Among the challenges of playing on the road, there are stadiums which feature exceptional noise. Autzen Stadium has recorded crowd noise up to 127 decibels, which is louder than the front row of a rock concert. Communication for the Stanford offense in Eugene, Oregon, this Saturday will carry challenges.
"It starts with getting the play in the huddle," says wide receiver Michael Rector. "It's hard to hear the play call, especially with our long play calls."
A wideout who may normally stand on the periphery of an offensive huddle will squeeze their way close to the quarterback in a loud stadium. Rector says that he looks directly at the quarterback's lips to help focus on what is being called.
After the huddle breaks, there are adjustments to be communicated in every direction: from the quarterback, to the quarterback, within the offensive line, and up and down the sideline. Stanford employs hundreds of hand signals, which are changed often.
Finally, 11 offensive players need to spring into motion at the snap of the football, which is normally synchronized to the cadence of the quarterback's voice.
"I have to watch the ball to know when I can move," says Rector. "I can't jump the snap count like I would at home."
Like everything on game day, precision comes from practice. Stanford for several years has played loud noise at practices during the week to prepare for communicating in a rocking road stadium. Taking those lessons onto the field, game experience is especially invaluable.
"In 2012 at Washington, we were hurt by our inability to communicate on and off the field that game," says former center and team captain Sam Schwartzstein. "Even when we could hear each other, we did not communicate. You have to be careful with your words. You have to be honest and right to the point."
The Cardinal grew from that experience and was better prepared in its November visit to No. 1 ranked Oregon. The offense executed with confidence in the Cardinal's 17-14 upset victory at Autzen Stadium.
Triumph in the face of these obstacles on the road is as sweet a feeling as players can find in college football.
"You grow up wanting to play in big games and loud stadiums," says Rector. "The environment is pretty awesome. It's kind of cool to be heckled by your rivals at Oregon and feel the noise all come down on you."
"You hear that crowd go from as loud as possible to hearing a pin drop, except that one small corner of the stadium with your fans cheering for you," says Schwartzstein. "That deafening silence is what it's all about, better than any other sound."