.”
College football fans were a little mixed on Clawson’s comments. Some thought he was right on the money while others admonished him for being sore about it:
Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson was critical of Notre Dame’s love for Sam Hartman on Senior night👀
“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… pic.twitter.com/rMVHVGsaMm
— On3 (@On3sports) November 22, 2023
“These tributes to guys who weren’t a major part of the school/franchise are a trend in sports now. Ppl tripping over themselves rushing to show how sensitive they are,” one user replied.
“That’s the most “I’m so angry right now but I’m going to try to hide it with laughing” moment I’ve ever seen,” wrote another.
“This is giving strong “jealous ex-girlfriend” vibes,” a third wrote.
Did Clawson have a good take here?