BYU football: Cougars glad they'll face Frogs in Provo this time

PROVO — BYU is certainly happy to be playing TCU at home this season after turning in a miserable performance on the road last year in a 32-7 thrashing at Fort Worth.

The Cougars are riding a 13-game home winning streak in Mountain West Conference games. Since the start of the 2006 season, BYU has won 20 of its last 21 games played at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

"It's always an advantage to be at home and play in your own stadium," said tight end Andrew George. "It's a new year and we're all excited to have another shot to play (TCU) again. Last year was not what any of us envisioned or wanted. This gives us another opportunity to play them, to play better and make it a game this time."

The Horned Frogs aren't likely to be intimidated at Edwards Stadium. They've already won road games this season at Atlantic Coast Conference foes Virginia (30-14) and Clemson (14-10).

Speaking of ACC opponents, BYU saw its 18-game home winning streak get snapped by Florida State in a 54-28 defeat last month.

"We certainly can be beaten at home, as Florida State proved," said Cougar coach Bronco Mendenhall. "We still think it's a great advantage (to be playing at home). It's just fun to be supported by our own fans."

Linebacker Terrance Hooks said his team learned an important lesson in the wake of that setback against FSU.

"We took pride in having such a great streak at home and being so dominant at home," Hooks said. "To get handled by (Florida State) definitely humbles you and shows you that, hey, you may be at home, but a team can come take it from you."

RUSSELL'S RETURN: BYU defensive lineman Russell Tialavea, who has missed the past four games with a knee injury, will be back on the field Saturday to bolster the Cougar defense.

"I think it's great," Mendenhall said. "The D-line has been playing really well, but at this time of year it's always good to have depth. Russell can play nose (tackle) or (defensive) end for us. It's like getting two guys back."

BUSINESS AS USUAL: With ESPN's College GameDay coming to Provo, BYU personnel have been busily preparing for the arrival of the all-sports network. But ESPN's appearance hasn't, and won't, detract from the Cougars' preparation as far as media obligations go, Mendenhall said.

"Nothing will change for our players or for myself in terms of our schedule," the coach said, explaining that he and his team have done interviews with ESPN but most of those took place during the regularly scheduled media availability periods.

The GameDay crew will set up their makeshift studio in the parking lot west of Edwards Stadium.

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