Wren Baker to West Virginia

[UNT Texas Hooligan]

1 minute ago, xyresic said:

The scoop on this was that he was happy here but was offered the WVU job. UNT countered to entice him to stay but then WVU backed up the truck with a large raise. My read is that to get his dream job at Ok State he needs to have some P5 experience and this is that at a high level.

The candidates we draw in from the upcoming national search are going to be great, they were awesome last round and this time we are in a much better position.

Thank you for this. I'm not worried about the quality of candidates we will get. I just hope they do something about our football program soon. 

[MeanGreen22]

Just now, golfingomez said:

What's Ricky V up to?

Announcing an NIL then disappearing into a void. 

[cousin oliver]

This is terrible news.  Wren was the best AD we ever had.  This is the worst possible news and timing we could have.

[NorthTexasWeLove]

1 minute ago, Pellom said:

An AD transition likely means our boosters and school presidents will make the call on Littrell. Everything we’ve heard suggests both camps are pro-Littrell. 
 

He’s going to be extended. 

Yeah. I was just hoping they potentially already have their guy, and maybe already in-house. If that's the case then there's really no reason for a "year long evaluation" like those schmucks over in WVU are about to receive. 

[SteaminWillieBeamin]

2 minutes ago, golfingomez said:

What's Ricky V up to?

He is at every game cheering with the rest of us. He is going to get the band back together and get DD here as AD and RV as coach like he always wanted to be. 

Edited November 30, 2022 by SteaminWillieBeamin

[NorthTexasWeLove]

1 minute ago, UNTcrazy727 said:

Saying its because Wren was interviewing for an AD job is 100% speculative. 

Oh, so he has just decided to quit doing basically everything for, fun? Laziness? I mean, it matches. It goes together. It makes sense. It was the smoke. Him leaving is the fire. 

[UNTcrazy727]

1 minute ago, Pellom said:

An AD transition likely means our boosters and school president will make the call on Littrell. Everything we’ve heard suggests both camps are pro-Littrell. 
 

He’s going to be extended. They won’t want the new AD to make the call immediately just like Wren in WVU with Neal Brown. 

"Everything we've heard" ...you mean what some uniformed GMG posters say?

I don't think this changes anything for Littrell. Lose Friday night and he's gone. 

[Jonnyeagle]

Does Wren take McCasland with him?  If so that is bad bad news for us.

[NorthTexasWeLove]

Just now, Jonnyeagle said:

Does Wren take McCasland with him?  If so that is bad bad news for us.

Or better yet, are the mountaineers about to tee it high and let it fly? 

[NorthTexasWeLove]

1 minute ago, UNTcrazy727 said:

"Everything we've heard" ...you mean what some uniformed GMG posters say?

I don't think this changes anything for Littrell. Lose Friday night and he's gone. 

I mean, if it's clearly true does it still make it uninformed? 

[UNTFan23]

2 minutes ago, Jonnyeagle said:

Does Wren take McCasland with him?  If so that is bad bad news for us.

Why would McCasland move away from his family, who get to attend every home game. 

[GrandGreen]

Not necessarily a bad thing for NT.  It is very hard for any fan to evaluate an AD's performance.  NT is a plum job because of the things Baker has accomplished.  

Assuming Littrell is safe because of this development, is premature.   I still think the UTSA game will determine that.  

[El Paso Eagle]

3 hours ago, MGNation92 said:

Agreed. Disappointing but definitely not surprising.

Luckily we have Jared Mosley waiting in the wings. Should hopefully be a seamless transition

Would prefer they make Mosley interim, but do a legitimate search and compare him to the others who apply. If they do not find anyone clearly better, make the hire permanent.

Edited November 30, 2022 by El Paso Eagle

[SilverEagle]

Mosley has always been my first choice as AD here. When he was hired as assistant AD, I couldn't believe our luck.

[MeanGreen22]

[xyresic]

12 minutes ago, El Paso Eagle said:

Would prefer they make Mosley interim, but do a legitimate search and compare him to the others who apply. If they do not find anyone clearly netter, make the hire permanent.

From what I have heard the plan is to conduct a national search.

edited for clarity.

Edited November 30, 2022 by xyresic

[Jason Howeth]

What a bummer for us. Baker was an incredibly kind and caring individual who really wanted to see the students grow and be better people, not just athletes. @meanJewGreen and I went to the women's soccer NCAA tourney at UT a few years back, and Wren, out of the probably 500 UNT fans there and not knowing either of us, spent 30+ minutes just sitting with us and chatting about the athletic programs, the direction of the school, his own life, etc. Great person, great leader, great AD. He'll be missed for sure.

Also, I guess I have to change my signature now...

[Pellom]

10 minutes ago, UNTcrazy727 said:

"Everything we've heard" ...you mean what some uniformed GMG posters say?

I don't think this changes anything for Littrell. Lose Friday night and he's gone. 

Take it for what you want, I’m just a guy talking on a message board. But I spoke with a well known college football reporter about Wren a month ago (or more) and he is the one who told me Wren wanted out of Denton and had been interviewing for every open AD job. I posted about it here when I was told that information. 
 

Part of the reason was the uncertainty around the football program. The exact verbiage I was told was “I’m not sure the AD makes that call in Denton.” 

Edited November 30, 2022 by Pellom

[jtm0097]

Thanks Wren, I appreciate you.

The athletic department still needs improvement, but it's better than before he started.

[zenhuddy]

As the saying goes Timing is Everything - clear why there seemed to be zero on the HC front now. My hunch is Seth gets a year extension to allow for a transition period - then Jared or who our AD evaluates the position! 
Grant - please don’t go ! 

[NorthTexasWeLove]

2 minutes ago, Pellom said:

Take it for what you want, I’m just a guy talking on a message board. But I spoke with a well known college football reporter about Wren a month ago (or more) and he is the one who told be Wren wanted out of Denton and had been interviewing for every open AD job. I posted about it here when I was told that information. 
 

Part of the reason was the uncertainty around the football program. The exact verbiage I was told was “I’m not sure the AD makes that call in Denton.” 

This is terrible. So, IOW, our football program is in fact a rich mans video game. Pretty pathetic. And pretty pathetic for WB to run from it. But also telling that WB did in fact want SL out and people were trying to slow him. 

[TheReal_jayD]

promote Mosley. This changes the Seth situation 110% imo

[NorthTexasWeLove]

Just now, TheReal_jayD said:

promote Mosley. This changes the Seth situation 110% imo

If it's Mosley then it shouldn't change anything. Has he not been here for running years collaborating with WB on everything. 

[MGNation92]

Just now, NorthTexasWeLove said:

This is terrible. So, IOW, our football program is in fact a rich mans video game. Pretty pathetic. And pretty pathetic for WB to run from it. But also telling that WB did in fact want SL out and people were trying to slow him. 

He could also mean Smatresk. Littrell is his guy after all. 

But it could also give merit to the Lovelace's relationship with him and their subsequent money keeping him here

[NorthTexasWeLove]

Just now, MGNation92 said:

He could also mean Smatresk. Littrell is his guy after all. 

But it could also give merit to the Lovelace's relationship with him and their subsequent money keeping him here

No way it's Smatresk.