Daytona Beach ThunderBirds enter af2
Jason Lucas
Wednesday November 21, 2007
As expected the Thunderbirds announced their head coach will be none other than Herkie Walls whose glory years in the AFL were spent with the Orlando Predators. Walls becomes the second player from that Preds era to get a head coaching position this off season joining former teammate Ben Bennett who coaches the Austin Wranglers.
In the AFL’s history we have had teams called the Thunder, Thunder Bears, Firebirds, and finally we have the ThunderBirds. Arenafan’s own guru of information Dan Ryan said the team name comes from some 1960’s deal. However, I do not buy it. Someone obviously has seen Grease too many times, or maybe I have?
When I attend my first ThunderBirds game I half expect to see a halftime show of Olivia Newton John and John Travolta singing “The one that I want.” And for those of you who do not get the T-birds reference I apologize in advance.
During Foster’s time at the microphone he expressed what a great selection the ThunderBirds made by picking Walls as their head coach. He also said Walls has to be disappointed with how AFL salaries have gone up since Herkie last played in 1996.
“Those guys used to make about $20,000 a year.” Foster said. Which if you know your AFL is within spitting distance of what they make today. In 96’ players made more like $500 a game and got bonuses in their checks for good performance. Walls was quick to correct Foster in his statement.
“I don’t think we made quite that much.” Walls said.
Zack McDonald of the ownership group passed along information that the af2 would adopt the Javan Camon award for the most valuable player. Camon is the Daytona Beach Thunder defensive back that passed away on the field last season.
“Javan Camon and his family will be remembered for as long as the af2 lives.” McDonald said.
That award was adopted from the now defunct World Indoor Football League that only survived one season.
When the Daytona Beach ThunderBirds take the field for their first home game this season it will mark the first time that arena football has been played in the city of Daytona Beach since April 16, 1988, when the AFL’s first games were played jamboree style in the Ocean Center.
Jason Lucas is a part-time freelance writer based in the Orlando, Florida area. A former director of media relations with the Orlando Predators, Jason is making his return to Arenafan.com after a short stint as a public relations assistant with the UFL‘s Florida Tuskers in 2010. Lucas has followed the AFL since 1992 and began covering the Predators for Arenafan during the 2004 season. He held that position until being picked up by the Preds front office after the 2007 season. Jason‘s knowledge of arena football and love of the game is what drives him to continue covering the sport.
