Restricting coach from recruiting players with tattoos too far?

Scott Sutton coached the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles for 18 years.

Credit: Ethan Miller

Credit: Ethan Miller

Scott Sutton coached the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles for 18 years.

Oral Roberts fired men's basketball coach Scott Sutton on Monday after 18 years.

It has been reported that:

Sources close to the program are now speaking out against the move, saying Sutton was crippled in the past two season by bizarre recruiting restrictions placed on his program by the school's president, Billy Wilson.

The sources spoke to Tulsa World and KOTV, and said that once Wilson took office in 2013, he ordered Sutton to stop recruiting players who had tattoos. Prospective players also had to prove they were Christian with a 'faith exam.'

If so, those may be tougher recruiting guidelines than any academic standard cited by any program.

Sutton (328-247) was the school’s winningest coach. He led the Golden Eagles to three straight NCAA tournament from 2006 to 2008.

There are a number of NBA players who fashion ink on the court. Several have tattoos with religious meaning. Would that make a difference?

Here are a few:

Kevin Durant has a tattoo depicting Jesus and scripture on his back.

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San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridgeall sports a number of tattoos with biblical meanings. On his right arm he has a huge a cross and the words "keep God first."

Credit: Andy Lyons

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Credit: Andy Lyons

Amar'e Stoudemire calls himself “Black Jesus” because he has a tattoo of Jesus on his upper left arm.

Credit: Bruce Bennett

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Credit: Bruce Bennett

Portland's Damian Lillard  has 22 lines of the Psalm 37 tattooed on his left arm.

Credit: Ezra Shaw

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Credit: Ezra Shaw