Oral Roberts president says no 'faith test for recruits
TULSA, Okla. (AP) Oral Roberts University administrators say there is no ''faith test'' for incoming recruits or a restriction on athletes with tattoos.
The response from the school on Wednesday followed stories about the firing of longtime men's basketball coach Scott Sutton earlier in the week that said the restrictions existed and made it difficult to coach and recruit at the school.
The athletic department says it evaluates recruits based on athletics, academics, social adeptness and spiritual life. There is a 40-point system, with 10 points offered in each category. The department says if one area is deficient and the others are strong, the school will still take a chance on a student, regardless of which category has the low score.
''If they are a quality person who is open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, bring it on,'' athletic director Mike Carter said. ''I will say, our preference is to have every team made up primarily -- we want the core group of that team as strong enough Christians that everybody knows who we are and what we're about.''
Oral Roberts President William Wilson said the school will not compromise its values.
''At ORU, we readily admit that we are called to a higher standard,'' he said. ''We are not ashamed, nor will we be pressured into accepting an easier path.''
Sutton had a 328-247 record at Oral Roberts and leaves as the winningest coach in school history. The Golden Eagles made the NCAA Tournament three straight years from 2006-2008, and won the Summit League regular-season title in 2011-2012 with a 27-win campaign.
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