College Football Preview

HOUSE OF BLUES

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

 

GOOD AS GOLD

When Red Sanderswas named coach at UCLA in 1949, he redesigned the team uniform, changing thecolor 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: Hethought the new duds would look better on the field and on film. Some 57 yearslater, who can argue?

 

ORANGE RUSH

In a tradition thatdates to 1942, Clemson players charge down the Hill at the east end of MemorialStadium before home games. But no Tiger makes the dash before touching Howard'sRock, 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 rubmy rock. If you're not, keep your filthy hands off of it." If that won'tget you fired up ...

 

Photo Galleries

For the top pictures from Saturday's action each week,go to SI.com/collegefootball.

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Photograph by Simon Bruty

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Photograph by Heinz Kluetmeier

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Photograph by David Bergman