Unofficial Home of the Steeldogs

The Alabama Steeldogs a team originally known as the Birmingham Steeldogs, were incorporated as a development team for the Arena Football League. The team lasted a few seasons in the realm of Arena Football. However towards the end they started to struggle mightily. The problem with this particular team went beyond the field. The management of the team eventually struggled to keep the team going so in 2007 the team owner mentioned that for the 2008 season they would not have a (more…)

When the Steeldogs were first introduced to Birmingham residents there was much excitement. Surely investors assumed that this was a great sign, and since Alabama residents love football, what could possibly go wrong? Apparently, several things.

While Birmingham residents indeed to love football, their love of the sport is not spread out evenly. College football is an obsession in this city, and the time devoted to following the Crimson Tide, Auburn, and UAB leaves very little (more…)

As a mascot “Rusty” truly represented the organization and the city of Birmingham. For those who don’t remember Rusty it was a dog, dressed as a football player, with a metallic jaw. The metallic jaw was a nice touch because the steel on Rusty’s jaw represented the steel industry in the city of Birmingham. Whenever a mascot incorporates its home city identity it adds to the appeal of the mascot and the ties the team has to its city.

Although in the logo Rusty looks very menacing the mascot that was seen on the field was a very (more…)

We know you miss your Steel Dogs…we do too. But the good news is it’s almost football season again and we’re not just talking about the arena kind! Teams are gearing up for the best season yet and with the NFL still in talks over a lockout college may be all we’ve got. Here are a few of the teams we think Steel Dog fans should be rooting for and watching on their Direct star tv.
Auburn: Who doesn’t love Auburn? The slight underdog in Alabama this team has heart and (more…)

It is always so painful when a major sports team can’t survive in a city. With the Alabama Steeldogs now a defunct Arena Football Team the city of Birmingham needs to consider whether or not a comeback should be in the works. There are a couple of things that need to be considered if a comeback is even possible. The two major things are what is the cost and are there fans to support the team.

There are times in any league when a team struggles financially. If the city can recognize the potential for income by having a (more…)

When the Arena Football League kicked off earlier this month for the first time in three years, the Alabama Steeldogs were not part of the equation. In fact, since their folded from AF2 in 2007, there hasn’t even been talk of the Steeldogs making their way back in Arena Football play. The questions is: why didn’t the Steeldogs succeed as an Arena Football team. The answer, as always, is complicated, but to put it simple: money. In 2007, after a couple of years of trying to find a new majority owner, (more…)

The Alabama Steeldogs are the most tenured professional football team to ever play in Alabama. The team was in incorporated in 2000 and played in Alabama until 2007 until the team was dissolved. The arena football team’s colors were orange, black and silver. The team’s name paid tribute to Birmingham’s steel industry.

Several former Alabama Steeldog players have been players on other professional football teams. Four players went to play in the National Football League, while ten players were signed to AFL teams and three players played for teams in the Canadian Football League. Here is a list of the final roster (more…)

As sports fans across the country countdown to Spring Training and the beginning of baseball season, arena football aficionados have their own date in mind, similarly aligned on the calendar, to which to look forward to. No, the Steeldogs will not be suiting up in 2011, but that doesn’t give true fans a reason to deny themselves the irreplaceable bone-crunching intensity the sport has to offer.Set to be a banner year for arena football, the AFL will feature the first 18-game schedule in league history, delivering even more action in the second year since the league’s hiatus. Expanding to 18 teams from 15, franchises in Kansas City, Philadelphia and San Jose make their prodigal return to the AFL stage, with the Pittsburgh Power joining the ranks for the first time. Only the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz were lost as an offseason casualty. Among other changes fans may notice, two teams will make their name/location changes official, as the Alabama Vipers and Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings reincarnate the Georgia Force and New Orleans VooDoo, respectively.Kick-off is set for March 11^th, featuring the following match ups:

• Philadelphia Soul Pittsburgh Power 8:00 PM
• Tampa Bay Storm New Orleans VooDoo 8:00 PM
• Spokane Shock San Jose Sabercats 10:30 PM (more…)

The Steeldogs may be gone, but will never be forgotten. Enjoy these parting fun facts to bring a smile to your face in those times you would rather be at Steeldogs game…

• The Steeldogs remain the longest tenured professional sports team to ever play in Birmingham, Alabama, spanning the duration of 8 full seasons.
• Steeldogs games were attended over 400,000 times by members all across the community, with a cumulative home game attendance of 425,085, to be exact.
• Over the course of franchise history, the Steeldogs played 134 contests, including the playoffs.
• The Steeldogs qualified for the postseason in 4 out of 8 seasons, not half bad.
• The best ever Steeldogs season came in 2001, their second year in existence, running their regular season record to an impressive 12-4.
• The Steeldogs won a grand total of 63 regular season games, not to mention 2 playoff victories.
• No one spent more time in a Steeldogs uniform than two-way lineman David Daniel, a member of the team for the final 6 seasons. (more…)

As a defunct franchise, the Steeldogs can’t retire any numbers into a ring of fame, but we’ll do one better retire all the numbers. After all, no one will ever have the privilege of wearing numbers ‘s 1 through 99 for the Steeldogs ever again. This snapshot is a picture of the Steeldogs’ final roster, frozen in time, at least until one day, a team bearing the same name, clad in orange, black and silver, finally makes its prodigal return to the city of Birmingham. Without further ado, here’s the last of the Mohicans Steeldogs… Name Position1 Bradly Chavez WR/DB2 Markeith Cooper WR3 Willie Smith DB5 Jhun Cook WR/DB7 Marcus Mitchell FB/LB7 Ronald Dillon WR/DB8 Chico Cleveland WR/LB9 Mitch Tanney QB10 Nick Hayes K11 Herman Bell WR12 Justin Midgett QB16 David Philyaw WR/DB20 Thadio Hill DB22 Jon Olinger WR/DB24 Will Evans DB24 Adrian Ghent DB35 John Mohring FB/LB37 Rajohn Myles FB/LB (more…)