@calspeed Sure, I’m happy to help. You might also check out the Clemson board here. Pierre is a frequent poster and recent Clemson graduate. His information has helped us many times with questions ranging from meal plans to shuttle bus numbers. 
It seems you are interested in a highly rah-rah environment in addition to the engineering connections. Purdue will not have that to the same degree as the others on your list. One of my son’s best friends is a junior at Purdue and they seem to bond through shared academic misery more than the shared excitement of parties and sports. He can’t wait to be done with it.
Thank you for you post, I had a feeling.
Can’t beat Bama for the sports, party side of the equation on top of the good engineering program with ties to the auto industry.
Sorry, meant thank you for your post. I had a feeling it was missing an element. We want it all. The whole college experience, don’t want to be stuck in the dorm room.
Until we here about the other options, I think Clemson and University of Wisconsin are our best fits all around.
Seriously, no one mentioned Kettering University?! http://www.ranker.com/list/famous-kettering-university-alumni-and-students/reference . As well as LOTS of graduates who are not "famous,’ but are quite well paid.
Aha! Kettering. That was the other one I couldn’t dredge from my memory.
You may want to check out Auburn University - top engineering school with an automotive engineering program. There is a large, new automotive plant about 45 minutes from campus in Georgia (I think it’s Kia) that has a relationship with Auburn.
If you are interested in actual auto design, then look at industrial design programs.