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I hate to say it, because I think Phil Bennett has done an awful lot to bring some semblance of respectability back to the program, but the Tulane game took care of any doubt that a change of direction is needed to take the team to the next level. If there were two "gimme" games on the conference schedule, Tulane was one of them (Rice being the other). The defense just can't seem to get it together with any kind of consistency, and the offense, as potent as it is, cannot overcome a defense that won't stop anyone. Granted, Matt Forte is a heck of a running back, but our defense made him look like Walter Payton running against a high school squad. On top of that, the squad seems so worried about penalties that they have become hesitant, and missed a couple opportunities for sacks that could have given the offense enough help to pull it out.

Bottom line: The dreams of a winning season and a bowl seem destined to die in Tulsa this weekend, and for all his effort it seems time for SMU to part company with Bennett. As weird as this season has been, there could be several highly qualified coaches on the market come January.