Even by college football’s wacky standards, the story of Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman and his removed rib qualifies as downright bizarre.
The sixth-year senior transfer from Wake Forest had a rib surgically removed late last year. Since then, he’s switched schools and begun practicing with the Fighting Irish. But although the rib is no longer causing him any trouble, that doesn’t mean it’s out of his life for good.
Hartman said on Thursday that the rib is currently in the possession of his mother, and that she is in the process of fashioning the bone into, of all things, a necklace, according to ESPN’s David Hale. The new adornment is expected to be ready in a few weeks, in plenty of time for Notre Dame’s season opener against Navy on Aug. 26 in Dublin, Ireland.
The status of Hartman’s ribcage didn’t seem to hamper him in his final year at Wake Forest, when he threw for 3,701 yards, 38 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 12 games.
Meantime, the college football world was flush with witty reactions about the rib necklace. Here are some of the funniest:
Need a "Sam Hartman's rib" Twitter account ASAP https://t.co/Vlx69d62UV
— Austin Hough (@AustinRHough) July 13, 2023
This should be a rivalry trophy https://t.co/MviWOqsPVI
— Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) July 13, 2023
Replace the Battle of the Bones trophy with the Battle of the Hartman Rib trophy
— Dale (@daleseph) July 13, 2023
can't wait for sam hartman to show his rib necklace to the bachelorette on his hometown https://t.co/xohuvIv510
— Matt Kirchner (@MKirchner12) July 13, 2023
— Spearhead (@Spear_head5) July 13, 2023
— The College Experience (@TCEonSGPN) July 13, 2023
— BigMike (@MikesOnCFB) July 13, 2023
— Vitor (@vitorhsc) July 13, 2023
