Changes

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. 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 '''Roger McDonald'''.

Power 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 playoffs even with a 28-26 record.