World Indoor Football League (2007)
Encyclopedia
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. The league was a splinter league that formed after disgruntled ownership in the AIFL, caused significant turmoil and resulted in several teams leaving the league.
Both the Rebels and Renegades were to play in the league, with the Rebels to be renamed as the Carolina Bombers
. However, on October 16, 2006, Pierce folded both franchises.
Daytona Beach Thunder player Javan Camon, in his second year with the club, died February 26, 2007 as a result of injuries received during a game against the Columbus Lions. Camon was involved in a helmet-to-helmet block during the late stages of the game. He was attended by paramedics and doctors at the Ocean Center arena for approximately 25 minutes without recovering. He was pronounced dead on arrival at an area hospital. http://www.wifl.us/recent-news/254/remembering_javan_camon So, in his honor, the league's MVP award was named after him as the Javan Camon Award.http://www.wifl.us/features/524/wifl_mvp_trophy__named_in_honor_of_javan_camon The award was given to Marvin Stone of the Augusta Spartans. Columbus Lions' Jason Gibson was named Coach of the Year, and Danny Burnham of Rome,Ga. was named Fan of the Year for his efforts assisting the league's PR department.
Daytona Beach also made some news in the indoor football ranks when arena football legend Barry Wagner
joined the team in March 2007; Daytona Beach had previously attempted such a publicity stunt by signing Terry Bradshaw
to a similar contract in 2006. The Osceola Ghostriders also featured former New England Patriot Greg Jefferson for one game.
On June 30, the league's only championship game, the World Indoor Bowl, took place in Columbus,Georgia with the Augusta Spartans defeating the host Columbus Lions 63-60 before a crowd of 3,529.
Two teams -- Columbus and Augusta -- announced on September 28, 2007 that they were moving to a reformed American Indoor Football Association for 2008. http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3544386
The announcement came after the Daytona Beach Thunder announced they are leaving the WIFL in hopes of joining af2
for either the 2008 or 2009 season. http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Sports/Headlines/sptTHUN01092007.htm.
and the Augusta Spartans
, who won a semi-final game against the Osceola Ghostriders to earn the berth.
Rome Renegades
The Rome Renegades were a professional indoor football team, based out of Rome, Georgia. The Renegades played their home games at Forum Civic Center. They began as a 2002 expansion member of the National Indoor Football League, as the Oklahoma Crude. After three unsuccessful seasons, they moved...
and Raleigh Rebels
Carolina Bombers
The Carolina Bombers were a professional indoor football team based out of Raleigh, North Carolina. They would have been a charter member of the World Indoor Football League...
of the American Indoor Football League. The league was a splinter league that formed after disgruntled ownership in the AIFL, caused significant turmoil and resulted in several teams leaving the league.
Both the Rebels and Renegades were to play in the league, with the Rebels to be renamed as the Carolina Bombers
Carolina Bombers
The Carolina Bombers were a professional indoor football team based out of Raleigh, North Carolina. They would have been a charter member of the World Indoor Football League...
. However, on October 16, 2006, Pierce folded both franchises.
Daytona Beach Thunder player Javan Camon, in his second year with the club, died February 26, 2007 as a result of injuries received during a game against the Columbus Lions. Camon was involved in a helmet-to-helmet block during the late stages of the game. He was attended by paramedics and doctors at the Ocean Center arena for approximately 25 minutes without recovering. He was pronounced dead on arrival at an area hospital. http://www.wifl.us/recent-news/254/remembering_javan_camon So, in his honor, the league's MVP award was named after him as the Javan Camon Award.http://www.wifl.us/features/524/wifl_mvp_trophy__named_in_honor_of_javan_camon The award was given to Marvin Stone of the Augusta Spartans. Columbus Lions' Jason Gibson was named Coach of the Year, and Danny Burnham of Rome,Ga. was named Fan of the Year for his efforts assisting the league's PR department.
Daytona Beach also made some news in the indoor football ranks when arena football legend 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...
joined the team in March 2007; Daytona Beach had previously attempted such a publicity stunt by signing Terry Bradshaw
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...
to a similar contract in 2006. The Osceola Ghostriders also featured former New England Patriot Greg Jefferson for one game.
On June 30, the league's only championship game, the World Indoor Bowl, took place in Columbus,Georgia with the Augusta Spartans defeating the host Columbus Lions 63-60 before a crowd of 3,529.
Two teams -- Columbus and Augusta -- announced on September 28, 2007 that they were moving to a reformed American Indoor Football Association for 2008. http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3544386
The announcement came after the Daytona Beach Thunder announced they are 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. http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Sports/Headlines/sptTHUN01092007.htm.
World Indoor Bowl
The World Indoor Bowl was the championship game of the World Indoor Football League. The only World Indoor Bowl was played between the regular season champion Columbus LionsColumbus 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...
and the Augusta Spartans
Augusta Spartans
The Augusta Colts were a professional indoor football team based in Augusta, Georgia. The team plays their home games at the James Brown Arena....
, who won a semi-final game against the Osceola Ghostriders to earn the berth.
| Game | Year | Winning Team | Losing Team | Site | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Indoor Bowl I | 2007 2007 World Indoor Football League season The 2007 World Indoor Football League season would turn out to be the only season of the World Indoor Football League. The league champions were the Augusta Spartans, who defeated the Columbus Lions in World Indoor Bowl I.-Standings:... |
Augusta Spartans | 63 | 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... |
60 | Columbus Civic Center Columbus Civic Center Columbus Civic Center is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Columbus, Georgia, built in 1996.-History:The arena was built in 1996, along with a Softball Complex, to fully complete South Commons... |
2007 Teams
- Augusta SpartansAugusta SpartansThe Augusta Colts were a professional indoor football team based in Augusta, Georgia. The team plays their home games at the James Brown Arena....
-Rejoined AIFA for 2008 under new ownership as the Augusta Colts. Folded after 2008 season - Columbus LionsColumbus LionsThe 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...
-Joined AIFA for 2008 - Daytona Beach Thunder-Joined af2Af2AF2 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...
in 2008 but folded after the season - Osceola Ghostriders-Folded after 2007 season
Announced WIFL Teams That Never Participated in League Play
- Carolina BombersCarolina BombersThe Carolina Bombers were a professional indoor football team based out of Raleigh, North Carolina. They would have been a charter member of the World Indoor Football League...
- ceased operations during 2006 off-season - Charleston Sandsharks - announced move from NIFL, then withdrew and joined AIFA
- Huntington HeroesHuntington HeroesThe Huntington Heroes were a professional indoor football franchise and member of the American Indoor Football Association. The Heroes played their home games during their inaugural 2006 season at the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse in Huntington, West Virginia before moving to the larger Big Sandy...
- announced move from, then returned to, AIFA - Rome RenegadesRome RenegadesThe Rome Renegades were a professional indoor football team, based out of Rome, Georgia. The Renegades played their home games at Forum Civic Center. They began as a 2002 expansion member of the National Indoor Football League, as the Oklahoma Crude. After three unsuccessful seasons, they moved...
- ceased operations during 2006 off-season - Tallahassee TitansTallahassee TitansThe Tallahassee Titans were an American Indoor Football Association team that began play as a 2007 member. The team played its home games at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida.-History:...
- were to move from the AIFA to WIFL for the cancelled 2008 season.