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The team played its home games at the [[Pensacola Civic Center]]. The Tornados were actually comprised of two different franchises that moved to Pensacolain two different years.

The first Tornados team began as the LaCrosse Bobcats for a short time in 1983. The team quickly relocated to Toronto and became the Tornados from 1983 through part of the 1985-86 season. Toronto was is owned by former NBA owner '''[[Wikipedia:Ted Stepien'''|Ted Stepien]]. During the seasonAfter a 2-7 start, the Tornados moved to Pensacola. At the time, the CBA is comprised of 14 teams.

The Bay State Bombardiers move to Pensacola to become the second version of the Tornados. This version began in 1978 as the Harrisburg Hammerheads, then the Maine Lumberjacks, on to Bay State before arriving in Pensacola. With new head coach '''Gary Youmans''' and General Manager '''Tim Sise''', the Tornados showed signs of life led by former [[Wikipedia:New York Knicks|New York Knicks]] 7'-1" veteran center [[Wikipedia:Marvin Webster|Marvin Webster]] who led the team in rebounds. finishing The team finished with a 20-28 record and made the playoffs for the first time. '''Webster''' was signed by the [[Wikipedia:Milwaukee Bucks|Milwaukee Bucks]] before the season ended where replacement center '''Jerome Henderson''' led the Tornados in rebounding for the rest of the season. '''Henderson''' would later receive a 10-day call-up to the [[Wikipedia:Atlanta Hawks|Atlanta Hawks]]. The owner is '''Eli JacobsonRoger McDonald'''.

In the playoffs the Tornados were eliminated four games to one by the [[Wikipedia:Rapid City Thrillers|Rapid City Thrillers]] .

Power Forward forward [[Wikipedia:Norris Coleman|Norris Coleman]], 6'-8", 210 lbs., signs with the Tornados after playing one year with the NBA [[Wikipedia:Los Angeles Clippers|Los Angeles Clippers]]. Coleman was a second-round draft pick (38th overall) of the Clippers after being named to the Big-8 All-Conference team while at Kansas State. Other key players are rookie guard [[Wikipedia:Mark Wade|Mark Wade]] (5'-11", 160 lbs.), '''Tommy Davis''', NBA veteran [[Wikipedia:Freeman Williams|Freeman Williams]], forward '''Bill Nelson''' and '''Henderson'''. '''Joe Mooney''' and '''Frank Adams''', of Government Credit Corporation, were the new owners. By the end of the season, the Tornados were tearing up their opponents that would return the team to the playoffseven with a 28-26 record.

In the playoffs, Pensacola crushed the original Tornados franchise (now located in Biloxi, MississippiMS) in a 4-1 run, but were swept by the [[Wikipedia:Albany Patroons|Albany Patroons]] in four straight semifinal games.

A slow start hurt the Tornados, but by the end of January head coach [[Wikipedia:Joe Mullaney |Joe Mullaney]], pulled his club up from the Eastern Division cellar into fourth place in the standings. 6'-5", 190 lbs. guard [[Wikipedia:Brook Steppe|Brook Steppe]] averaged 25.7 points per game and earned a 10-day call-up to the [[Wikipedia:Portland Trail Blazers|Portland Trail Blazers]]. [[Wikipedia:Mark Wade|Mark Wade]], who helped pace the Tornados in the 1987-88 season, broke the CBA record for most assists in a season (626). Even though the Tornados earned another playoff berthafter finishing 30-24, they were knocked out of the playoffs by the Tulsa Fast Breakers-but not before giving Tulsa at least one loss in the Breakers' eventual playoff championship run. Trial lawyer '''Robert Crongeryer''' is the new owner.

The With yet again a new owner, Tom McMillan, the Tornados won a team-record 32 games, while four against 24 losses. Four players received would receive NBA promotions: small forward [[Wikipedia:Jim Farmer|Jim Farmer]], guard and Penascola native [[Wikipedia:Clifford Lett|Clifford Lett]], forward [[Wikipedia:Bob McCann|Bob McCann]], and guard [[Wikipedia:Mark Wade|Mark Wade]]. '''Lett''' was named CBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 21 points a game while '''Wade''' was a first-team All-League sleection. He was signed in March 1990 by the [[Wikipedia:Chicago Bulls|Chicago Bulls]] to a 10-day contract, and then to a second in April. '''Wade''' was a first-team All-League sleection. [[Wikipedia:Tony Dawson|Tony Dawson]], older brother of current [[Wikipedia:Dallas Mavericks|Dallas Mavericks]] forward '''Jerry Stackhouse''', led the team with 25.9 points per game. After a strong first-round playoff series victory over the [[Wikipedia:Grand Rapids Hoops|Grand Rapids Hoops]] two games to one, the Tornados lost another playoff run to the [[Wikipedia:Albany Patroons|Albany Patroons]] three games to two in the best-of-five series. Tom and Jane McMillan are the new owners. 

==1990The franchise played one more year in Pensacola, garnered a 27-1991 Season==29 record and missed the playoffs on the final day of the regular season. Still, the Tornados led all CBA franchises in NBA call-ups that season, as [[Wikipedia:Tony Dawson|Tony Dawson]], [[Wikipedia:Jim Farmer|Jim Farmer]] and [[Wikipedia:Clifford Lett|Clifford Lett]] spent time in both the NBA and CBA. [[Wikipedia:Mark Wade|Mark Wade]] led the CBA in assists (10.8 per game) once again.

In March 1991 , team officials from the Tornados were looking at Knoxville, TN for possible locationrelocation, but moved the team to Birmingham, AL after the 1990-91 season.The franchise would relocate two more times before folding in 1995.

* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norris_Coleman Norris Coleman info site] * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Women%27s_Football_Association NWFA Info Site]* [http://wfbtalk.wordpress.com Women's Football Talk]* [http://womenstacklefootballgroup.ningwww.com Women's Tackle Football Group]* [http://wafcfootballnba.com Women's Football Information Site]* [http://www.escambia.k12.fl.us/schscnts/esch/Master/Index.asp Escambia High School NBA website]