College Sports Established
1963
Location
Tulsa, Oklahoma
College Name
Oral Roberts University
Collegiate History
1997 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
1997 - 2012, 2014 - Present / Summit League
2012 - 2014 / Southland Conference
Nickname
Golden Eagles - The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles are a beloved college basketball team with a long and storied history. The team has played since the early 1960s when Rev. Dr. Robert Hulsey founded it as part of his vision to bring Christian values into higher education through athletics. As such, it was only natural that their nickname would reflect this mission—the “Golden Eagles” symbolizing the soaring heights of faith and excellence in sportsmanship that Dr. Hulsey sought to impart upon his students through competition on the court or field of play!
While there is no definitive answer as to why precisely this name was chosen for ORU's teams, many believe it has something to do with its founder's religious background; indeed, eagles have long been seen as symbols of power and freedom in Christianity due both their majestic beauty while flying high above all else (symbolizing God's omnipresence) and also because they mate for life (a representation of eternal love). Additionally, golden eagles represent strength and courage—traits that any great athlete should strive for during every game!
Whatever its origin, one thing remains clear: The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles embody an unwavering commitment to striving toward greatness both off the court – something we can all get behind, cheering them on!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
- 1977
- 1979
- 2007
-
NCAA Coaching Legends
Former head coach Larry Cochell guided ORU from 1977–86, leading the school to seven NCAA Regional appearances and the 1978 College World Series. Former coach Sunny Golloway was one of the winningest active skippers in the NCAA Division I, guiding the Golden Eagles to a 294–136 record and five NCAA Regional appearances in seven years at the helm. He was ... -
ORU Stars Triumph
Mike Moore was an ORU standout from 1979–81 and first-round draft pick. He played 14 seasons in the big leagues and was selected an American League All-Star in 1989. He played in consecutive World Series with Oakland (1989–90), winning a World Championship in 1989. Todd Burns (1982–84) was Moore’s teammate in Oakland and helped the A’s win three straight American ... -
Mid-Con Champions
In the 2006–07 season, on November 15, 2006, the unranked Oral Roberts basketball team stunned the #3 team in the nation, the University of Kansas, at the Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas, 78–71. The team went on to win the Mid-Con conference championship on March 6, 2007, defeating #2 seeded Oakland, overcoming an 11-point halftime deficit to win 71–67.
History of the Golden Eagles
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles have a long and storied history of competing in the world of college sports, particularly noted for their rivalry with the Kansas City Roos. Founded in 1963, the school has become one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division I basketball and is known for producing some of the best players ever to step foot on a court.
Despite these setbacks, however ORU was able to come away with something that no other mid-major program had done before them – win an NIT Championship! This occurred back in 1975 when they defeated Marquette 77–69 at Madison Square Garden for what would be only its second national title since joining D1 athletics after winning NAIA National Championships from 1967–1970 under legendary coach Ken Trickey, who coached there from 1965 until his retirement following 1977 season. Even more impressive is that current head coach Paul Millsap took them within one game short, making another trip to Final Four 2008, where he eventually fell to Louisville Cardinals despite having upset Kansas Jayhawks in the previous round thanks to heroic guard Caleb Green, who scored 30 points lead ORU victory over #2 seed KU squad earlier same day!
In addition to the successful men's basketball program, the ORU Athletics Department boasts several other notable accomplishments, such as teams qualifying for postseason softball, baseball, and NCAA volleyball tournaments. In contrast, the women's soccer team claimed the Summit League championship in 2011, which sent them the first appearance in the Women's College Cup Tournament held in San Diego, California, from December 2nd through 4th year prior... With so many successes already achieved, past, present, and future look bright. Any fan should feel proud to support such a great university!
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