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Jose got the opening day start for the Rangers and is currently 2 for 4! Unfortunately the Rangers' pitching is terrible (hope Jose doesn't catch any of the blame for that - there's only so much a catcher can do), and the Royals lead 13-9 in the 7th. Opening day fun stat: Rangers' starter Kyle Gibson went 1/3 of an inning and gave up 5 earned runs, so he's currently sporting an ERA of 135.00.

I know this has been posted in another thread, but with the very exciting news today, I feel like the welcome back party deserves some additional attention. We all know the level of talent that we have seemingly all of a sudden stumbled upon, and all of the opportunities the success and spot light has led to for these guys. I encourage everyone to recruit friends and family, and rally a huge show of support for this incredible team. We need to do everything we can to send a message, both of thanks, as well as letting the whole team know we want them all back!!! It's a great day to be a Golden Eagles fan!!!

TheEagleman has been around on this board for quite some time and I know that many of you guys probably think i am a nut job and I do admit that sometimes I do push the boundries of common decency...it's just how i am wired.....always been that way....but I think I have mellowed a bit in recent years....the past couple weeks of ORU basketball and the surrounding hoopla have really touched me in a transforming way.....I just watched the Mills Press Conference and I have never been prouder of my Alma Mater and how everything has been conducted the past month or so.....what a wonderful March it was and it's truly a Good Friday seeing how the Gospel of Christ has been spread all over this country by our basketball program and administration....this is what ORU is all about and it's what Oral himself wanted this University to accomplish.....bringing Christ to people thru sports who may never have a reason to listen.....we have all had our doubts about Coach Mills the past few years but after this....NO MORE.....this is a man of integrity and the guy I would want my grandkids playing for....He gets it and he gets ORU.....he deserves and has earned this new contract....praying he and his family stay in Tulsa for a long time because this guy will recruit kids who want to play at a Christian university and will not only be basketball players but ambassadors for Christ.....God Bless, Paul Mills.....and TheEagleman has also been critical of Billy Wilson in the past but watching him root this team on and then step up and do what it took to help push the deal thru to keep the perfect coach for ORU and these kids.....it's just a beautiful thing and I have to say that even a crusty old guy like TheEagleman has shed a few tears over the past week......I am so proud of ORU and all of what we have seen over the past few weeks.....and people are noticing....friends, neighbors and passerbys in stores see my ORU gear and have good words to say about our team and our school.....this is what we all have hoped and prayed for....many many years.....TheEagleman honestly never thought he would live to see this.....God Bless ORU and let's keep it going!!

March 2021 has been one of the most memorable periods of my nearly 50 years as an ORU fan, and there is certainly great hope for the future of the ORU basketball program. And, I absolutely believe that the Sweet Sixteen run will provide a huge amount of positive momentum for ORU and ORU Athletics that will lead to even GREATER opportunities in the future. That said, I am also trying to focus on "enjoying the moment" for what it is, and savoring the magical memories of the past month. I remember the optimism after the 1983-84 season, when ORU finished with a 21-10 record and reached the dance for the first time since the 1974 Elite Eight appearance, but drew a difficult matchup in the tourney, hanging tough but losing to Memphis in Memphis (which was before the NCAA banned home court advantages). With most of the team (including both Acres brothers) returning for the 1984-85 season, the future seemed very bright for ORU, with an opportunity to reestablish the ORU brand as a consistent NCAA tournament team. The ORU marketing department slogan for the 1984-85 season of "This IS Next Year" echoed the optimism from the fan base. Despite all of the momentum, ORU limped to a 15-15 record and third place in the MCC, ending the season in the conference tourney. Although ORU had never endured consecutive losing seasons in its short history up to that point, the next FOUR years ended with losing records, and the fifth year found the program in the NAIA ranks. So much for the positive momentum... This is a different era, a different team and a different coaching staff, so I don't believe ORU will face the same trend as was experienced in the 80's. But, even if it takes another 47 years for ORU to win another NCAA tourney game (which I don't think it will), this has been a VERY special year, proudly watching a GREAT group of quality young men and a tremendous coaching staff "using their God-given abilities for God-given reasons". And that is what ORU Athletics is ALL about!

If Kevin was a rank-and-file ORU student, his classmates or his church (or even we) could take up donations or set up a GoFundMe page toward a new set of wheels. But, as a so-called "student athlete" under the auspices of the NCAA, we can't even give him $25 without violating the rules and risking his eligibility. And some people wonder why college athletes are fighting in the courts as we speak to own their own likenesses - you don't think Kevin could make a little extra bank right now making personal appearances for sponsors or selling autographs on eBay?

Well said Eagleman! Now if we can just talk about paragraphs . . .

6' 10' Sir Isaac committed to ORU, I see...

Gonna be a great summer with the extra nba draft buzz and experience for the guys. With such a a loaded 2021 draft would be really surprised if max got first round guarantees from a team. He is such a positional player in the nba a team really would need his game/position in order to spend a 1st round pick. see him getting the interview and combine experience this summer, and improving as a player and person, and coming back with a deadly floater next season. Floater going to be crucial add to his game to get that elite level. Maybe trae will workout with him this summer. eaglessoaring in 21-22

"He wants to capitalize on what has happened. The goal is to get to the final 4 - and listed other schools (Loyola, Butler, etc.) that have done that. " This right here is why I love this guy. Why not? I seriously believe this guy will take us to the final four.

This is huge, guys! The kid can really ball. TU fans were heart broken when he withdrew his commitment to go to OU. I'm sure they're really happy now lol! That Mayor's Cup game will be a dandy next year Now let's go get some height.

In my sample size of 1, giving has skyrocketed. We just joined the Golden Eagle Club and put down a deposit on tickets for next year. I will buy 6 if they let me.

I want to fill you guys in on the BP Session Jose participated in. Let me start by saying that Jose is a genuinely good dude. There were about 20 teenage boys at this event. Jose hung out with them like he was one of the kids. If you didn't know who he was you would have thought he was either a really mature looking HS senior or one of the instructors. He took bp with the boys, waiting line with them and talking with them while they waited. He made a point to talk to every kid. Other times he was just hanging out with three or four of them talking and goofing around. He also threw bp. He was totally cool, complementing the boys on their hits and giving them some tips and coaching. At one point he was waiting his turn with my son Gabriel. He put his arm around Gabriel asked him his age, favorite position, stuff like that. He hit right before Gabriel. After he got out out of the cage he was standing on the other side of the net while Gabriel hit. Gabriel launched the first pitch and Jose let out a yell and said "Way to go Gabriel." My kid felt like he was ten feet tall. After bp was over, Jose signed balls for each kids and we got a photo op. Uncharacteristically, Gabriel was one of the first kids in line so I didn't get a chance to get a picture of them together. So we waited until all the kids got a signed ball and went back up there so I could get a picture. I introduced myself to Jose and told him I was ORU class of 83. We talked a little bit about ORU. He told me he's going up in a couple of weeks for the hall of fame. I congratulated him and thanked him for representing our school so well. As we were done Jose said "Hey Gabriel stick around I've got something for you." After everyone got their pics and such Jose called Gabriel over and gave him his bat! Gabriel thought he was just letting him hold it and Jose said "That's your new bat. Its your bat now." Gabriel went nuts. He didn't say anything about ORU but since he only gave a bat to Gabriel we think that's the connection. Whatever the reason, my kid was over the moon. I don't think he slept Thursday night.