Oklahoma Thunder

This article is about the American football team. For the basketball team, see Oklahoma City Thunder. For the American Football Association football team, see American Football Association (1978–1983).
Oklahoma Thunder
Founded2008
LeagueWFL (2008–2010)
GDFL (2010–present)
Team historyOklahoma Thunder
2008–present
Based inTulsa, Oklahoma
StadiumNienhuis Park Football Fields
(Broken Arrow, OK)
ColorsBlue and Silver    
Head coachRashid Lowe
Championships2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Division titles8
CheerleadersThundergirls
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The Oklahoma Thunder are a professional American football team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[1] Starting with the 2011 season, the team competes in the Gridiron Developmental Football League, playing in the Midwest-North Division in the GDFL's Impact Conference.[2] Players have included University of Oklahoma alumni, former major college standouts, and former NFL players, including Willie Ponder and Calvin Barnett.[3][4] The team was founded by Bruce Madden, Daniel Cornelison, and Gary Joice in 2007; James Ashford later bought a piece of the team. Now, the Thunder are owned by Venkatesh Mowa.[5] The team originally competed in the World Football League. The league was formed as a minor league for players to work on their skills in hopes of making an NFL team. During the team's time in the WFL the Thunder had players signed by several teams including the New Orleans VooDoo and the Colorado Crush of the Arena Football League (AFL). The team's name pre-dates the relocation of the National Basketball Association (NBA) team the Seattle SuperSonics to Oklahoma City to become the Oklahoma City Thunder.[6][7][8] The team's official colors are silver and blue. The team's cheerleaders are known as the Thunder Girls.

From its founding in 2008 through the 2010 season, the Thunder competed in the Central Division of the new World Football League. Through three seasons in the WFL the team was undefeated with a 40–0 record and three consecutive league championships. The team beat teams from all over the country and is the only American college or professional team to beat the Mexican Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education[9] college team.

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  5. ^ "Oklahoma Thunder Football". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
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