Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman’s college football journey has been unlike any other and he has a necklace to prove it. The necklace just so happens to be made from his own rib. Literally.
Hartman, who missed the first week of his fifth-year with the Demon Deacons in 2022, was diagnosed with a blood clot prior to the season. As a result, his redshirt junior year and career were in jeopardy.
The diagnosis came in August and, fortunately, he responded to treatment even better than expected.
Hartman, who missed the first week of his fifth-year with the Demon Deacons, was diagnosed with a blood clot prior to the season. As a result, his redshirt junior year and career were in jeopardy.
The diagnosis came in August and, fortunately, he responded to treatment even better than expected.
— Sam Hartman’s surgeon Julie Freischlag
The former three-star recruit was able to return to the gridiron for Week 2 against Vanderbilt and led Wake Forest to a 7-5 record last season. Hartman completed 63% of his passes for 3,701 yards and 38 touchdowns along the way.
And he did so without one of his ribs. The fifth-year senior had to have one of his ribs removed as part of his two preseason procedures to help alleviate the pressure on his organs.
Sam Hartman had a unique request.
Before entering the operating room, Hartman asked the doctors if he was able to keep the surgically-removed rib. Although the request was unusual, they obliged.
Hartman had his rib taken out and got to take it home from the hospital.
At first, it sat in his freezer at home. And then, when he transferred to Notre Dame during the offseason, Hartman shipped his rib to his parents with a special request.
He wanted to make his own rib into a necklace. Kinda like a pooka shell or shark tooth necklace.
His mom, a former nurse, went to work. She got the necklace done just in time for the Fighting Irish’s trip to Ireland for Week 0 and Hartman wore it out onto the field like a badge of honor, which it is.
College Gameday aired a piece on Hartman’s rib prior to Notre Dame’s game against N.C. State on Saturday. Alabama fans on set in Tuscaloosa let out audible groans and boos each time that the bloody rib appeared on the screen.
It may be a little bit gross, but Hartman sees it more as a reminder of his determination. He has come a long way from when his coach first noticed that his arm was turning purple, which was later discovered to be because of the blood clot. He can do hard things!