THE HISTORY OF ELI

The History of ELI:

ORU’s athletic teams are known as the Golden Eagles, and ELI is their mascot. ELI was first introduced to the student body when he hatched out of a paper-mâché egg on November 17, 1993, prior to the start of an exhibition basketball game.

In 1995, the mascot was developed into a distinct and animated golden eagle with characteristics all his own that separate him from the golden eagle mascots of other universities. Though most consider ELI to be a name chosen for its biblical significance, the name is an acronym. Education, Lifeskills and Integrity describe an Oral Roberts University student, and ELI exemplifies such an individual.

Prior to 1993, ORU’s men’s and women’s athletic teams were nicknamed the Titans and Lady Titans, respectively. These monikers were adopted in 1965 by a vote of the student body, many of whom were from the East Coast or were either casual or serious New York Titan (now knows as Jets) football fans.