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Eddie Sutton has over 800 wins in his career as a college coach. His list of accolades is a mile long. His signature is scribbled across the white maple hardwood inside Gallagher- Iba Arena. The only accomplishment left for Sutton to cross off his list is entrance into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. Once again, Sutton was denied that honor by the selection committee.
Sutton won 368 games at Oklahoma State and took the Cowboys to the Final Four twice. Many in the college basketball community were stunned upon the announcement that Sutton would not be inducted this year. He has been a finalist six times but is still waiting to be inducted. Check out some of the best reaction to the news.
Really disappointing news. Eddie Sutton was informed today he is not getting into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. Coach Sutton remains the only coach with over 800 D-1 wins not in the HOF. This is a complete travesty. #PutEddieIn
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) April 2, 2019
“The only coach with over 800 D-1 wins not in the HOF” says it all.
Eddie Sutton has 800 wins, 3 Final Fours, 9 conference championships, & is now 83 years old. Grew up watching his tough, competitive OSU teams battle it out with KU in the Big 8 and Big 12. This man being left out of the college basketball Hall of Fame yet again today is a crime!
— Brett Flory (@Derby_Hoops) April 2, 2019
Oklahoma State and the Big 8/ Big 12 conference would not be the same without Eddie Sutton. The Hall of Fame isn’t the same without him either.
They should stop calling it the Hall of Fame if Eddie Sutton isn’t in it https://t.co/JcCHamGtlt
— Bryan Keating (@KOCOKeating) April 2, 2019
This sums up what I am thinking. It’s obvious the selection committee is biased and the selection process is flawed. That takes away so much credibility away from the accomplishment. What’s the point of having a hall of fame if it doesn’t include one of the best college coaches to ever do it?
So you’re telling me that:
— OKStateProbs (@OKSTProbs) April 2, 2019
-Lute Olson (776 Wins)
-Homer Drew (640 Wins)
-Rick Majerus (517 Wins)
are HOF worthy but Eddie Sutton (806 wins) seriously isn’t? #PutEddieIn
Eddie Sutton made as many Final Four appearances as Homer Drew had tournament wins but alright.
Now let’s look at Eddie Sutton:
— OKStateProbs (@OKSTProbs) April 2, 2019
806-326 All-Time
3 Final Fours (1978, 1995, 2004)
5 SWC Regular Seasons
3 SWC Tourneys
SEC Season/Tourney (1987)
Big 8 Season (1992,1995)
Big 8 Tourney (1995)
Big 12 Season (2004)
Big 12 Tourney (2004,2005)
Maybe the worst part about all of this is, when Sutton finally is inducted, will it be an enjoyable day? The recognition and support he has received from Cowboys, Sooners, Jayhawks, and college basketball fans alike means more than getting inducted will. That’s easy for me to say because I’m not the one getting inducted, but when he does get inducted, it’ll have a fake feel to it. The board clearly doesn’t want him in. This whole event with Sutton takes away credibility from the accomplishment, and that is a travesty.
As Cowboys Ride For Free’s Phillip Slavin put it, “tonight’s podcast will be NSFW” and “if tonight’s episode is how I go out, it’ll be a glorious ending.”
#PutEddieIn