with poll: Michigan football has another trick up its sleeve for Nebraska game

"Wait until you see what we’re going to do," Brandon told a group of about 300 students at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business Monday night. "The pre-game show Saturday is going to be very special."

The athletic department announced Monday that it would attempt its first American flag card stunt during Saturday's game against Big 10 rival Nebraska.

Roughly 65,000 fans —out of about 114,000 fans total— on the south end of the stadium will receive red, white or blue cards. During the national anthem, fans will be asked to raise their cards, forming an American flag covering the entire south end of the stadium.

The trick has been attempted by several football programs across the country, but never by Michigan.

Brandon warned the stunt won't work if fans get to the game late.

"Have one less drink Friday night," he said with a laugh.

Brandon said the Oct. 29 'Rocket Man' stunt, during which a man delivered the game ball by jet pack, wasn't quite what he hoped for or anticipated because thousands of fans weren't on their seats early enough watch the delivery.

Rocket Man was "flying toward an empty student section," he said.

Brandon said pre-game stunts are part of U-M's strategy to create "wow experiences" for Wolverine fans.

Brandon also told the students that he was looking into new ways to leverage the Big House, aside from football games.

"I'm frustrated over the fact that we have this terrific asset that we've got such a big investment in and we only use it a few times a year," he said. "We have to figure out ways to leverage it."

Brandon said he "really want(s) to do a concert," but Stadium logistics make that difficult. Field tunnels are too short to fit the semi-truck or fork-lift needed to carry necessary stage equipment.

"If we were to do a stadium concert, we would have to use a lift helicopter," Brandon said. "Or we'd have to have the world's biggest crane to lift everything over the stadium."

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.