You gotta love week one. That's the weekend ahead, by the way, not the increasingly lame collection of matchups that just passed for charitable "Classics." For most fans, this is the real thing. And on the first real Saturday of the season, all the various emotions that have built and built for months boil over.

Emotions that fuel, like pride and the need to redeem ... like anger and the satisfaction of revenge ... and the plain old exuberance of finally being back in a football stadium and not on a practice field.

I could hear the emotions crackling over the telephone lines this week when I spoke to Joey Harrington about paying Wisconsin back and when I listened to the fever pitch Air Force's players had already reached, with the visit from Oklahoma still a few days away. I can't wait to get to Tuscaloosa and feel the energy of a new era about to dawn. With the debuts of 25 new coaching staffs ... countless new quarterbacks taking their first real snaps ... and hundreds of players emerging from the tunnel onto the big stage for the first time ... opening Saturday truly is a special time.

Of course, the scene at Penn State will be unmatched. When Adam Taliaferro takes his teammates through the tunnel Saturday night, what can 107,000 do but stand up, scream and give in to tears? Tears of pride that this guy with such strength of character and such faith and force of will is one of them.

I've never met Adam. I have known a few others with his kind of courage. Not many. There aren't many among us. But I'm always grateful that kind of bravery exists. We all need to draw from it from time to time. Certainly Adam drew strength from his parents, Andre and Addie, two of the many heroes in this story. Throughout the long, frustrating rehab process, they simply banished unhappiness in Adam's presence.

A book about Adam's amazing year, "A Miracle in the Making," has been written by Scott Brown and Sam Carchidi. It's superbly done and worth finding.

Managing the emotion while chasing a milestone
Joe Paterno admitted to me that he's not sure he will be able "to handle" Taliaferro's appearance. "But I have to handle it," he said. More importantly, his team has to handle it. Paterno has been around long enough (God, has he), to realize that emotion won't carry Penn State through 60 minutes against Miami.

	Joe Paterno and Penn State must control their emotions Saturday against No.2 Miami.

No, the Canes are NOT one of the most imposing teams to ever visit Happy Valley, as Joe has been saying. That's a bit of opponent-worship for a purpose. This Miami team is good, but at this point can't approach the glory days of Miami teams that featured Cortez Kennedy as a young backup tackle and sent about 30 guys to the NFL.

Paterno also told me that, contrary to frequent denials, he is in fact fully aware of the weight of the milestone he could equal with a win. "I'm not gonna kid you. I'm not that humble."

The most enjoyable part of standing at the verge of surpassing Paul "Bear" Bryant's record of 323 wins has been the contact he's had with Alabama fans. Paterno has received many letters of support from folks who say the Bear's record, if it has to fall, will at least be in good hands. That has meant a lot to him.

By the way, here's a little twist to the record: although Bryant's ballyhooed win over archenemy Auburn in 1981 pushed him past Pop Warner for the record, the NCAA years later "found" a few long-lost wins for Warner. So, as it turns out, the win that actually pushed Bryant past Pop's total came against... Paterno. Alabama beat Penn State, 42-21, the only loss in Paterno's first national title season. It was the bright spot in Bryant's final, and one of his worst, campaigns.

Another footnote: Paterno's timeless march is all the more remarkable since it came to light this week that he is not 72, but in fact 75, according to official records unearthed at a hospital in his rural Dominican hometown.

Sorry, that's the obligatory Baby Bombers joke.

Bama and the Bruins
Redemption is maybe the most compelling sports motivator. When two proud teams seeking redemption for last season collide to open a new season it's good fun. Alabama was humiliated in front of 25,000 of their own fans who journeyed to Pasadena last September. DeShaun Foster ran through the Tide's defense for 187 yards on an amazing 42 carries. UCLA piled up 26 first downs and 35 points and the Tide skulked off the Rose Bowl turf serenaded by the always annoying "overrated" chant.

Turns out the Bruins were overrated, too. After a 6-6 year, their 24 seniors are determined to get back on the national stage and have set goals of playing at home Jan. 3. Yep, that means the national championship game.

That news did not come from Bob Toledo, who wouldn't share his team's goals. In L.A., Toledo has been called "Paranoid Bob." He's trying to maintain some secrecy about the Bruins schemes, with spies from who knows where populating the parking garage roof near the practice field.

Then again, there is mystery and secrecy on both sides. Dennis Franchione has withheld the name of his starting QB and guarded the practice field. Toledo has been watching film of every team but Alabama, with emphasis on TCU's offense and North Carolina's defense (where Bama's coordinator Carl Torbush toiled a year ago).

Did you know ... that the Alabama QB with the most career attempts is not Namath, Stabler, Richard Todd, or anyone else but Andrew Zow? Of course, he also had the most interceptions (14) per touchdown (6) than just about any QB, anywhere. Coach Fran hates it when QBs give the ball away, so my guess is Tyler Watts is a better fit.

In Pasadena, I'd give the edge here to UCLA. But the Bruins need to rediscover how to win on the road. Since the epic comeback by Miami in December '98 ended the Bruins 20-game win streak and BCS title game hopes, UCLA is a pathetic 1-8 away from home (10-14 overall). The one win was at lowly Arizona last season. Playing this one in the House Bear Built makes it a lot more intriguing.

Bring on the Badgers

	Joey Harrington and No. 8 Oregon want revenge against No. 23 Wisconsin.

Joey Harrington has had it with a long summer of hype and hot air. He is so wired for Saturday's visit from Wisconsin that his biggest challenge will be keeping emotions in check. Joey's not shy and he hardly backs down from mentioning payback as a huge motivator. Wisconsin had no business beating the Ducks last season and Oregon will be ready in Autzen, where they have won 20 straight. To beat them there, you have to be a lot better than they are. Wisconsin is not, with Brooks Bollinger or Jim Sorgi at QB.

Oregon's rebuilt front seven in the question mark. They have not shown they're good enough for the Ducks to be labeled a serious national title contender. Defensive line is too critical an area to just plug in new guys and say the Ducks will be fine. Watch the D-Line closely against Wisconsin's big, zone-blocking uglies. Saturday, they'll be good enough. Oregon wins.

Upset alert
Air Force is so emotionally charged for Oklahoma's visit that the concern for Fisher DeBerry must be how to keep his guys from spending too much too soon. The Falcons are playing up the huge underdog angle in public: QB Keith Boyea joked that not even his loving parents think Air Force can win.

Privately, they are somehow confident. Trouble is, Oklahoma arrives with "wounded pride" to quote defensive coordinator Mike Stoops. For the first time under Bob Stoops, OU's offense did not score in the second half. The longest drive was 46 yards. No possession lasted longer than seven plays.

OU won't destroy Air Force, but won't lose either.

Oregon State must beware Sunday's visit to the Valley. Fresno State has won 15 straight at home. True, they rarely attract opponents as good as the Beavs. But they have abundant confidence there, buoyed further by the breakthrough road win over self-destructive Colorado. Oregon State survives. Barely. By outscoring Fresno.

By the way, I read an interesting quote from Oregon State's Ken Simonton, who matter of factly stated that "I'm great for the college game and I know it." It's eerie. That's what Corso keeps telling me.

Speaking of eerily familiar things: by Saturday's end, will Colorado have the title of "America's Best 0-2 Team?" Or will it be Syracuse? Tennessee is primed for a big effort when the Orangemen visit the Orange Nation.

Even bigger and longer
Not sure that America needs 30 more minutes of College GameDay, but we debut the bigger, beefier version Saturday from Tuscaloosa, our first visit to Bama's campus. Set the alarm and shake out the cobwebs: 10:30 am ET is the new start time. That's 7:30 am for you true sickos on the West Coast who plan to watch. We're grateful.

Chris Fowler is host of ESPN's College GameDay. His weekly column appears every Thursday.