Recently the Indianapolis Tornados of the North American Football League (NAFL) and the Indianapolis Public School have merged…sort of.
The Tornados have always had a presence in the community through neighborhood out-reach activities and by providing game day youth activities. In another effort to reach out to our youth, the Tornados have agreed to work with the youth of the Indianapolis Public School (IPS) system, specifically Arsenal Technical High School.
In a brief statement about the impending program, Evan Triggs, president of the Tornados said, “We are currently working with IPS as a whole but mainly with Arsenal Tech and Near Eastside,” said Triggs.(See the Near Eastside Community Organization website for more information on Near Eastside). “The difference between IPS programs and other winning programs (i.e. catholic and township schools) is the involvement of their alumni as inspiration for the current football players to help them achieve success. Now from a Tornados’ standpoint we want to come in and fill that void. Unfortunately through our program it seems to be the only means for former Tech players and other IPS players to get involved”, added the team president.
An Arsenal Tech alum, who will participate in the program, is Tornado wide receiver Titus Alexus, a three year starter for the team. Upon initially seeing Alexus, one would be hard pressed to see the approximately five foot, eight inch, 165 pounder as your first choice as wide receiver on a team that won the 2008 NAFL championship. But, as you will read and as opposing defensive backs have come to know, Alexis may be smaller than your average football player, but more than makes up in heart and desire.
Alexus is a native New Orleans and of course is proud that the Saints went on to win this year’s Super Bowl. But a short history on this proud athlete is in order. Alexus graduated from Arsenal Tech in 1998. Alexus then took his football talents to a small college, namely the State University of New York (SUNY) Canton. SUNY-Canton, set on the rural fringe of Western New York, and about 130 miles north east of Syracuse, NY is actually closer to Canada than any major American city. As one of roughly 2,800 students, Alexus played wide receiver along with handling the kick-off and punt return duties. “I had and still have enormous confidence in my abilities on the field,” said Alexus.
“As a player who was smaller than most, my football idols were Deion Sanders and Barry Sanders,” said He feels that these players, although small by National Football League (NFL) standards had skill; but more so had heart, confidence and as in Deion’s case, a bit of arrogance. “Barry Sanders, also small by NFL guidelines remains one of the best ever to play the game; he was a small elusive runner,” he stated. Alexus feels that he is just as big as the players across the line and does not back down from any player. “Football is a game of confidence”, he said.
One of the major goals of this program is to help young people hone their football skills and to translate those skills with a confidence that will aid them in the things that they will face in life. “Football can translate into life,” says Alexus. “I am a receiver, and say the quarterback (QB) goes to me and I drop a catchable pass. Does the QB come back to me, or does he look at his other players to get the job done?” he added reflectively. He feels that life is a bit like football in that one must be up to the challenge to overcome one or more the obstacles and some of the minor failures that life will throw at you.
Alexus would like to try his hand at coaching. Again, one must have confidence in ones’ self and that is what we want to instill in these young people, he added. But he also stated that there is a thin line between confidence and conceit. “The young people that we will work with know their worth. It is our duty to bring out the best in these young people, that is why I am up to the challenge,” said Alexus.
When in high school, this young man had dreams. One of those dreams was to continue his football career past high school, past college and into the NFL. “I had a professional tryout that did not work out. I had a friend who did go to the pros; he had talent like I did but I did not work hard enough to meet the challenge,’ said Alexus in a philosophical way that one could only convey that there was an opportunity that just did not come to fruition.
“So, while at Arsenal Tech, I was in the barber class. That was plan “B” for me if football did not work out. As I look back, Tech was a gem of a school,’ said Alexus with a lot emphasis. As he looks back he feels that he did not appreciate what Tech had to offer and laments that. And for him, plan “B” did work out. “Now, I have my own barber shop and I own my own home. So, you see, now I am earning a living and I still enjoy playing football,” he says. From talking with him, one can get the idea that he is in a good place for himself and his family which includes two sons and two daughters.
This article has been about one of the participant in this program to work with our young people, many who are at risk. One need only watch the news or read the newspaper to see our schools are failing some of our most fragile beings and that is our young people. This program is another community out-reach that the Tornados provide. Players, coaches and staff of the team are giving up their time and energy to undertake and be part of this program. And all this is free. Alexus, along with team president Triggs and other players want a smooth transition into the program.
Steps are being taken to put all this in place. The Tornados have been working on preparations for the upcoming season since the 2009 season ended. They are now beginning practice sessions to get ready for a 2010 NAFL championship run. And part of that preparation is to properly put this worthwhile program in place.
The tornados organization is finalizing the blueprint for the coalition between the team and IPS. In a comment from Triggs, he states that, “We are creating a model for other teams to adopt and put in place for their programs. We are currently in the process of adopting the Tech football program and sort of absorbing it as our own.” So, continue to read the postings on the Tornados official website for further information regarding this worthy and needed project.
And last but not least, the Tornado organization would like to extend its’ thanks to Mr. Alexus for his sit-down interview for this article and his commitment to the program. He exemplifies what it means to be a member of the Indianapolis Tornado family.
Evan Triggs / President
