BYU football: Gracious hosts

PROVO — For BYU, there's been trouble at home.

Not too long ago, the Cougars were riding an 18-game home winning streak, and they seemed almost invincible at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

But now? Not so much.

Against Florida State, 54-28, on Sept. 19, and TCU, 38-7, in its most recent home game on Oct. 24 — much in the same way the new grass at the stadium — BYU has been shredded.

Overall, the Cougars have enjoyed much more success on the away from home (6-0) than in Provo (2-2) this season.

"We've just got to pull it together at home," said quarterback Max Hall.

BYU has two more chances to do just that, albeit against tough opponents: Air Force on Saturday (1:30 p.m., CBS-C) and arch-rival Utah on Nov. 28.

"You never want to lose, regardless where it's at," said senior defensive lineman Jan Jorgensen, who had never experienced a loss in Provo before the Florida State defeat. "Playing these last two games at home, it's the last two times I'll ever play in LaVell Edwards Stadium. I want to put together a good showing and win those two football games. That's what means most to me, regardless of what's happened earlier in the season. I want to go out on a good note."

BYU did not drop a game in Provo from 2006 through 2008, winning 18 consecutive contests. But aside from a 42-23 win over Colorado State and a 35-17 triumph over Utah State, things haven't gone so well when it comes to defending the home turf this season.

According to Cougars players and coaches, it's not the mindset toward home games that's changed. It's had more to do with the opponents.

"Both of those teams played us really well. We could have played better in both games," said senior linebacker Coleby Clawson. "This year, we've just had success playing on the road. We need to find a way to play better at home."

Over the past 41 years, BYU has been outscored at home during the course of a season only four times — in 1968, 1970, 1972 and 2003. The 2009 Cougars are in danger of being the fifth team to fall into that category, having been outscored by a total of 132-112 (an average of 33-28 per game).