Alabama Steeldogs

Conference	National
Division	Southern
Year founded	2000
Home arena	Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center
City, State	Birmingham, Alabama
Indoor football championships	none

The Alabama Steeldogs, originally known as the Birmingham Steeldogs, were incorporated in 2000 as one of the charter teams in the af2, the developmental league of the Arena Football League. Entering their sixth season as of 2005, they are the longest running of many professional football franchises in the city of Birmingham. Image File history File links AlabamaSteeldogs. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center is a 16,800-seat multi-purpose arena in Birmingham, Alabama. ... Nickname: The Magic City, Pittsburgh of the South, BHam, The Ham Location in Jefferson County in the state of Alabama Coordinates: Country United States State Alabama County Jefferson, Shelby  - Mayor Bernard Kincaid (D) Area    - City  151. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... af2 (short for arenafootball2) is the name of the Arena Football Leagues minor league, which started play in 2000. ... The Arena Football League (AFL) was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: The Magic City, Pittsburgh of the South, BHam, The Ham Location in Jefferson County in the state of Alabama Coordinates: Country United States State Alabama County Jefferson, Shelby  - Mayor Bernard Kincaid (D) Area    - City  151. ...

The team's first head coach was former University of Alabama standout Bobby Humphrey. In October 2005, Ron Selesky, formerly of the Arena Football League's Columbus Destroyers, Carolina Cobras and Tampa Bay Storm, as well as the af2's Albany Conquest and Louisville Fire, was hired as the team's second coach. The University of Alabama (also known as Alabama, UA or colloquially as Bama) is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1831, UA is the flagship campus of the University of Alabama System. ... Bobby Humphrey (born October 11, 1966, in Birmingham, Alabama), is a former professional football player who was drafted in the 1st round by the Denver Broncos in the 1989 NFL Supplemental Draft after a stellar career at the University of Alabama. ... Look up October in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Arena Football League (AFL) was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. ... The Columbus Destroyers are an Arena Football League team, founded in Buffalo, New York in 1999. ... Year founded 2000 Year folded 2004 Prior names none ArenaBowl championships none // History The Carolina Cobras were a franchise in the Arena Football League. ... Conference National Division Southern Year founded 1987 Home arena St. ... The Albany Conquest are a professional arena football team based in Albany, New York. ... The Louisville Fire is an arena football team in af2. ...

The team plays its home games at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex Arena (often abbreviated 'BJCC') in downtown Birmingham. The arena was the site of the very first af2 game in 2000, between the Steeldogs and the Tennessee Valley Vipers, based in Huntsville, Alabama. The Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (formerly Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center) is a sports, convention and entertainment complex located in Birmingham, Alabama. ... Nickname: The Magic City, Pittsburgh of the South, BHam, The Ham Location in Jefferson County in the state of Alabama Coordinates: Country United States State Alabama County Jefferson, Shelby  - Mayor Bernard Kincaid (D) Area    - City  151. ... af2 (short for arenafootball2) is the name of the Arena Football Leagues minor league, which started play in 2000. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Tennessee Valley Vipers is Huntsville, Alabamas af2 franchise, holding home games at the Von Braun Center. ... Nickname: Rocket City Watercress Capital of the World Coordinates: Country United States State Alabama County Madison, Limestone Government  - Mayor Loretta Spencer Area  - City 174. ...

The team's colors are black, orange, and white. The team's name – unique in all of sports – pays tribute to Birmingham's steel industry. The steel cable of a colliery winding tower. ...

The team's logo, depicting a dog with a spiked collar and metal lower jaw, represents "Rusty", the team's mascot. The team's cheerleaders are known as the "Showsteelers." This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog Canis lupus is a type of canine, a mammal in the order Carnivora. ... Millie, once mascot of the City of Brampton, is now the Brampton Arts Councils representative. ... Cheerleading is recreational activity and sometimes competitive sport involving organised routines including elements of dance and gymnastics to encourage crowds to cheer on sports teams. ...

Team history

Beginnings

On April 20, 1999, Birmingham’s franchise was one of the charter teams in the Xtreme Football League, which soon brokered a deal with the more-established Arena Football League to form the latter’s second-tier. Christened “arenafootball2” or “af2” for short, the new league would play by the same rules patented by its parent organization. April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... This league is not to be confused with the XFL, an outdoor football league which operated in 2001 The Xtreme Football League was an indoor football league that was formed in 1999, to begin play in 2000. ... The Arena Football League (AFL) was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. ... af2 (short for arenafootball2) is the name of the Arena Football Leagues minor league, which started play in 2000. ...

After a contest, the team became the “Steeldogs,” paying homage to the steel industry that helped grow the city into an industrial giant during the early 20th century. Steel framework Steel is a metal alloy whose major component is iron, with carbon being the primary alloying material. ...

At a press conference on August 12, 1999, the team’s name, logo, colors and head coach were all introduced. Humphrey, the University of Alabama’s second all-time leading rusher, would be the team’s first coach. August 12 is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

The first Steeldogs ownership group, consisting of Charles Felix, David Berkman and Bruce Burge, also owned the Birmingham Bulls hockey franchise. Both teams were to compete and be headquartered at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex in downtown Birmingham. The Birmingham Bulls were a hockey team based out of Birmingham, Alabama that played in the World Hockey Association. ... The Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (formerly Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center) is a sports, convention and entertainment complex located in Birmingham, Alabama. ...

On January 11, 2000, the Commissioner of the af2, Mary Ellen Garling announced the league would kickoff its inaugural season at the BJCC Arena on March 31, 2000. The Steeldogs first opponent would be the Tennessee Valley Vipers, Birmingham’s neighbor 100 miles to the north in Huntsville. January 11 is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (91st in leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Tennessee Valley Vipers is Huntsville, Alabamas af2 franchise, holding home games at the Von Braun Center. ... Nickname: Rocket City Watercress Capital of the World Coordinates: Country United States State Alabama County Madison, Limestone Government  - Mayor Loretta Spencer Area  - City 174. ...

First season (2000)

The inaugural game was played before 14,831 fans and a national television audience into the BJCC Arena on March 31, 2000. The game was a tremendous hit. The scoreboard, as is typical in arena fotball, got quite a workout. Tennessee Valley won the first game in the series, 59-18. March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (91st in leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Birmingham’s first win came one week later at the BJCC, as the Steeldogs shut down the Greensboro Prowlers 18-7 in one of the lowest scoring games in the history of Arena Football. The Greensboro Prowlers is a now-defunct af2 franchise that was one of the leagues charter members. ... Arena football is a sport invented by Jim Foster, a former executive of the United States Football League and the National Football League. ...

Birmingham would finish the year with a 7-9 final record. In addition to the win over the Prowlers, Birmingham racked up victories over Roanoke (twice), Richmond, Tallahassee, Arkansas and Tulsa. The Steeldogs’ win over Tallahassee, an 86-74 barnburner, still ranks as the fourth-highest scoring game in af2 history.

By the end of the first season, 71,402 fans had crossed the turnstiles.

Second season (2001)

The second season of Steeldogs football brought the team’s second ownership group. Steve and Kathryn Umberger purchased the team on December 13, 2000. The couple also purchased the af2’s Jacksonville Tomcats in the same year, but he decided that Birmingham would be his more “hands-on” investment. Humphrey was retained as the team’s head coach for a second season. December 13 is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Conference American Division Southeast & Southern Year founded 2000 Home arena Veterans Memorial Center City, State Jacksonville, Florida ArenaCup championships none The Jacksonville Tomcats were one of the original 15 teams to join the inaugural 2000 AF2 season. ...

The league expanded nearly two-fold in 2001 as 28 teams took the field in 2001. Birmingham opened their season at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City, La., against the expansion Bossier City BattleWings. Birmingham won a thrilling overtime affair, 63-57. It was the first of three consecutive wins to open the 2001 season. The CenturyTel Center is a 12,440-seat multi-purpose arena in Bossier City, Louisiana. ... The Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings are a member of the af2 based at Bossier Citys CenturyTel Center. ...

The Steeldogs finished the regular-season 12-4, earning them their first postseason trip. Birmingham traveled to Richmond, Virginia to face the Richmond Speed on July 21, 2001. Despite reaching the 60-point plateau, a feat that Coach Humphrey stressed in every game, the Steeldogs collapsed in the fourth quarter and fell 67-60. Nickname: The River City Motto: Sic Itur Ad Astra (Thus do we reach the stars) Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia Coordinates: Country United States State Virginia County Independent City Mayor L. Douglas Wilder (D) Area    - City 62. ... Conference American Division Northeast & Atlantic Year founded 2000 Home arena Richmond Coliseum City, State Richmond, Virginia ArenaCup championships none The Richmond Speed were one of the original 15 teams to join the inaugural 2000 AF2 season. ... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

2002 was the beginning of years of stability in the executive office. The Umbergers sold the franchise to two local men, both of whom were well-acquainted with Birmingham’s professional sports history. Buddy King and Scott Myers became the majority and minority owners of the team on January 2, 2002. The two had met when King played with and Myers marketed for the Birmingham Fire of the World League of American Football. The pair was anxious to parlay the Steeldogs’ early success into a third season. They retained Humphrey for a third year. For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Year Founded 1991 Year Retired 1992 City Birmingham, Alabama Team Colors Royal Blue, Red Franchise W-L-T Record Regular Season: 12-7-1 Postseason: 0-2 Championships World Bowls (0) The Birmingham Fire was a professional American football team that played in the World League of American Football in... The World League of American Football (WLAF) was founded in 1990 with support from the NFL to play semi-professional American Football in North America, Europe and later maybe Asia. ...

Third season (2002)

Adopting the motto “One Team, One Goal,” Birmingham set out to make a playoff run in their third season. After an early loss at Tulsa, Birmingham rebounded to win eight of their next nine games before dropping three of their next four. The Steeldogs ended the regular-season with an 11-5 record, good enough to earn a trip to Huntsville to face the Vipers in the first round of the playoffs at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville. There the 'Dogs cast off three years of frustration at the hands of their fiercest rival, dominating Tennessee Valley in a 65-51 victory. Almost secondary to the outcome of the game was the fact that the Steeldogs had now earned themselves a trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a second-round match-up against the top-ranked team in af2. The Von Braun Center is a multipurpose indoor arena located in Huntsville, Alabama. ... Nickname: Oil Capital of the World, Americas Most Beautiful City Location in the state of Oklahoma Coordinates: Country United States State Oklahoma Counties Tulsa, Osage, Wagoner, Rogers  - Mayor Kathy Taylor (D) Area    - City 483. ...

On August 10, 2002 Birmingham pulled off the biggest upset in team history. The Steeldogs thoroughly dominated the league’s top-ranked team, handing them their first home loss in 18 games (a streak that started in 2000 with a seven-point victory over Birmingham) and also exacting revenge for the team’s opening night loss. The Steeldogs returned home to host the Peoria Pirates in the National Conference Championship game, the winner of which would host the ArenaCup. But the Pirates surprised the Steeldogs with a first-half offensive clinic on their way to a 79-33 victory. August 10 is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... The Peoria Pirates is a 1999 Indoor Football League team. ... af2 (short for arenafootball2) is the name of the Arena Football Leagues minor league, which started play in 2000. ...

The 2002 off-season was much less chaotic than in previous years as Humphrey was retained once again and, for the first time in team history, so was the ownership group.

Fourth season (2003)

Injuries plagued the 2003 edition of the Birmingham Steeldogs, as the team struggled to field a healthy and consistent quarterback. After two early season victories at home, the Steeldogs fell at Macon in the first road contest of the year. The team dropped four of their next five games, with the one bright exception being a 38-35 overtime victory over the Florida Firecats at Fort Myers. The Florida Firecats are a professional arena football team. ...

After three straight victories in the middle of the season, the team dropped five of the last six games to close out the year. Injuries riddled the team from the offensive line, to the quarterback position, to wide receivers and defensive backs. Humphrey and his team limped into the off-season, where he was rewarded for his efforts with his fourth contract extension. He was about to become the longest-tenured coach in the history of af2 football.

Fifth season (2004)

The Steeldogs rebounded nicely to begin the 2004 season. After an opening-night loss at Bossier City, a game in which the Steeldogs’ starting quarterback was hurt on the first play of the second half, Birmingham reeled off six straight victories on the arm of backup quarterback Jeff Aaron. But inconsistency at the quarterback position, along with several key injuries cooled the Steeldogs in the second half of the 2004 regular-season. Birmingham limped into the postseason with a 10-6 record, falling in the first round at Cape Fear, North Carolina, 54-53. Cape Fear is a prominent headland on the Atlantic coast of North Carolina in the southeastern United States. ...

Humphrey and the King-Myers ownership combo stuck around for 2005. Humphrey, who had been inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, had become the af2’s all-time winningest coach in 2004. The team’s 59-58 win over the Rio Grande Valley Dorados on June 26, 2004 gave Humphrey his 47th victory, making him tops among all current and prior head coaches through the 2004 season. Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF) is a state museum dedicated to the celebration and preservation of Alabama’s sports heritage. ... The Rio Grande Valley Dorados are a professional arena football team. ... June 26 is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 188 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Sixth season (2005)

The Steeldogs kicked off the 2005 regular season with a marquee player signing. Andrew Zow, the all-time leading passer at the University of Alabama, joined the team on March 15, 2005. He had signed with the team in 2004 for one game as an emergency quarterback at the behest of Coach Humphrey, but did not see any action. He had not competed on a regular basis since his senior year at Alabama in 2001 and did not see action in the team’s first game, a home loss to the San Diego Riptide, but finally took the field a week later at Macon. Zow was remarkably efficient in his first contest, finishing 20 of 36 for 273 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for a touchdown. Zow’s season ended a week later when he suffered a leg injury in the following week’s game at home versus the eventual league champion Memphis Xplorers. March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (75th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The San Diego Riptide is an Arena Football League team. ... The Memphis Xplorers are a professional arena football team. ...

Much like Zow’s arena football career, the 2005 Steeldogs season never fully got off the ground. The quarterback position changed hands six times during the year. The offensive and defensive lines, hampered by injuries dating back to early season workout camps, never quite jelled into a functioning unit. The defense allowed an average of nearly 56 points per game, worst in the league. The Steeldogs finished with a 2-14 record, dead last in the af2. The lowly record cost Humphrey his job; he was relieved of his coaching duties on August 9, 2005. Humphrey finished his six-year career as the longest-tenured coach in the league’s history, as well as its second-most victorious. August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (222nd in leap years), with 144 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Seventh season (2006)

On October 4, 2005, Ron Selesky was selected as the second head coach in the history of the Birmingham Steeldogs. He led the team to an improved 7-9 mark in the 2006 season, good for fourth place in the Southern Division. Birmingham lost both games played to the Tennessee Valley Vipers in 2006, accounting for two of the Vipers' three overall wins. October 4 is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Tennessee Valley Vipers is Huntsville, Alabamas af2 franchise, holding home games at the Von Braun Center. ...

On December 11, 2006, the Steeldogs' management team changed the team's name from the Birmingham Steeldogs to the Alabama Steeldogs, in an effort to broaden the team's appeal to the city's more-affluent suburbs and exurbs. The only change to the team logo was replacing the word "Birmingham" with "Alabama."[1] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Housing subdivision near Union, Kentucky, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. ... This article or section should be merged with Bedroom community A dormitory town is generally a rural town where a large proportion of its population commute to nearby cities. ...

Results by season

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties

* = Current Standing Conference American Division Northeast & Atlantic Year founded 2000 Home arena Richmond Coliseum City, State Richmond, Virginia ArenaCup championships none The Richmond Speed were one of the original 15 teams to join the inaugural 2000 AF2 season. ... The Tennessee Valley Vipers is Huntsville, Alabamas af2 franchise, holding home games at the Von Braun Center. ... The Tulsa Talons are a professional arena football team. ... The Peoria Rough Riders are a professional arena football team. ... The Cape Fear Wildcats was a professional arena football team. ...

Current staff

• Owner and Chairman - Buddy King
• Owner and Managing Partner - Scott Myers

• Dave Coffey - Vice President of Corporate Partnerships
• Shawn Williamson - Vice President of Marketing/Ticket Operations
• Brandon Gresham - Director of Media Relations
• Christen Thacker - Account Executive
• Angela Stephenson - Dance Team Coordinator
• Carmen Starr - Office Manager

• Head Coach - Ron Selesky
• Offensive Coordinator - Billy Dicken
• Line/Linebackers - Bryan Ray

External links

• Alabama Steeldogs Official Site
• Alabama Steeldogs Team Blog
• SteeldogFans.com
• BirminghamProSports.com