Daytona Beach Thunder
Encyclopedia
The Daytona Beach ThunderBirds were a franchise in the af2
, playing in the 2008 season
, and folding afterwards.
The team began play in February 2006 as the Daytona Beach Thunder in the American Indoor Football League under coach Ervin Bryson and owners Kevin and Zack McDonald, and Jay Burton. The team made some pre-season headlines when former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and FOX broadcaster Terry Bradshaw
signed an actual players contract in a "blatant publicity stunt" at a Daytona Beach speaking engagement. Bradshaw never played.
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 Augusta Spartans on the road. The team put itself in position for a playoff berth at 5-4, but a three-game losing streak all but denied the Thunder the post-season. The team finished its inaugural season with a 6-8 record, with six losses coming at a combined margin of 19 points.
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.
for the 2007 season as a charter member, joining their former AIFL rival, the Augusta Spartans and two other teams.
Tragedy struck the team on February 26, 2007, when rookie 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.
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
.
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.
. According to af2 website the Thundebirds have folded as they are not on the team list.
| colspan="6" align="center" | Daytona Beach Thunder (AIFL)
|-
|2006 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 5th Southern || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Daytona Beach Thunder (WIFL)
|-
|2007 || 4 || 10 || 0 || 4th League || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Daytona Beach ThunderBirds (af2)
|-
|2008 || 2 || 14 || 0 || 4th AC South || --
|-
!Totals || 12 || 32 || 0
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, playing in the 2008 season
2008 af2 season
The 2008 AF2 season was the ninth season of the AF2. The regular season began on Friday, March 28 and ended on Saturday, July 26. The league champions were the Tennessee Valley Vipers, who beat the Spokane Shock in ArenaCup IX.-Standings:...
, and folding afterwards.
AIFL Era
Terry Bradshaw
Terry Paxton Bradshaw is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League . He played 14 seasons. He is a football analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday...
signed an actual players contract in a "blatant publicity stunt" at a Daytona Beach speaking engagement. Bradshaw never played.
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 Augusta Spartans on the road. The team put itself in position for a playoff berth at 5-4, but a three-game losing streak all but denied the Thunder the post-season. The team finished its inaugural season with a 6-8 record, with six losses coming at a combined margin of 19 points.
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
Leon Bright
Leon "Pop" Bright, Jr. is a former Gridiron football player in the Canadian Football League for four years and in the National Football League for five years....
as Head Coach/Director Of Football Operations.
WIFL Era
The team later decided to join the newly-formed World Indoor Football LeagueWorld Indoor Football League (2007)
The World Indoor Football League was an indoor football league founded by Harry Pierce, owner of the Rome Renegades and Raleigh Rebels of the American Indoor Football League...
for the 2007 season as a charter member, joining their former AIFL rival, the Augusta Spartans and two other teams.
Tragedy struck the team on February 26, 2007, when rookie defensive back Javan Camon was killed after a hard but clean hit during a game with the Columbus Lions
Columbus Lions
The Columbus Lions are an indoor football team of the Professional Indoor Football League. Based in Columbus, Georgia, the Lions play their home games at the Columbus Civic Center...
. The player, once a captain at the University of South Florida
South Florida Bulls football
The South Florida Bulls are a Division I FBS college football program that plays its home games in Tampa, Florida. The team began playing in 1997, holding its first team meeting under a shade tree as the school had no proper football facilities on campus...
, likely broke his neck in the hit.
Major arena news hit Daytona Beach with the word that Barry Wagner
Barry Wagner
Barry Wagner is a retired American football player in the Arena Football League for the Orlando Predators with whom he won his first ArenaBowl Championship and the San Jose SaberCats, with whom he won two championships. He also played in the World Indoor Football League as a wide...
(former Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
& San Jose SaberCats
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
WR/DB) would be joining the team after getting cut from the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
at the beginning of the 2007 AFL season
2007 Arena Football League season
The 2007 Arena Football League season was the 21st season of the Arena Football League. The regular season began play on March 1, 2007 and concluded on June 25...
.
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
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
for either the 2008 or 2009 season. The WIFL ceased operations soon afterwards.
af2
On November 20, 2007, the team announced they had successfully joined the af2, and would begin play there for the 2008 season. They have changed their name to the ThunderBirds so as not to conflict with their fellow af2 franchise the Mahoning Valley ThunderMahoning Valley Thunder
The Mahoning Valley Thunder was a professional af2 arena football team from 2007-2009.Having entered af2 as an expansion team in 2007, the Thunder played its home games at Cortland Banks Field at the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown, Ohio....
. According to af2 website the Thundebirds have folded as they are not on the team list.
Season-By-Season
|-| colspan="6" align="center" | Daytona Beach Thunder (AIFL)
|-
|2006 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 5th Southern || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Daytona Beach Thunder (WIFL)
|-
|2007 || 4 || 10 || 0 || 4th League || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Daytona Beach ThunderBirds (af2)
|-
|2008 || 2 || 14 || 0 || 4th AC South || --
|-
!Totals || 12 || 32 || 0