Daytona Beach Thunder Sign AFL Superstar Barry Wagner - WIFL

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MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - The word “great” is about to be overused when it comes to having an Arena Football League legend sign with a World Indoor Football League team.

“It’s great to have one of the greats onboard,’’ WIFL Commissioner Gary Tufford said upon learning of the news that the Daytona Beach Thunder signed Barry Wagner Thursday.

“Barry Wagner is one of the most recognized names in our sport and we’re thrilled to have him in the WIFL,” Tufford said. “Instead of doing the paso doble on Dancing With The Stars, football greats at our level can play with us to get their competitive fix.”

Wagner, 39, is joining the Thunder to stay in football shape after being waived by the AFL’s Tampa Bay Storm, help develop young players and jump-start a struggling 0-3 team recovering from the death of defensive back Javan Camon last month.

“Congratulations to Leon Bright for pulling this off,” Tufford said. “We’ve kept on Daytona Beach to make sure all the paperwork’s legit and we’re ready to go. Daytona Beach needed something like this. I also like the fact that his first two games are in Daytona Beach (against Augusta 3/31) and Osceola (4/7), which means his fans from his Orlando Predator days have a chance to see him play again.”

Wagner’s WIFL debut will be Saturday against the Augusta Spartans, who are in a three-way tie for first place with Columbus and Osceola at 2-1. 

Augusta coach Bubba Diggs is also looking forward to see how his players fare against one of the game’s greats.

“It’s definitely going to be a sight for the fans,” Diggs said. “We’re just going to line up and play like we normally do.”