I’m sad about Seth 😢

[greengal]

Sorry to vent but I so wanted him to be successful here and he is such a nice person.  His family loves being here and it just makes me sick that it didn’t work out.  I guess I’m coming to the realization that it will soon be over but am hoping he will finish strong.

[Pseudo Nym]

I don't know if this helps, but I don't think there's a single person who considers themself a Mean Green Fan that doesn't have the upmost respect and appreciation for SL when evaluating the totality of his tenure.  Nor, does any MG Fan question how much he's cared about our program and community, or that he ever gave anything less than a full and complete effort.  Absolutely no one was hoping for this to happen, I think most wanted him and the team to have a winning season capped off with a bowl win, but I suppose it was not meant to be.

If those were the only factors in evaluating coaches, there would be a lot less turnover across the board.

To me, I think it's completely fair to say he has done more good than bad, but the business of coaching, almost always comes down to one thing, the old adage:

"What have you down for me lately?"

Hate to use a different sport but it's what I'm more familiar with when it comes to memory recall, but Dwayne Casey was the head coach for the Toronto Raptors in 2018 and during that season he:

• First Raptors Coach in history to be selected to the NBA All-Star Game
• Won his 300th game as the head coach for the Raptors
• Set franchise records for wins and total offense in a season
• Finished first in the Eastern Conference
• Named NBA Coach of the Year

They lost in the second round of the playoffs that year, he was fired, the very next season under Nick Nurse, the Toronto Raptors won the NBA Championship, which was their first.

In the interest of brevity, and I'm not sure how much of this was publicized at the time, but when he was an Assistant at Kentucky for Eddie Sutton, he was wrongly accused of sending money to a player (his innocence was proven conclusively) and he was told flat-out by a retiring AD that liked him and cared a lot about him, that no matter what he did, the alumni/powerful boosters at particular institutions (think blue-blood programs) would never allow a black man to become a head coach.  This was in the 1980's but fast-forward 30+ years and there's been no hint of a scandal associated with him since, and he must be pretty good since he was hired almost immediately by the Detroit Pistons where he is currently the Head Coach.

One argument in Toronto was, he was great but couldn't get to Finals and they felt someone else could, then 20/20 hindsight added credibility to the move.

If they they didn't make it past the second round the season after he left, it would have been a different story perhaps.

Personally, I think Casey got one of the most regal backdoor colonoscopies in sports history. 

They based it solely on:

"What have you done for me lately?" After 7 straight winning seasons, with the furthest advancement in the playoffs being one trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, the answer was "Not Enough."

-------

Even thought I mentioned racism in the 1980's, I don't believe and do not want to insinuate that race played a factor in his firing in Toronto, Masai Ujiri was the President/GM of the Raptors who made the decision to fire him, he is also black.  Also, no one involved or with knowledge of the move has ever alleged that race played a factor in this decision.

PS - Sorry for following "In the interest of brevity" with the antithesis of and compete devoid of, brevity (I'm working on it lol)

[TreeFiddy]

Moved from Denton to Vaquero and very next season things are in the toilet.  Coincidence?  Just like the players, you have to maintain focus and stay hungry.

[MeanGreen4Life1998]

Hes a nice guy and all but a piss poor HC. Terrible player development, no discipline, didnt learn to make adjustments until this season, never really cared about defense until this season and has a history of hiring coaches who really aren’t in any way prepared for the job. And idk about the full effort thing someone else mentioned. Haven’t seen him give a shit since Mason Fine was here and even tht last year he seemed disinterested at times. Should’ve been fired a year ago

Regardless, he will land on his feet at a P5 OC job and do just fine. Hes simply not cut out as a HC

[TheColonyEagle]

I’ve been very critical of Littrell’s performance but I have nothing against Littrell personally. I’ve said it before. Seems like a good man. Good family man. Runs a clean program. His players graduate. I respect Littrell as a person. 
 

But at the end of the day, my loyalty is to UNT and I want someone that is going to make my alma mater successful. The W-L record is what he’s ultimately judged by. It’s a business. When he leaves here he’ll agree that he didn’t finish what he started. Hopefully he learns from it and gets another shot somewhere one day. 

[MeanGreenZen]

1 hour ago, TreeFiddy said:

Moved from Denton to Vaquero and very next season things are in the toilet.  Coincidence?  Just like the players, you have to maintain focus and stay hungry.

Seth Littrell lives in Westlake?

[El Paso Eagle]

1 hour ago, TreeFiddy said:

Moved from Denton to Vaquero and very next season things are in the toilet.  Coincidence?  Just like the players, you have to maintain focus and stay hungry.

 

[greenminer]

I wanted him to work out too.

[NorthTexasSportsNetwork]

2 hours ago, greengal said:

Sorry to vent but I so wanted him to be successful here and he is such a nice person.  His family loves being here and it just makes me sick that it didn’t work out.  I guess I’m coming to the realization that it will soon be over but am hoping he will finish strong.

He brought some life into UNT, and to be honest did a great job at finding the fantastic staff that developed kids into NFL/really talented players in his first 2 years. It just seemed when the roadblock hit, he couldn't find a way past it, which is extremely unfortunate. I don't see any situation where he comes back after this season, but he had us strongly believing in what he had the first 3 years. 

It does make me sad, but this is also the coaching industry and how it functions.

[Hall Eagle 2011]

I wanted him to work out too. My dad (also an Alumni) and I talk often about meeting SL a few years back at the preseason season ticket holder event and ever since then, we had felt like he could be the coach to turn the program around and be one to stay at this university for many years to come for a change. I think our university truly needs that - and not just a coach who will use our program as a stepping stone to a “higher” position. I wanted Seth’s coaching skills to match his personal, family side. As someone already said, his players graduate, he seems to focus on his players’ success, and he builds a family kind of environment (from my perspective). 

There has just clearly been some kind of disconnect the last 2-3 seasons now. I can’t help but relate it to the K-State debacle, but who knows what his shift has been. His coaching style seems much different now and it’s hard to see that same passion he once had - from a fan’s point of view. 

Our priorities should always lie with our university and doing what’s best for the program - unfortunately, this is just part of the “business” side of things. I so wish him well and for him to find success elsewhere - it’s just clear we need a change. I feel your post though - I wanted it to work out too!

Edited November 2, 2021 by Jessica M Hall

[rcade]

I would be sadder about Seth Littrell if he didn't have the sideline demeanor of a guy thinking about his golf game. Mike Canales was dropped twice into worse situations as UNT's interim coach and he was able to get the backing of the players and show how much the job meant to him. He was out there for the alma mater after his final game as coach following a season-ending loss in 2015 looking like he went to this school.

[Mean Green Matt]

4 minutes ago, rcade said:

I would be sadder about Seth Littrell if he didn't have the sideline demeanor of a guy thinking about his golf game. Mike Canales was dropped twice into worse situations as UNT's interim coach and he was able to get the backing of the players and show how much the job meant to him. He was out there for the alma mater after his final game as coach following a season-ending loss in 2015 looking like he went to this school.

Mike Canales is available! 

[RBP79]

This is not about Seth as a person but as Head Coach and primary leader of UNT Football.

Most businesses can't sustain a 3 year run of losing money without some type of re-organization that includes leadership change.

He's now a millionaire, thanks to North Texas, and he'll be fine...

[97and03]

1 hour ago, Mean Green Matt said:

Mike Canales is available! 

I can’t tell you how much I hate jokes like this. 

[Mean Green Matt]

2 minutes ago, 97and03 said:

I can’t tell you how much I hate jokes like this. 

Just think if we would have Locked the Gate in 2011 instead of Firing Up The Boat. 

[UNTLifer]

Good man that it appears has lost his zeal for coaching.  I really think he is a "player's coach" because they seem to really like him, but sometimes these young men need more of a father figure than a friend.  A father will kick them in the rear when needed, demand discipline, etc...  SL may just be cutout to be a coordinator where you can be more of a friend than a mentor.

 

[jtm0097]

I met him at the Market St in Flower Mound several years ago. He was very nice and down to earth. Told me thanks for being a ticket holder and was curious about what we were doing for the super bowl (same weekend). I respect him very much and will always be thankful for the win against Arkansas and 9 win seasons.

However, it is time for a change. We have been on a downward spiral for 3 seasons now. The program needs to move in a different direction. Seth will be fine. I'm sure Sonny will give him a job, or Riley will let him be an offensive analyst for a year. He's a millionaire and his family will be taken care of for many years.

[rcade]

At 43, Littrell is young enough to get another head coaching shot in the future if he gets another OC job and does as well as he did under Larry Fedora at North Carolina.

He would be going against the norm, though. When coaches leave UNT for reasons other than taking a better head coaching job, the only ones I could find who ever got another top job at the college level were Bob Tyler at Millsaps College and Dennis Parker at Texas Lutheran. Rod Rust did become head coach of the New England Patriots and Montreal Alouettes.

[MeanGreen22]

3 hours ago, rcade said:

I would be sadder about Seth Littrell if he didn't have the sideline demeanor of a guy thinking about his golf game. Mike Canales was dropped twice into worse situations as UNT's interim coach and he was able to get the backing of the players and show how much the job meant to him. He was out there for the alma mater after his final game as coach following a season-ending loss in 2015 looking like he went to this school.

The beloved Chico was 2-3 after Dodge and 1-6 after McCarney. But the whole “lock the gate” bit and letting a grown man in tights lead the team on the field was cool I guess. 

Edited November 2, 2021 by MeanGreen22

[rcade]

1 minute ago, MeanGreen22 said:

The beloved Chico was 2-3 after Dodge and 1-6 after McCarney. But the whole “lock the gate” bit and letting a grown man in tights lead the team on the field was cool I guess. 

Do you get the impression this season that Seth Littrell cares and is giving everything he has to turning things around?

[UNTLifer]

5 minutes ago, rcade said:

Do you get the impression this season that Seth Littrell cares and is giving everything he has to turning things around?

I have heard rumors, don't know if the are accurate or not so take them with a grain of salt, that SL isn't one to burn the midnight oil.  Coaching on the FBS level is a full-time x's 2 job during the season and you have to really be committed.

[MeanGreen22]

9 minutes ago, rcade said:

Do you get the impression this season that Seth Littrell cares and is giving everything he has to turning things around?

Not everyone processes failure the same. I’m sure it’s starting to sit in that it’s going to be his last year and I’m sure that a tough feeling. I’m not going to pretend to know what he’s thinking/feeling but no coach is okay with failure.

Edited November 2, 2021 by MeanGreen22

[rcade]

10 minutes ago, MeanGreen22 said:

Not everyone processes failure the same. I’m sure it’s starting to sit in that it’s going to be his last year and I’m sure that a tough feeling. I’m not going to pretend to know what he’s thinking/feeling but no coach is okay with failure.

This season wasn't a failure when it began but he didn't act like somebody who was fired up to be here.

If you're not enthusiastic how can anyone expect your players to be?

As someone who drifted back to the Mean Green this season after a few seasons of not watching closely I was amazed at the difference in Littrell's demeanor.

[rcade]

I want a head coach for North Texas who looks at the job the way Darrell Dickey looked at Diet Coke Boy.

[drex]

Seth is a mere cardboard cut out on the sidelines...he talks to no one and no one talks to him.  He never gets fired up and congratulates players coming off the field after a good play.  He seems moody and distant....seems to me the college kids need someone with a lot of fire as head coach.