When Harry Birdwell moved back to Stillwater in 1989 to become his alma mater’s vice president of public affairs, he moved about four doors down from Henry Iba on Woodland Court. Ol’ Doc Cooper lived close by. Talk about thick orange blood. Maybe the three most passionate Cowboys ever.
Stillwater’s a cool place. You can conduct business on neighborhood sidewalks. Birdwell had been on the job about six months when one evening, Iba walked down the street with Eddie Sutton in tow.
“Harry,” Iba told Birdwell, “I want you to know Eddie, because I’m really interested in getting him back here as men’s basketball coach.