Notre Dame's trip to Ireland about more than early practice

Notre Dame football fans are dealing with unusually humbling times.

Mood for this upcoming season: Cautiously optimistic.

Reason for mood: You remember last year, right?

Mike Brey says his team will use its Ireland trip as an educational experience. (Getty Images)

It's weird around South Bend these days, I tell you. Everybody is worried because their moneymaker has looked better suited for the welfare line lately. It has been bad.

But I'm here to inform Irish supporters there's no need to further fret because even if things go poorly on the football field -- prepare for the worst, is my motto -- they can rest easy knowing that Notre Dame basketball success unprecedented in the modern era is likely on the way thanks to the reigning Big East Coach of the Year (Mike Brey) returning the nucleus of a 25-win team, highlighted by the reigning Big East Player of the Year (Luke Harangody).

Irish hoops should be great this season.

A Final Four appearance is a reasonable goal.

And would you believe the Road to Detroit actually starts ... now?

"We're starting practice (Monday night) at 6," Brey said. "You usually lay low in August. But we're ready to go."

There's no need to check your calendars. Yes, it's really August 4. And yes, the Irish are really starting practice because they are taking a trip later this month to -- where else? -- Ireland that, per NCAA rules, allows for 10 days of workouts before the scheduled departure.

For most programs those 10 days are crucial, usually more important than the actual trip and scheduled exhibitions because they allow coaches to get an early glimpse at incoming freshmen and teach drills and sets before everybody else starts practice in October. Such isn't the case at Notre Dame, though. Granted, the 10 days of practice are nice. But Brey won't need to spend them teaching the basics because he has a group of seasoned veterans (no freshmen on the roster), which is why the teaching will be turned over to a professor well-versed in the motherland.

"We actually have an Irish Studies professor coming in after practice one night this week just to talk to us about where we're going," Brey said. "We have an older group and they're really excited and they've really been asking great questions about things we're gonna see. From that standpoint, this is going to be a great educational thing and a great life experience. It's a trip of a lifetime for this group."

A tremendous trip, obviously.