SFA Welcomes Oral Roberts to the Southland
10/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 26, 2011
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The reaction to Oral Roberts joining the Southland Conference has been favorable among Stephen F. Austin coaches and administration following Tuesday's press conference announcing the move beginning in 2012-13. Following the recent departure of Texas-Arlington, Texas State and UTSA, the addition of ORU will bring league membership to 10 teams.
"The Southland Conference, after a unanimous vote of its Board of Directors, is very pleased to extend an offer of membership to Oral Roberts University," said Dr. Baker Pattillo, Southland Board Chairman and Stephen F. Austin President. "Further, we are honored to learn of the institution's acceptance of our offer, and we are gratified by the approval of the ORU Board of Trustees, the leadership of President Mark Rutland and the diligent work of Athletic Director Mike Carter. The Southland presidents look forward to a beneficial partnership with ORU and its athletic program."
ORU competes in 16 varsity sports, and will be immediately eligible for conference championships in 15 of those sports, with men's soccer being the one sport not sponsored by the Southland. The Golden Eagles will compete for Southland titles in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, women's soccer, softball, men's women's cross country and track and field and volleyball.
SFA and Oral Roberts have a history against each other in the competition arena, most recently this season in soccer. The Ladyjacks prevailed with a 4-0 victory over ORU, and is 3-4-0 (.429) all-time against the Golden Eagles. The victory is one of 12 shutouts on the season for the Ladyacks.
SFA is 4-6 (.400) all-time against ORU in men's hoops, while the Ladyjack basketball team has faced Oral Roberts twice splitting the two decisions. The Golden Eagles also hold a 3-0 series lead in baseball, but the two programs haven't met since the 1989 season.
"We are very happy to have ORU joining the Southland," said SFA Director of Athletics Robert Hill. "They will immediately help strengthen our RPI ranking as a league, especially in baseball and men's basketball. I was very impressed with their programs, as well as Athletics Director Mike Carter, who has built a solid athletics department."
Two-time conference coach of the year, Scott Sutton has guided the ORU men's basketball team to four conference titles, three NCAA tournament appearances, and an NIT berth in the past seven seasons. Sutton's troops have also recorded five 20-win seasons during that stretch. A perennial power in baseball, ORU has advanced to the NCAA Championships seven times under head coach Rob Walton. A four-time conference coach of the year, Walton has guided his team to seven-straight Summit League titles, and a 2006 NCAA Super Regional appearance.
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What Others Are Saying About ORU joining the Southland Conference ... Danny Kaspar, SFA Head Men's Basketball Coach: "I remember playing against them when I was at North Texas. They were a quality program then and are a quality program now. They will be a serious challenge for anyone in the league. It is always tough to win the conference and advance to the NCAA tournament from our league, the addition of ORU has made our league even stronger."
Brandon Schneider, SFA Head Women's Basketball Coach: "I've known Jerry for a long time and I'm very familiar with ORU women's basketball and the success they've enjoyed in the Summit League. They bring great attributes to the Southland and we look forward to competing against them. We also look forward to taking advantage of new recruiting opportunities in Oklahoma and the Tulsa area."
Johnny Cardenas, SFA Head Baseball Coach: "I feel the addition of Oral Roberts is a solid one for the Southland Conference. ORU has a proven track record as is evident by their success in the Summit League and the NCAA tournament, and by adding them to the league roster we continue to keep the Southland a strong conference as we move forward on the baseball front."
Tony Amato, SFA Head Soccer Coach: "It's great to have another soccer school joining the conference. They're a great academic school with strong roots and they should be a great addition."
