Daytona Beach ThunderBirds
Daytona Beach ThunderBirds | |
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Established 2005 Folded 2009 Played in Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida | |
League/conference affiliations | |
National Indoor Football League (2005) American Indoor Football League (2006)
World Indoor Football League (2007)
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Current uniform | |
Team colors | Light blue, red, white |
Personnel | |
Team history | |
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Championships | |
League championships (0) | |
Conference championships (0) | |
Division championships (0) | |
Home arena(s) | |
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The Daytona Beach ThunderBirds were an
History
NIFL Era
The team began play in 2005 as the Daytona Beach Hawgs. They had a rollercoaster season. But it was a successful season with a record of 8–6, with most of the wins coming at home, including wins over Rome and losses to teams like Miami. The Hawgs shutout the New Jersey Xtreme, 54–0. The Hawgs would have qualified for a playoff spot, but were suspended for rules violations.[1]
AIFL Era
In February 2006, the franchise left the NIFL over the suspension from the playoffs and later joined the
The team also garnered attention for its unique logo and its 45-foot sleeper bus that transported the team to its away games and delivered relief supplies to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. A partnership with the local PBS station produced a 30-minute show that aired weekly during the season.
On Friday, March 24, 2006, after losing their first three games, the Thunder got their first-ever win 49–24 against the
On Monday, June 12, 2006, the Thunder parted ways with Bryson. After an extensive search, the Thunder named former CFL Rookie of The Year, FSU Seminole, New York Giant and Tampa Bay Buc Leon Bright as Head Coach/Director Of Football Operations.
WIFL Era
The team later decided to join the newly formed
Tragedy struck the team on February 26, 2007, when defensive back Javan Camon was killed after a hard but clean hit during a game with the Columbus Lions. The player, once a captain at the University of South Florida, likely broke his neck in the hit.[2]
Major arena news hit Daytona Beach with the word that Barry Wagner (former Orlando Predators & San Jose SaberCats WR/DB) would be joining the team after getting cut from the Tampa Bay Storm at the beginning of the 2007 AFL season.[3]
The Thunder finished at 4–10, last in the league, and was the only team out of the four in the league not to qualify for the postseason.
On September 19, 2007, Daytona Beach announced they were leaving the WIFL in hopes of joining AF2 for either the 2008 or 2009 season. The WIFL ceased operations soon afterwards.[4]
af2
On November 20, 2007, the team announced they had successfully joined the AF2, and would begin play there for the 2008 season. They changed their name to the ThunderBirds so as not to conflict with their fellow AF2 franchise the Mahoning Valley Thunder;[5] they were the second team to bear that name in Daytona Beach football history; an outdoor team played in the Southern Professional Football League from 1962 to 1964 under the same name. According to AF2 website the Thunderbirds have folded as they are not on the team list.
Season-by-season
Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Daytona Beach Hawgs (NIFL) | |||||
2005 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 3rd Southern | -- |
Daytona Beach Thunder (AIFL) | |||||
2006 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 5th Southern | -- |
Daytona Beach Thunder (WIFL) | |||||
2007 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 4th League | -- |
Daytona Beach ThunderBirds (af2) | |||||
2008 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 4th AC South | -- |
Totals | 12 | 32 | 0 |
Retired numbers
- 12 – Javan Camon
Notes
- ^ Daytona Beach Hawgs[permanent dead link], Indoor Football Encyclopedia
- ^ ESPN More Sports (February 27, 2007). "Indoor football player dies after head-to-head hit". Associated Press. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
- ^ Jason Lucas (March 28, 2007). "Barry Wagner to Join Daytona Beach Thunder". ArenaFan. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
- ^ http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Sports/Headlines/sptTHUN01092007.htm [dead link]
- ^ AF2.com—The Official Web site of the Arena Football League 2[dead link]