Years of Existence: 2000-2007
Venue: Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center (Birmingham, AL)
Accomplishments:
2000 –
2001 – Playoff appearance
2002 – Semifinal appearance
2003 –
2004 – Playoff appearance
2005 –
2006 –
2007 – Playoff appearance
Lifetime Record: 65-69
Home: 38-27
Away: 27-42
Playoffs: 2-4
Average Attendance: 6,551
The Birmingham Steeldogs are one of the AF2’s original teams. Following a 7-9 performance in 2000, the Steeldogs made the playoffs in back-to-back years. In 2002, the Steeldogs lost in the semifinals to the eventual Champions, the Peoria Pirates 79-33. After another losing season in 2003, the team returned to the playoffs, but lost by a point to Cape Fear 54-53. Their sixth season was their worst, as they went 2-14 in 2005; their only wins came against the Green Bay Blizzard and South Georgia. The Steeldogs did not roll over at the end of the season, however. In their final game against the defending Champion Florida Firecats, the Steeldogs led 21-0 at halftime. However, Birmingham lost, 28-27. Things were much the same in 2006. The season was up and down, as the team never won more than two games in a row. On the plus side, the Steeldogs scored 84 points on the road at Rio Grande Valley, a franchise record for road points. The Steeldogs won just two games against playoff bound teams and ended the season on a three game losing streak to miss the playoffs. The team became the Alabama Steeldogs for 2007. After starting out at 5-3, the Steeldogs dropped six in a row before winning their last two. At 7-9, the Steeldogs were one of two teams to get into the playoffs by virtue of a four-way tiebreaker. Alabama would be the eight seed and travel to Rio Grande Valley. The Dorados took a 31-21 halftime lead, but Alabama had the lead in the fourth quarter before a late Dorados touchdown gave them a 44-41 victory. After eight consecutive seasons, the Steeldogs franchise folded.
