Sunday, October 28, 2007

SMU's Bennett Is the First to Go

Southern Methodist coach Phil Bennett has been fired, a day after a 29-23 loss at Tulsa eliminated the Mustangs from bowl contention.

SMU was clinging to a 23-21 lead late in Saturday's game and Bennett's team drove to the Golden Hurricane five. Two runs got the Mustangs to the one. Bennett then decided to run two more plays and each fell short of the end zone.

Tulsa took over on downs and Paul Smith drove the Golden Hurricane 99 yards for the winning touchdown and two-point conversion.

"That's why we went for it. We knew they were capable of making some plays," Bennett said. "We didn't get it done.

"The game should have been over."

Instead, Bennett, whose team is 1-7, is out of work after the Nov. 24 season finale against Memphis. Bennett, 18-48 in almost six seasons, had two years remaining on his contract and is paid almost $500,000 a year.

1 comment:

D Williams said...

Rich Brooks thinks that firing was bullshit