Tornados to finally land permanent home field
After 3 years with schedule woes, team hopes to only play at Carmel after July.

Barry Krauss is used to the challenges of running a minor league football team.
Krauss, who played 10 seasons as a linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts, is entering his fourth season as the head coach of the Indiana Tornados.
Scheduling conflicts permeated each of the Carmel-based team's first three seasons in the North American Football League. Games were canceled. Opponents backed out. Game locations were changed at the last minute. - NFL Football -
The NAFL is a minor league system of about 100 teams throughout the United States that plays its games in summer and early fall, and scheduling is a constant adventure.
This year, for example, the Tornados' lone preseason contest was canceled after a pair of opponents backed out.
Krauss said a deal is in place with Carmel High School that will make the Carmel football field the Tornados' permanent home stadium beginning this year -- but they'll begin the season playing home games at Sheridan High School.
The team opens its season Saturday at Wisconsin against the Milwaukee Marauders.
Its July 16 and July 30 home games against the Kane County Eagles and Racine Raiders have been moved to Sheridan because the Carmel field is still being fitted for FieldTurf, an artificial surface. - NFL Football -
An opponent and location have not been determined for the Aug. 6 date.
Krauss said the team would play its remaining August and September home games at Carmel, but the school's assistant athletic director, Bruce Wolf, said the field might not be ready for the Tornados as early as they had hoped.
"The completion date for the project isn't until July 30th," Wolf said. "We're just hoping we're going to be able to get on the field August 1st, when (high school teams) start practices."
Despite the effort and challenges of just getting a game in, Krauss and the Tornados have thrived. - NFL Football -
The team has posted a winning record in each of its first three seasons, including back-to-back 11-2 marks.
"Scheduling issues (are) always a challenge," said Krauss, whose team has previously played home games at Brebeuf Jesuit, Carmel and Sheridan.
Krauss admits the instability hurts the team and limits its ability to market itself to its growing fan base. The team averaged just 650 fans per game last year, although it did draw more than 1,200 to a game at Carmel. - NFL Football -
Still, Krauss -- a former University of Alabama standout who played under legendary coaches such as Paul "Bear" Bryant and Don Shula -- won't let those challenges bring him or the organization down.
The Tornados are focused on reaching the league championship game, something players have come agonizingly close to each season.
"I'm really excited about the talent that we have and the attitude," Krauss said. "These kids work their butts off."
Krauss isn't as concerned with who or where his team plays, as he is with where his players could end up playing. - NFL Football -
The goal of the league is to provide opportunities for players to advance to a higher level of football, be it Arena League or the National Football League.
A handful of Tornados players -- many of whom are local former high school products -- have played in Arena leagues or had tryouts with NFL teams.
"The focus of the organization is to help guys as much as we can," Krauss said. "Every day, I try to focus out there about caring about each other, trusting each other and growing closer and closer."

Paul Shepherd
Star correspondent