1st Quarters:
BYU 10, Virginia/Utah/Wisconsin/Notre Dame/Washington 31. Outscored by 21 points.

2nd Quarters:
BYU 23, Virginia/Utah/Wisconsin/Notre Dame/Washington 40. Outscored by 17 points.

(combined 1st Halfs:
BYU 33, Virginia/Utah/Wisconsin/Notre Dame/Washington 71. Outscored by 38 points.)

3rd Quarters:
BYU 19, Virginia/Utah/Wisconsin/Notre Dame/Washington 22. Outscored by 3 points.

4th Quarters:
BYU 23, Virginia/Utah/Wisconsin/Notre Dame/Washington 27. Outscored by 4 points.

((combined 2nd Halfs:
BYU 42, Virginia/Utah/Wisconsin/Notre Dame/Washington 49. Outscored by 7 points.))

< Total Games combined:
BYU 75, Virginia/Utah/Wisconsin/Notre Dame/Washington 120. Outscored by 45 points. >

"The Average Quarter":
BYU 3.75, Virginia/Utah/Wisconsin/Notre Dame/Washington 6. Outscored by 2.25 points.

"The Average Half":
BYU 7.5, Virginia/Utah/Wisconsin/Notre Dame/Washington 12. Outscored by 4.5 points.

"The Average Loss":
BYU 15, Virginia/Utah/Wisconsin/Notre Dame/Washington 24. Outscored by 9 points.


Conclusions (based on the small sample size above):
1- BYU's Offense got better as it wore down opponents. 2nd and 4th quarters better than 1st and 3rd, and the 2nd half better that the 1st. The 1st quarter was the worst, and the 2nd/4th quarters tied for the best.
2- BYU's Defense wore down during each half, but improved overall as adjustments were made. 1st and 3rd quarters better than 2nd and 4th, but the 2nd half was better than the 1st half. The 3rd quarter was the best, and the 2nd quarter was the worst.

Questions:
1- BYU's Offense struggles the most in the 1st Half. Is it better to receive the ball in the 1st Half, to try to help kick-start the offense, or is it better to receive the ball in the 2nd half, when the offense recently seems to have more success?
2- It is natural for a defense to get tired the longer it plays. If an offense snaps the ball at a faster rate, the opposing defense should tire faster. But the shorter time of possession your offense is on the field, the less time your own defense has to rest. Which wears down faster due to the Cougars' "Go Fast Go Hard" Offense, the Opponent's defense, or BYU's?

Opinions (personal):
1- BYU football's toughest individual games partially mirror their overall seasons, in that the first quarter of play seems to be BYU's toughest to score/win (reference: too-frequent 1-2 records to start the season). One key to a great game and a great season are similar- You need to start out hot. It is very difficult to get enough momentum back to make up ground once you have put yourself in a hole (reference: lack of conference play for an Independent). Despite the mounting injuries of a season and the increasing soreness during games, BYU always seems to actually play better later as they warm up and begin to get into a flow. Getting into a groove seems to be much more critical to BYU's success on the field than injuries and overall fatigue appear to be a detriment.
2- Setting the tone in a game and to a season both seem to be very important, but too often BYU comes out flat. This is why I *personally* feel that long, intense, hard-hitting practices (especially early on in the season, and again later during the lull before bowl games) help give players the right mindset to come out and punch the other team in the mouth, thus keeping themselves from being the ones getting hit and looking stunned instead (references: TCU, Florida State). Emotional, pump-up pre-game and half-time speeches might not hurt either (reference: Oklahoma), anything to come out fearless, with a little bit of swagger and a bit of a mean streak. Injured players can be replaced with back-ups, but lackadaisical attitudes can negatively affect every player and coach within a program.
3- I would love to see BYU receive the ball in the first quarter as often as possible. Robert Anae, despite his many strengths, was not created by our great Creator to specialize in coming back from behind once BYU has given up the lead. So get the ball to the offense as early as possible and go score, relying on the team strength- "Bronco D!"- to do their part and more come kickoff in the 3rd quarter.
4- Realize that the GFGH system is a mindset, not a religion. Deviation can be healthy and beneficial from time to time. Those times include When you Have the Lead and Near the End of Quarters. Always play to WIN, NEVER play to Not Lose, but do use each situation to the best possible advantage, whether that be running out the clock, not settling for field goals, going for it down late in the game, or even getting the back-ups into the game in a blowout win to get practice running the same exact system (and not just a watered down vomit of wasteful handoffs).

Suggestions:
1- You can't win them all. Enjoy the wins, because the other team wants them desperately, and few come easy. Appreciate your opponents and show them respect, in wins and in losses. (Unless they are yewts)
2- Appreciate all the good things that are accomplished, even in the losses. The players fight their guts out, and they are the ones beneath the stadium recuperating in ice baths after the game is over. Reference: YOU SHALL NOT PASS! (Boise State 2012)
3- Have fun. College football may be the greatest game on Earth, but it's just a game. Involve your family. Hug your kids after every game- regardless of the outcome. Kiss your wife and thank her for not being Michelle Peralta.

/soapbox

Go Cougars