When the Augusta Spartans formed early last year, they were "almost the naked, ice-skating football team," according to owner Jimmy Young.

Young purchased the team from the American Indoor Football League just weeks prior to the season opener in March 2006, and coach Bubba Diggs' players went to camp without pads. They didn't receive helmets until the day of the opener.

Now, they're champions.

After leaving the AIFL last summer and becoming one of four charter members of the World Indoor Football League, the Spartans went on a late-season tear all the way to the WIFL championship. They defeated the Columbus Lions 63-60 on June 30 in World Indoor Bowl I.

"To know what we came from last year, winning the championship was a huge accomplishment," Diggs said. "It wasn't how we wanted to start out - we almost didn't have a season last year - but we hung in there. It's definitely a dream."

After starting the season 2-3, the Spartans won eight of their last 11 games, including four in a row on their march to the WIFL title.

"You always envision that day, standing on the podium with the trophy, but I really didn't think it would happen this soon," Diggs said. "We've really come so far."

Much of Augusta's turnaround had to do with the arrival of former South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Mike Rathe, who joined the team mid-season for the second year in a row. Rathe was the WIFL's most productive passer, throwing for 212.7 yards per game.

But the team's heartbeat was receiver Marvin Stone, who won nearly every WIFL award, including the regular season MVP and the championship game MVP.

"One of the biggest things I took away from the season was the transformation of Marvin Stone," Diggs said. "I always knew he had the ability, and he came in with an unbelievable attitude and work ethic. He was our go-to guy."

The Spartans weren't just a one-man show. With contributions from all facets of the game, Augusta finished 10-6.

"I'm very, very proud of the whole team," Diggs said.

The defense and offensive threats such as receivers Anthony Young and Michael Flint, and running back Willie Butler, stepped up when needed. They'll be wearing a bull's-eye entering next season, when the WIFL likely will have six or eight teams after expansion.

"I expect that. I've been there before," said Diggs, who played for Clemson's 1981 national championship team.

"I told the guys to act like they've been there before and come back strong next year. We want to do it again."