Michigan senior punter Ross Ryan grew up watching a lot of Michigan-Notre Dame games.

Except in his house, Ryan gave the cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame. That's the way it is when your father, K.C., was a four-year player for the Fighting Irish in 1977-80 and constantly wears his Notre Dame national championship ring.

Ross would get dressed in his Notre Dame gear, wear it to school and draw ridicule from his teachers and fellow students at Berkshire Middle School in Birmingham, Mich.

His whole high school career at Birmingham Brother Rice was focused on getting into Notre Dame. He tried meeting every requirement the Irish had, took trips to see sporting events and even met with advisers --including the one who guided his father 25 years earlier.

But when Notre Dame rejected him, despite his meeting its academic requirements, Ryan decided to walk on at Michigan.

Now, if Notre Dame receives the ball first in the game Saturday, he'll be the one kicking it off.

"Part of the reason why I decided to walk on was because I was so frustrated with Notre Dame," Ryan said. "This is what I've been looking forward to my entire career, playing down in South Bend."

His role at Michigan grew dramatically last year as he emerged as the Wolverines' primary punter, with a 38.3-yard average, and the kickoff specialist, booting 40 of his 69 kickoffs for touchbacks.

Those numbers are down this year as he splits punting duties with strong-legged sophomore Zoltan Mesko; the shorter kicking tee, a new rule this season in college football, also reduces his touchbacks. But Ryan is still making his presence felt, like late in a win against Central Michigan, when he tackled kick returner Eric Fraser.

"As a kicker, we've got our assignment to be the safety, but in that play on Saturday I saw the guy running up the sideline," said Ryan, who played defense at Brother Rice.

His family will be at Saturday's game, but a bit torn in allegiance.

One younger brother, Charlie, is a sophomore at Michigan, and his youngest brother, Kenny, will be in South Bend on a recruiting trip --for hockey.

Ross' mother, Heather, a Michigan State grad, will be wearing his Michigan Rose Bowl jersey, but K.C. will be wearing his Notre Dame national championship ring.

Yet, according to K.C., all will be cheering for a Michigan win.

Clemson

Clemson received permission from the NCAA to provide assistance to a freshman player who is taking care of his younger brother. Ray Ray McElrathbey, 19, has temporary custody of his 11-year-old brother, Fahmarr, because of his mother's continuing drug problems and his father's gambling addiction. The brothers have moved from foster homes and now share an apartment near the Clemson campus.

The school had asked the NCAA for a waiver of its rule prohibiting athletes from obtaining gifts, cash or other benefits not provided to the general student population. McElrathbey will be allowed to receive assistance, such as local transportation and child care for Fahmarr. The two had been living solely off McElrathbey's scholarship.

Colorado

The quarterback situation took another startling twist when junior Brian White informed coach Dan Hawkins he was leaving the team.

"He didn't give a reason. ... He just rolled right in and said he was quitting; that was that," Hawkins said at the conclusion of the team's practice.

White's exit came one day after the Buffaloes' 14-10 loss to Colorado State, the second game in which he did not take a snap. Listed as co-No. 1 with junior Bernard Jackson when preseason camp began, White also stood entirely on the sideline for Colorado's 19-10 opening loss to Division I-AA Montana State.

Hawkins said Jackson, who started the Colorado State game in place of senior James Cox, also will start Saturday against No. 22 Arizona State.