That’s from Sunday’s edition of the Salt Lake Tribune, and I don’t know this to be true, but I know Tony Gibson has read and seethed about this. Not because it was written, but because it’s not false. It’s not. Not on Sept. 19. On Dec. 19? That’s a different story. But today, West Virginia’s defense ranks No. 99 nationally and No. 9 in the Big 12 in yards per game and No. 94 nationally and No. 8 in the Big 12 in passing yards per game.

Gibson believes yards have too much weight and that scoring defense matters more. His defense is No. 21 nationally and No. 2 in the Big 12 in that area. Still, the perception exists that the Mountaineers are an elixir for a team that’s No. 105 in yards per game, No. 113 in yards per play. No. 78 in passing yards per game and No. 118 in yards per pass attempt.

That perception will be presented to his DAWGS this week.

Now, whether WVU confronts Taysom Hill, a sixth year senior, or Tanner Mangum, a sophomore who started in Hill’s absence last season, or both, is perhaps up for discussion.

BYU’s offense has yet to score 20 points in a game, and look at the company the Cougars keep at the bottom of that category. True, Utah’s defense is fierce and Tom Bradley has a formidable side at UCLA, but Arizona’s defense is a mess and BYU got out of Glendale, Ariz., with a win on a field goal with four seconds to go.

But BYU, which has played without two presumed starters on the offensive line and with green receivers, has a new coach, a new offensive coordinator and a timeless controversy to consider.

“When you have a great quarterback that is backing up another one, that always becomes the issue,” Sitake said.

Problem is, Hill has not been playing like a great quarterback, the fifth-year senior and Sitake agreed in a somber postgame interview room late Saturday night. Both said BYU’s defense played well enough to get a win over the 2-1 Bruins, but the offense faltered.

Counting an interception and the blocked field goal at the end of the first half, BYU had eight possessions of three plays or fewer.

One of the biggest cheers of the night, laced with sarcasm, perhaps, came late in the second quarter when BYU picked up its third first down, ending a streak of five three-and-outs.

“Yeah, it was frustrating,” Sitake said. “They had a great game plan, but we weren’t able to make plays and be more balanced. So that is something we need to work on. Offensively, we’ve got to get going. I am just trying to be patient with it, but we keep running out of time. That’s gotta be clicking this week.”

This week, the Cougars travel to the Washington, D.C., area to take on West Virginia at FedEx Field on Saturday (1:30 p.m., ESPN2). The Mountaineers (2-0) had a bye last week after knocking off Missouri 26-11 in their opener and Youngstown State 38-21 in Week 2.

Who will start at quarterback for BYU?

Sitake said the coaching staff “talked about” making the switch at halftime after falling behind 10-0 and getting just 79 yards on 38 plays, but decided against it.

“We felt like we would give Taysom some more chances, and keep it going,” Sitake said. “We didn’t want to disrupt the timing and we said Taysom is our quarterback, you know? So we will evaluate everything, just like we do every week.”