Rondell Ferguson '02 Playing Semi-Pro Football with Indiana Tornados

July 14, 2005

Rondell Ferguson.jpg July 14, 2005, Greencastle, Ind. - "They cling to the hope of earning a roster spot in United Indoor Football or arenafootball2 and attracting the attention of an NFL scout," writes Nat Newell in an Indianapolis Star article on the Indiana Tornados, a semi-pro football team that has a 2002 DePauw graduate on its roster. "For most, however, there's only an opportunity to limp back onto a bus with friends after a game ... and that's enough. 'You miss it,' said receiver Rondell Ferguson, who thought his football career was over when he left DePauw University, but he joined the Tornados after a year away from the sport."

Ferguson, who played under Coach Nick Mourouzis at DePauw, adds, "You miss the team aspect. I love away games. Getting on a bus. Hanging with the fellas. Grabbing something to eat after practice. If (a pro opportunity) comes, I'll take it. But at this point, I'm enjoying football while I have it."

The Tornados play in the North American Football League, "an unpredictable and often combustible mix of more than 100 semiprofessional teams across the country," Newell notes. "There are no million -- or even hundred -- dollar paydays. No scholarships or injury insurance. No paychecks for playing -- they pay $200 to be a member of the team. And no one is more dedicated to football than these men. They cling to the hope of earning a roster spot in United Indoor Football or arenafootball2 and attracting the attention of an NFL scout."