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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!