Barry Wagner signs with Daytona Beach Thunder
Jason Lucas
Thursday March 29, 2007
At approximately 2:30pm ET today, Barry Wagner became the newest member of the World Indoor Football League’s Daytona Beach Thunder. A small gathering of media came together at the Chism Center in Deland, Florida to welcome Wagner to the Thunder.
“It’s like my mother always told me” Wagner said. “When the good lord closes one door he is always ready to open another one” said an emotional Wagner.
It was a strange experience watching a man who was the face of the Arena Football League for 15 seasons sign to play in another league that was not the National Football League. Wagner compared his signing with the WIFL to those NFL players who come down and sign with the AFL.
“I figured what’s the difference between me signing from the arena league to the WIFL”? Wagner said in his press conference.
It is simple really; in fact the difference jumps right out and bites me as soon as I think about it. None of the guys you have ever seen join the AFL from the NFL were Barry Wagner type superstars. Sure, John Elway owns a team in the league and there are plenty of other former NFL players with positions with AFL teams, but none of them have played a down in the AFL.
Wagner also told those in attendance that he has had interest from the Columbus Destroyers and the Orlando Predators. He also said that the biggest reason he signed with the Tampa Bay Storm in the first place was to be near his family and most specifically his son Barry Jr.
Wagner expressed that he would listen to AFL teams with interest while he is with the Thunder. The signing with the Thunder is very much a new beginning for Wagner who is back making the $250 per game wage he signed for with the Preds in 1992.
The Daytona Beach Thunder host the Augusta Spartans on Saturday at 6:30pm ET. Wagner is scheduled to get the start at wide receiver for the Thunder and he is trying to talk the coaches into letting him play defensive back.
“He’ll probably talk us into it”, Head Coach Leon Bright said. “Barry’s knowledge of the game will help us a lot.”
