There were actually two teams named "Pensacola Tornados." The first team arrived in Florida's Central time zone during the 1985-86 season, as Toronto Tornados owner Ted Stepien moved his franchise away from the dwindling crowds and the Great White North. The newly-relocated Tornados' first home game, on January 3, 1986 against the Florida Suncoast Stingers, drew 3,611 to the Pensacola Civic Center, and averaged 1,651 in their new home. In fact, on January 25, 1986, the Tornados drew 8,417 in a win against the Detroit Spirits, at that time the second-largest crowd to ever attend a CBA contest.
The stars of the Tornados in that inaugural season were Billy Goodwin, a guard who was the only CBA player to finish in the top 10 in both scoring and assists that season; and Ronnie Williams, a power forward averaged 23.3 points per game before fracturing his ankle in mid-February. Despite all this, the Tornados suffered through a cumulative 15-33 season (13-26 since moving from Toronto), and the franchise was uprooted at the end of the season, as Stepien moved the Pensacola Tornados west to Jacksonville for the 1986-87 season.
But the CBA was not about to leave Pensacola behind. A new Tornados franchise appeared for teh 1986-87 season, as the Maine Windjammers relocated their franchise. With a new head coach, former Tampa Bay Thrillers executive Gary Youmans, the Tornados showed signs of life, finishing with a 20-28 record and fourth place in the Eastern Division - and with a quarter-point advantage, made the playoffs for the first time.
One of the most inspirational stories involving the team that year was their veteran center Marvin Webster. Webster, who earned the nickname "The Human Eraser" during his time with the New York Knicks, had retired years before after battling various illnesses. He signed with the Tornados in the hopes of rebuilding his body and possibly getting an NBA callup. Webster led the team in rebounds, and scouts were booking plane flights to Pensacola to check out the progress of the Human Eraser. Eventually Webster was signed by the Milwaukee Bucks, and finished one final season in the NBA.
Webster's eventual replacement, CBA veteran center Jerome Henderson, led the Tornados in rebounding for the rest of the season - and received a 10-day call-up to the Atlanta Hawks for good measure. In the playoffs, however, the Tornados were eliminated 4-1 by the Rapid City Thrillers.
The Tornados' 1987-88 season was a rollercoaster ride, as the franchise started off with a 1-4 record - then won four straight games - then lost six in a row. But in January 1988, the Tornados acquired three key players that would return the team to the playoffs - rookie guard Mark Wade, NBA veteran Freeman Williams and CBA forward Bill Nelson. Jerome Henderson returned for a second season, and Tommy Davis led the Tornados in scoring. By the end of the season, the Tornados were stomping through opponents - including handing the Albany Patroons three of the Pats' six regular season losses. In the playoffs, Pensacola crushed the original Tornados franchise (now located in Biloxi, Mississippi) in a 4-1 run, but were swept by the Albany Patroons in four straight semifinal games.
Pensacola started off slow again for the 1988-89 season, but by the end of January head coach Joe Mullaney pulled his club up from the Eastern Division cellar into fourth place in the standings. Brook Steppe, a feisty, determined guard, averaged 25.7 points per game for the Tornados and earned a call-up to the Portland Trail Blazers. 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 berth, they were knocked out of the playoffs by the Tulsa Fast Breakers - but not before giving Tulsa at least one loss in the Fast Breakers' eventual playoff championship run.
Every year of the Tornados' existence, it seemed that the franchise had a new owner or ownership group. Counting the 1985-86 Ted Stepien franchise, the Tornados were owned at one time or another by:
Tom and his wife Jane McMillan oversaw a Tornados franchise that won a record 32 games, while four players received NBA promotions (Jim Farmer, Bob McCann, Clifford Lett and 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. Tony Dawson led all Tornados with 25.9 points per game. After a strong first-round playoff series victory over the Grand Rapids Hoops, the Tornados ran into the Albany Patroons - and despite beating the Patroons in two overtime playoff classics, the Pats won the other three of the best-of-five series to advance.
The franchise played one more year in Pensacola, garnering a 27-29 record and missing the playoffs on the final day of the regular season. Still, the Tornados led all CBA franchises in NBA call-ups that season, as Tony Dawson, Jim Farmer and Clifford Lett spent time in both the NBA and CBA. And once again, Mark Wade led the CBA in assists (10.8 per game). After the 1990-91 season, the franchise relocated to Birmingham, Alabama and played one season as the Bandits.
Regular Season Standings
CBA STATISTICS
W L QW QP Result
1985-1986 15 33 81.5 126.5 did not make playoffs
(started season as Toronto Tornados, moved with 2-7 record)
1986-1987 20 28 97.0 157.0 lost in quarterfinals
1987-1988 28 26 101.5 185.5 lost in semifinals
1988-1989 30 24 104.5 194.5 lost in quarterfinals
1989-1990 32 24 116.5 212.5 lost in semifinals
1990-1991 27 29 108.0 189.0 did not make playoffs
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Home Court: |
| ALL-STAR GAME: Never hosted. | |
PLAYOFFS
1985-1986 did not make playoffs
1986-1987 Lost in quarterfinals to Rapid City, 1 game to 4
1987-1988 Won in quarterfinals over Mississippi, 4 games to 1
Lost in semifinals to Albany, 0 games to 4
1988-1989 Lost in quarterfinals to Tulsa, 1 game to 4
1989-1990 Won first round playoff over Grand Rapids, 2 games to 1
Lost in quarterfinals to Albany, 2 games to 3
1990-1991 did not make playoffs
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