Newcomer adjusts to life on, off campus
Mike Connolly
Outside Looking In
Amid the sea of 18-year-old faces wandering the quads, looking lost during freshman orientation, you could find another 41-year-old face looking just as lost.
ÒI took part in all the freshman orientation programs,Ó new menÕs basketball coach Mike Brey said. ÒI went to all the meetings because letÕs face it, I am a freshman. I brought my family over to the mass because I need to hear that stuff too.Ó
The married Brey was not looking for phone numbers at Domer Fest but finding campus landmarks is still a problem. When Brey got his acceptance letter in July Ñ a bit later than most of the Class of 2004 Ñ he arrived in South Bend without a friend or a clue about how to have a good time in South Bend. While the freshmen that arrived on campus last week had plenty of other freshmen to hang around with, Brey was all alone. So he quickly latched on to a group of upperclassmen Ñ upperclassmen like Troy Murphy, David Graves and other basketball players who stayed on campus for summer school.
ÒI donÕt have any friends and I donÕt know anybody in this town,Ó Brey said to his team before they went out for pizza to get acquainted. ÒI said letÕs go get some pizza on Grape Street Ñ because that was the only place I knew how to get to at the end of July.Ó
Murphy still gives Brey some grief for calling Grape Road ÒGrape StreetÓ but slowly Brey is learning his way around campus. BreyÕs freshman ignorance was apparent during one recruiting visit this past summer.
ÒI could get to Reckers so we went there and we got a sandwich,Ó he said. ÒSo then the mother turns to me and says ÔCoach, before we head home, weÕd like to go to the bookstore and get some stuff. Could you show us how to get there?Õ I looked at her and said ÔAbsolutely not.Õ She started laughing and almost fell out of her chair. Now whenever she talks to me she asks if I found the bookstore yet.Ó
While his knowledge of campus landmarks has improved, he still has an air of freshman innocence about him. After just one trip to the dining hall, he gives the food good ratings.
ÒThatÕs pretty good food,Ó he said about his venture to North.
But Brey will learn. Just like every freshman, he will one day be confronted with ÒToad in the HoleÓ and change his opinion of ND Food Services.
While he may never have to deal with D.A.R.T., he has already faced scheduling problems of his own. When he took over in July, the Athletic Department told him in addition to shoring up recruiting commitments, hiring a staff and meeting his new team, he also had to schedule one more non-conference game. After a few D.A.R.T.-like rejections, he landed a game with Vermont to complete the schedule.
While BreyÕs first test of his Irish career wonÕt come until November 25, he is already receiving high marks from his Òprofessors.Ó
ÒI think we actually helped ourselves,Ó Athletic Director Dr. Kevin White said. ÒItÕs a hard thing to say at MattÕs [DohertyÕs} expense but I think we helped ourselves. We have somebody in Mike Brey that represents the institution well and at the same time brings seasoning and maturity to the sidelines.Ó
Just like any freshman dorm room, BreyÕs office is decorated with posters that reflect his own goals and tastes. So while supermodel posters and alcohol advertisements were absent from his walls, he did have one important piece of art waiting to be hung. A blank tournament bracket for the 2001 NCAA Championship sat on his coffee table just to remind him of his goals.
ÒWe just need to keep these around. I am probably going to put this up on the wall,Ó he said about the bracket. ÒThatÕs just something we need to look at daily. The bottom line is this program hasnÕt been in it since 1990 and thatÕs incredible to me.Ó
The freshman is also learning a little bit about the magic of this campus as well.
ÒYouÕre driving down there on an evening on a summer night and the lights coming off the Dome,Ó he said. ÒAnd I tell you, that can get to you. That tugs on the heart, big time.Ó
Cynical upperclassmen may dismiss those words with a shrug. A year ago, they saw a basketball coach cry at a press conference in the Joyce Center only to see him cry at a press conference in the Dean Dome this summer. But Brey plans on being more than just a one-year wonder like his predecessor. He doesnÕt want to go through another freshman orientation next year at Duke.
ÒAbsolutely not,Ó he said. ÒThatÕs never been one that would be interesting for me.Ó
Looks like the freshman might be a grizzled old veteran before long.
All Sports Stories for Thursday, August 24, 2000
