First Road Game Against Columbus Fire

Season Kicks off with Road Game against Columbus
The Indianapolis Tornados face the Columbus Fire in Ohio this Saturday

For release- June 22, 2010

COLUMBUS, Ohio- Saturday, June 26 will mark the first scheduled game of the Indianapolis Tornados’ 2010 season. The season opener will be against the Columbus Fire at Columbus, Ohio. Kickoff will take place at 6:45 p.m. at Reynoldsburg High School Stadium. In addition to the game, the Fire organization is hosting Family and Friends Night that evening.

According to team president Evan Triggs, the Tornados and Fire have some “bad blood” between them due to a rivalry sparked from previous seasons. The Tornados were beaten by the Columbus Fire in 2008, the same season that the Tornados went on to win the North American Football League championship. Head coach Jerry Senter remains optimistic, and believes a loss in Ohio will not happen again this season.

“Our pre season preparation was motivated and directed by the pledge from the players, coaching staff, and the entire Tornados family to once again become the national champions. We understand that this is a very daunting and difficult journey, but it's a journey we gladly take on,” Senter said. “The Columbus Fire team poses the first obstacle in our quest to reach the national championship, and as such we take no team for granted.”

Coach Senter is anticipating a terrific battle, one in which the fans will surely enjoy.

“We are prepared to play Tornados football and it should be an outstanding game,” Senter said. “We are ready to strap it up and get it on.”

The Indianapolis Tornados are a minor league football team with a rich history and an intense commitment to the community. The Tornados won the North American Football League championship in 2008, the largest minor league football organization in the country. Players from top colleges joined the Tornados for a shot at professional aspirations. For more information about the team and organization log on to www.indianapolistornados.com. The home opener is 7 p.m. July 10.

Tornados Scooping Ice Cream for Local Charity

Tornados Serving Ice Cream for Indianapolis
Members of Tornados organization working as celebrity scoopers for American Dairy Association Ice Cream Social

For release- June 17, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS- Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis will be the site for the 21st annual American Dairy Association’s Ice Cream Social. This year’s social will be held on Friday, July 9 and will feature numerous celebrity scoopers, such as notable businessmen, media personalities, and Indianapolis sports figures. Among these celebrities working the event will be several members of the Indianapolis Tornados minor league football organization. Assistant coach and former NFL Super Bowl champion Ray Donaldson, General Manager David Seiter, team president Evan Triggs, and Tornados’ players will be dishing out ice cream for the hungry patrons of Indianapolis.

Chocolate, caramel, strawberry, and butterscotch sundaes will be the ice cream served at $3 per dish. Dessert will not be the only attraction. The social will also feature clowns, face painters, mascots, displays, interactive games, and Molly the Cow, a live cow from Purdue University’s Dairy Sciences. Money raised from the event will be donated to the Marlin Jackson’s Fight for Life Foundation.

"This is our organization's second year working with Marlin Jackson's Fight for Life Foundation and we’re pleased to assist this charity anyway we can, whether it means running a free football camp for inner-city youth or serving ice cream," reflected Seiter. "The mission of the Indianapolis Tornados includes being positive, professional, role models in the community. That means on and off the field."

The Indianapolis Tornados are a minor league football team with a rich history and an intense commitment to the community. The Tornados won the North American Football League championship in 2008, the largest minor league football organization in the country. Players from top colleges joined the Tornados for a shot at professional aspirations. For more information about the team and organization log on to www.indianapolistornados.com. The home opener is 7 p.m. July 10.

Real Tornadoes @ Tornados Preseason Game

Real Tornadoes Disrupt Indianapolis Tornados Community Day
Successful football camp and community festival in afternoon, but evening football game cut short due to weather conditions

For release- June 13, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS- The Indianapolis Tornados hosted their 2nd annual Champions of Change Community Day at Arsenal Technical High School on Saturday, June 12. The event included a football camp, a community festival, and a football game all free to the general public. The scheduled components of the afternoon went according to plan, until severe weather conditions in the evening put a stop to the Tornados preseason game against the Indiana Generals.

The Tornados were leading the Generals 9-0 at the 2:00 mark of the first half, when strong gusts of wind and heavy clouds accompanied by lightning began to overshadow the Tech football stadium. Players cleared the field for a brief recess, hoping the weather would pass. However, emergency storm sirens rang in the distance forcing the officials to call off the game.

In spite of the weather, Tornados president Evan Triggs regarded the event as a success. The afternoon football camp had players from both the Tornados and the Generals’ roster teaching kids the fundamentals of the game. During this on-field activity, community vendors provided adults with general information about local businesses and non-profit organizations. The vendors included chiropractor Nick Ring, Diamonds and Pearls, the Indiana Generals, Mary Kay consultants, and Ardyss Associates. Local music acts came out to perform, such as the acoustic guitar band Finer, rapper DJ Serious Business, and hip-hop act It’s A Real Movement.


The Indianapolis Tornados are a minor league football team with a rich history and an intense commitment to the community. The Tornados won the North American Football League championship in 2008, the largest minor league football organization in the country. Players from top colleges joined the Tornados for a shot at professional aspirations. For more information about the team and organization log on to www.indianapolistornados.com. The home opener is 7 p.m. July 10.

Tornados Game Day Network Launched June 10th

Indianapolis Tornados Launch Game Day Network
All fans can stay current on games, statistics, events, and all other Tornados’ news

For release- June 10, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS- The Indianapolis Tornados minor league football team are officially launching their Game Day Network for the 2010 season on June 10. The network can be found at http://gamedaynetwork.ning.com/. The site includes pictures, video clips, player statistics, and general news on upcoming Tornados events.

All fans of the team can post individual fan pages, in which they will have access to a personal profile, a blog, and picture albums all for the purpose of promoting Tornados football. In addition, all fans have the privilege of posting comments on discussion boards, and then linking those posts to existing Facebook or Twitter accounts. Tornados president Evan Triggs started the interactive website to keep more than the players and staff involved with events.

“The purpose of the gameday network is to allow fans and supporters to stay connected with the team. We want to know what you think, who you are, and what you like about us,” Triggs said. “We hope to make our fan experience greater by understanding their likes and dislikes. The network allows us to connect visually, informatively, and socially to enhance the game day experience.”

The Indianapolis Tornados are a minor league football team with a rich history and an intense commitment to the community. The Tornados won the North American Football League championship in 2008, the largest minor league football organization in the country. Players from top colleges joined the Tornados for a shot at professional aspirations. For more information about the team and organization log on to www.indianapolistornados.com. The home opener is 7 p.m. July 10.

Tornados at Gold's Gym with Super Bowl Champion Coach

Former Colt and Super Bowl Champion Appearing at Gold’s Gym
Ray Donaldson giving back to the community through coaching minor league football and through upcoming autograph signing appearance

For release- May 23, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS- On Tuesday, May 25, 2010, Gold’s Gym will be having a double celebration. The gym celebrates its three year anniversary, but more importantly, Gold’s will be having its Indy Kickoff Fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association. The day-long event will feature a yoga class fundraiser, a spinning class fundraiser, a blood drive, free blood pressure screenings, a raffle, food, drinks, and entertainment. The celebration begins at 10 a.m. with the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. Gold’s Gym is located at 8401 North Michigan Road.

The Gold’s Gym anniversary party will feature numerous celebrity appearances, including Ray Donaldson, a former Baltimore Colt, Indianapolis Colt, Seattle Seahawk, and Dallas Cowboy. He was a six-time National Football League Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl champion with the Cowboys. Donaldson said that it’s hard to describe the excitement that fills you when your team is crowned Super Bowl champions.

“I only had two winning seasons in my 15 year career, and then I won one (Super Bowl) my first time around with Dallas,” Donaldson said. “It was like after a long, hard road I had finally arrived.”

A Georgia native, Donaldson was also inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. “I was Georgia born, Georgia bred, and when I die, I’ll be Georgia dead,” said Donaldson laughing.

With his family roots still grounded in Indianapolis, Donaldson returned to the “Hoosier State” when his pro-football career ended. He became a part owner of the Indianapolis Tornados minor league football team in 2002. Since then, the Tornados have fallen under new management, and Donaldson decided to stay on the staff as a coach for the team. He referred to it as his “second time around with the Tornados.” Donaldson gets enjoyment out of being a coach, but he said that nothing compares to the on-field experience he had in the NFL.

“Nothing matches that excitement and adrenaline rush, but at the same time I feel that accomplishment of getting through to the players and seeing their improvement on the field because of my coaching,” Donaldson said.

Donaldson will be present at the anniversary party representing the Tornados and signing autographs for the fans, along with numerous players of the organization.

The Indianapolis Tornados are a minor league football team with a rich history and an intense commitment to the community. The Tornados won the North American Football League championship in 2008, the largest minor league football organization in the country. Players from top colleges joined the Tornados for a shot at professional aspirations. For more information about the team and organization log on to www.indianapolistornados.com. The home opener is 7 p.m. July 10.

Tornados Community Day

Indianapolis Tornados Host 2nd Annual “Champions of Change” Community Day
Free youth football camp and free football game highlight free community festival

For release- May 22, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS- The Indianapolis Tornados minor league football team are having their 2nd annual Champions of Change Community Day on Saturday, June 12, 2010 at Arsenal Technical High School. This day-long venue will be held at Arsenal Technical High School and will be completely free to the public.

The event begins at 11 a.m. with the youth football camp. The camp’s instruction will come from Tornados players, and it is intended to help kids of middle school ages better understand football fundamentals. That event lasts until 2 p.m. At noon, the community festival begins which features information booths from local businesses, food, drinks, games, giveaway prizes, and an inflatable obstacle course. The community festival will end at 4 p.m. The day ends with the Tornados facing off in preseason action against the Indiana Generals. Kickoff starts at 7 p.m.

Champions of Change Community Day was created for the purpose of displaying a commitment to the Indianapolis community and all of its partnering businesses. Big Brothers Big Sisters, Hoosier Healthwise, Indianapolis Public Schools, Red Cross, IFD, Shepherd Center, KidsBMV, Marion County Health Department, Boys and Girls Club, and Girl Scouts are just a few of the organizations that will be participating on June 12. Team president Evan Triggs has said on numerous occasions that he values the work done off the field more so than any success on the field, including the 2008 league championship.

“We've adopted the name "Champions of Change" due to our commitment to serving the community through charity events and philanthropic efforts. Our goal is to not only be champions on the field of play, but to be champions in the heart of the community as well,” Triggs said. “We've literally changed the lives of people whom we've come in contact with, even some of the players on team have witnessed these positive changes in their own life. As long as I’m the president of the organization, we will continue to be a positive entity for the Indianapolis community through events like this and fun, affordable football.”

The Indianapolis Tornados are a minor league football team with a rich history and an intense commitment to the community. The Tornados won the North American Football League championship in 2008, the largest minor league football organization in the country. Players from top colleges joined the Tornados for a shot at professional aspirations. For more information about the team and organization log on to www.indianapolistornados.com. The home opener is 7 p.m. July 10.

Tornados Corn Hole Tourney

Indianapolis Football teams Raising Money through Corn Hole Tournament
Colts autographed merchandise, and other raffle prizes given away at fundraiser

For release- May 21, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS- The Indianapolis Tornados are partnering with the Indiana Speed women’s football team to put on a corn hole tournament fundraiser. The fundraiser will be held Saturday, June 19, 2010 at the Pawn Shop Pub from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event costs $20 per person, which includes admission into the tourney and lunch from the grill. Those who do not wish to participate in the tournament can also enjoy the festivities by paying a $5 lunch pass. The Pawn Shop Pub is located on 54th and Keystone.

In addition to corn hole, participants will receive door prize items, such as free Tornados tickets and apparel. The fundraiser will include a raffle. Winners of the raffle can walk away with autographed merchandise coming from the Indianapolis Colts, the Speed, and the Tornados. The Pawn Shop Pub will be donating a Booze Barrel at the raffle too.

Music entertainment will be provided by a DJ, including a karaoke contest. There is no cost for participating in the karaoke contest. Prizes will be given to the best, and most entertaining, musical acts.

All money raised by the Pawn Shop Pub event will go toward funding the upcoming Tornados season. All Tornados home games are played on Saturday at Park Tudor High School. Kickoff starts at 7 p.m. Fans can come out July 10 to support the Tornados as they have their home opener against the Indianapolis Yellow Jackets. In addition, the Tornados will be having a preseason game at Arsenal Technical High School June 12, where they will face the Indiana Generals. Admission for that game is free. That June 12 Saturday will include a free youth football camp and a community festival. The football camp begins at 11 a.m. and lasts until 2 p.m., while the community festival runs from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Indianapolis Tornados are a minor league football team with a rich history and an intense commitment to the community. The Tornados won the North American Football League championship in 2008, the largest minor league football organization in the country. Players from top colleges joined the Tornados for a shot at professional aspirations. For more information about the team and organization log on to www.indianapolistornados.com. The home opener is 7 p.m. July 10.