Jerry Giese, Sioux City Journal (Feb. 27, 2010)
SIOUX CITY -- Linebacker Spetlar Tonga is another player who followed first-year Sioux City Bandits head football coach Tommie Williams from the Omaha Beef.

A fan favorite with the Bandits from the 2004-08 seasons, Tonga recorded 72.5 tackles a year ago with the Beef along with 13.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 quarterback sacks, four interceptions and one fumble recovery. His presence was missed a year ago as Sioux City went 4-10.

"Last year, he said he needed a change of scenery, but now he wants to be part of our family," Williams said of Tonga, who ranks second in Bandits history with 365 tackles. "He wants to win and bring home a championship to Sioux City. He brings a wealth of experience as a leader as a defensive leader."

Tonga, who wasn't present for Sunday's media day event at the Tyson Events Center, needs just 72 tackles to break the Bandits' career record of 436, set by Jesse Wavrunek from 2000 to 2005. The 6-foot, 235-pound Tonga, a 2004 Morningside College graduate, ranks third in both tackles for loss (44) and quarterback sacks (12.5).

Tonga led the Bandits with 86.5 tackles in 2006 and had a team-high 72.5 tackles in 2007. He also had a team-high 11.5 tackles for loss in 2006 also paced the team in this category in 2007 (14) and 2008 (13.5).

"Not only does he bring us aggressiveness and tenacity, he also gets the fans involved," Williams said. "Fans like the players to give back to the community and be involved with the team. I feel Spetlar will help in many crucial points and get us back to where we need to be."

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