College Football Preview

HOUSE OF BLUES

When it opened in October 1927, Michigan Stadium had a capacity of 72,000.That's considered big even today. Now, seven expansions later, the Wolverines come out of the tunnel to the roars of a partisan crowd that is 107,501 strong, making the stadium the largest in college football. That's why they call it the Big House.

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GOOD AS GOLD

When Red Sanders was named coach at UCLA in 1949, he redesigned the team uniform, changing the color of the jersey from navy blue to baby blue--or "powder-keg blue" as he called it--and adding a gold stripe to the sleeves. Sanders's logic: He thought the new duds would look better on the field and on film. Some 57 years later, who can argue?

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ORANGE RUSH

In a tradition that dates to 1942, Clemson players charge down the Hill at the east end of Memorial Stadium before home games. But no Tiger makes the dash before touching Howard's Rock, which sits atop the Hill. It is named after legendary coach Frank Howard, who told his players, "If you're going to give me 110 percent, you can rub my rock. If you're not, keep your filthy hands off of it." If that won't get you fired up ...

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