POSTGAME NOTES: No. 8 BYU at No. 24 TCU

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LARGEST LOSS SINCE 2005

For a team that averaged 37.8 points coming into tonight, the Cougars suffered their worst loss since a 49-23 loss at Notre Dame in 2005. TCU’s 32 points marked a season-high for BYU opponents, who before tonight, averaged only 10.2 points per game.

PAPER OR PLASTIC

Junior defensive lineman Jan Jorgensen’s sack against TCU’s Jeremy Kerley in the second quarter gives him 20.5 career sacks, tieing the MWC record of 20.5 held by New Mexico’s Michael Tuohy and TCU’s Chase Ortiz. Jorgensen recorded four sacks his freshman season in 2006, 13.5 his sophomore season and three to date in 2008.

FLAG BEARER

BYU has a tradition of selecting a player before each game to run the team flag onto the field. In 2008, the team implemented a new tradition—an alumni flag. The team selects a former Cougar to carry out the alumni flag, along with the chosen current player who runs out with the current team flag. Both flags are white with a blue “Y” logo. The flag is signed by current team members, while the alumni flag is signed by former BYU players. Their signatures reflect their commitment to uphold the tradition, spirit and honor of the BYU football program and to be a flag bearer of the University. Carrying the team flag was senior wide receiver Michael Reed, with former Cougar defensive lineman Glen Titensor carrying the alumni flag.

COIN TOSS

For the only second time this season, BYU lost the opening coin toss, with TCU electing to defer to the second half. BYU is now 1-1 when losing the opening coin toss.

NATION’S LONGEST WINNING STREAK ENDS

With their 32-7 loss to TCU on Thursday, the Cougars’ 16-game winning streak ended. Before today, BYU’s last loss came on Sept. 15, 2007 at Tulsa. The Cougars lost that matchup 55-47.

COMPETING AS A RANKED TEAM

After tonight’s loss, the Cougars are 144-42 when nationally ranked in the Top 25. The defeat snapped a 13-game winning streak for BYU as a nationally ranked team.

NATIONALLY RANKED OPPONENTS

BYU is now 1-13 in games against ranked opponents, dating back to the 1999 season. The Cougars’ only win during that span was a 31-17 win over then-ranked No. 15 TCU in 2006.

SCORING HALL PASSES

Prior to tonight’s loss, quarterback Max Hall had recorded eight consecutive games with a touchdown pass, dating back to Dec. 1, 2007 at San Diego State. Hall has now thrown a touchdown pass in 18-of-20 career games.

COLLIE HITS CENTURY MARK

Junior Austin Collie broke the 100-yard receiving mark for the fifth straight game with a game-high 116 yards on 6 catches against the Horned Frogs. Collie accomplished this feat after recording no receptions in the first quarter. His first reception of the night was a 23-yarder in the second quarter. Collie’s five-consecutive games tie a MWC record held by SDSU J.R. Tolver (2002).

CLIMBING UP THE BYU RECORD CHARTS

With his 116 yards against TCU, Collie now has 2,506 career-receiving yards, surpassing both Mark Bellini (2,429, sixth) and Gordon Hudson (2,484, fifth) on BYU’s all-time career receiving list into fifth place He needs only 42 more yards to pass Phil Odle (2,548 yards) and claim the No. 4 spot.

Collie now has 11 career 100-yard receiving games, which is third all-time at BYU. He is also tied for third on the MWC record list, behind 12 by Jeff Webb and 13 by J.R. Tolver, both of SDSU.

GOING FOR IT

BYU attempted three fourth-down conversion attempts tonight, successful on 1-of-3. The Cougars’ successful conversion came late in the third quarter when quarterback Max Hall ran for a two-yard touchdown, giving the team its lone score of the game.

PLAYING UNDER THE LIGHTS

BYU now holds a 1-1 record when playing night games. The Cougars’ win against Utah State (W, 34-14)

CONSECUTIVE STARTS

The TCU game marked senior offensive lineman Dallas Reynolds’ 45th straight career start. During that streak, Reynolds has started at every position on the offensive line, including tackle, guard and center. Reynolds’ younger brother Matt started at left tackle in the 2008 season opener. His father, Lance, is the associate head coach for the Cougars. Reynolds is currently tied at first for the most consecutive starts by an active Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) player. Reynolds has started in every game of his BYU career, beginning with the Cougars’ 20-3 loss to Boston College on Sep. 3, 2005.

HE WHO SCORES FIRST...

TCU's 25-yard touchdown with 12:10 remaining in the first quarter marked the second consecutive game this season BYU has failed to score first. Last week the Cougars gave up a 27-yard field goal to New Mexico in the second quarter. BYU is 1-1 when failing to score first.

IT’S BEEN A WHILE

BYU has been unable to return a kickoff for a touchdown for 125 consecutive games. Mike Rigell was the last Cougar to accomplish the feat, turning in a 96-yard touchdown in a 31-9 victory at Hawaii on October 17, 1998.

SCORELESS FIRST HALF

BYU’s 23-0 deficit heading in to the halftime break marked the first time the Cougars have been shutout in the first half since its 20-3 loss to Boston College on Sept 3, 2005. Boston College held BYU scoreless while scoring 10 points in the first half. Today also marked the first time this season the Cougars have been trailing at halftime. BYU is now 1-0 when down at the half.

CAREER FIRST

Thursday marked sophomore Luke Ashworth’s first career start.