The Madison Mad Dogs were an
indoor football team that played in the
Professional Indoor Football League (
PIFL) in 1998, and in the
Indoor Football League
The Indoor Football League (IFL) is a professional indoor American football league created in 2008 out of the merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football. It has one of the largest number of currently active teams amon ...
(IFL) in 1999 & 2000. The Mad Dogs franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office was based in
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the county seat of Dane County and the capital city of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census the population was 269,840, making it the second-largest city in Wisconsin by population, after Milwaukee, and the 80th-lar ...
, and played their games at the Dane County Coliseum, now Veterans Memorial Coliseum, at the
Alliant Energy Center. The team colors were: Red, Silver, and Black. The Mad Dogs were coached by Richard "Dick" Adams for the '98
PIFL season.
The Mad Dogs played four preseason
PIFL games in '98. Winning only once:
*February 18 – Madison Mad Dogs 22 at
Green Bay Bombers
The Green Bay Bombers was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 1999 and 2000. The Bombers franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office w ...
64
*February 23 –
Green Bay Bombers
The Green Bay Bombers was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 1999 and 2000. The Bombers franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office w ...
45 at Madison Mad Dogs 39
*March 19 –
Colorado Wildcats
The Colorado Wildcats was a team in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998. The Wildcats franchise was owned by Gary Kozacek, who also was head coach/owner of the same Wildcats team for the previous 9 years, as they competed in sem ...
20 at Madison Mad Dogs 27
*March 28 – Madison Mad Dogs 29 at
Minnesota Monsters
The Minnesota Monsters were an indoor football team based in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. The Monsters were charter members of the original Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998. The Monsters franchise was owned by Robert and Joann Edw ...
33
The Madison Mad Dogs tied with their sister team,
Green Bay Bombers
The Green Bay Bombers was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 1999 and 2000. The Bombers franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office w ...
– both teams owned by Ecklund, for the second best record in the
PIFL with a 10-4 record. In the playoffs, the Mad Dogs hosted the Bombers in the first round. They won 46-19.
Keary Ecklund took his Bombers and Mad Dogs teams and defected from the
PIFL to form the IFL. In 1999, the team, finished 6-6 in the Northern Division of the IFL.
The following year was very similar, but finalized with a couple of playoff games. The Mad Dogs finished 8-6 in the Northern Division of the IFL. Then, Madison faced Erie at home in the first round of the IFL playoffs. Defeating them 34-22 and advancing to the second round at Peoria. Peoria was too much for the Mad Dogs, as they lost 13-25 and out of the IFL playoffs. When the IFL was sold, following the 2000 season, the Mad Dogs disappeared.
Season-By-Season
, -
, colspan="6" align="center" , Madison Mad Dogs (PIFL)
, -
, 1998 , , 10 , , 4 , , 0 , , 2nd League , , Won Semifinal (
Green Bay)
Lost PIFL Championship (
Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...
)
, -
, colspan="6" align="center" , Madison Mad Dogs (IFL)
, -
, 1999 , , 6 , , 6 , , 0 , , 3rd Northern , , --
, -
, 2000 , , 8 , , 6 , , 0 , , 3rd EC Northern , , Won Round 1 (
Erie)
Lost Quarterfinal (
Peoria)
, -
!Totals , , 26 , , 18 , , 0
, colspan="2", (including playoffs)
Madison Mad Dogs 1998 PIFL schedule
*April 10 –
Louisiana Bayou Beast
The Louisiana Bayou Beast were a team in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998, in the Indoor Professional Football League (IPFL) in 1999, and reincarnated in 2001 in the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). The Bayou Beast fran ...
36, at Madison Mad Dogs 28
*April 19 – Madison Mad Dogs 33, at
Louisiana Bayou Beast
The Louisiana Bayou Beast were a team in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998, in the Indoor Professional Football League (IPFL) in 1999, and reincarnated in 2001 in the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). The Bayou Beast fran ...
67
*April 27 – Great Britain Spartans‡ 12, at Madison Mad Dogs† 29
†EXHIBITION GAME
‡Team in the proposed
PIFL European Division – set for late '98
*May 2 –
Texas Bullets
The Texas Bullets were a team in the Professional Indoor Football League (1998), Professional Indoor Football League (Professional Indoor Football League (1998), PIFL) in 1998. The Bullets franchise was owned by Wayne Stigler, who also was the te ...
28, at Madison Mad Dogs 35
*May 9 – Madison Mad Dogs 49, at
Utah Catzz
The Utah Catzz was a team in the United States Professional Indoor Football League ( PIFL) in 1998. The Catzz franchise was owned by Michael & Carla Curran, who also started a farm club for the Catzz, the Salt Lake Lions (semi-pro football team). ...
27
*May 16 – Madison Mad Dogs 24, at
Honolulu Hurricanes
The Honolulu Hurricanes was a Professional Indoor Football League (1998), Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) team based in Honolulu, Hawaii, that competed in the 1998 season. According to the team's media guide, the ownership partners &nd ...
33
*May 23 –
Green Bay Bombers
The Green Bay Bombers was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 1999 and 2000. The Bombers franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office w ...
30, at Madison Mad Dogs 31
*May 31 – Madison Mad Dogs 44, at
Texas Bullets
The Texas Bullets were a team in the Professional Indoor Football League (1998), Professional Indoor Football League (Professional Indoor Football League (1998), PIFL) in 1998. The Bullets franchise was owned by Wayne Stigler, who also was the te ...
46
*June 6 –
Minnesota Monsters
The Minnesota Monsters were an indoor football team based in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. The Monsters were charter members of the original Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998. The Monsters franchise was owned by Robert and Joann Edw ...
20, at Madison Mad Dogs† 36
†EXHIBITION GAME
*June 13 – Madison Mad Dogs at
Minnesota Monsters
The Minnesota Monsters were an indoor football team based in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. The Monsters were charter members of the original Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998. The Monsters franchise was owned by Robert and Joann Edw ...
– Minnesota forfeits
*June 20 –
Honolulu Hurricanes
The Honolulu Hurricanes was a Professional Indoor Football League (1998), Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) team based in Honolulu, Hawaii, that competed in the 1998 season. According to the team's media guide, the ownership partners &nd ...
36, at Madison Mad Dogs 64
*July 4 – Madison Mad Dogs at
Colorado Wildcats
The Colorado Wildcats was a team in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998. The Wildcats franchise was owned by Gary Kozacek, who also was head coach/owner of the same Wildcats team for the previous 9 years, as they competed in sem ...
– Colorado forfeits
*July 11 – Madison Mad Dogs 52, at
Green Bay Bombers
The Green Bay Bombers was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 1999 and 2000. The Bombers franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office w ...
30
*July 18 –
Colorado Wildcats
The Colorado Wildcats was a team in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998. The Wildcats franchise was owned by Gary Kozacek, who also was head coach/owner of the same Wildcats team for the previous 9 years, as they competed in sem ...
18, at Madison Mad Dogs 54
*August 1 –
Utah Catzz
The Utah Catzz was a team in the United States Professional Indoor Football League ( PIFL) in 1998. The Catzz franchise was owned by Michael & Carla Curran, who also started a farm club for the Catzz, the Salt Lake Lions (semi-pro football team). ...
at Madison Mad Dogs – Utah forfeits
PLAYOFF SUMMARY
*August 7 – #3
Green Bay Bombers
The Green Bay Bombers was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 1999 and 2000. The Bombers franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office w ...
19, at #2 Madison Mad Dogs 46
PIFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
*August 15 – #2 Madison Mad Dogs 41, at #1
Louisiana Bayou Beast
The Louisiana Bayou Beast were a team in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998, in the Indoor Professional Football League (IPFL) in 1999, and reincarnated in 2001 in the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). The Bayou Beast fran ...
42
Madison Mad Dogs 1999 IFL schedule
*April 2 – Madison at
Peoria Pirates
The Peoria Pirates were a professional arena football team that last played in AF2, the minor league to the Arena Football League (AFL). They played their home games at Carver Arena, part of the Peoria Civic Center in Illinois, and were coached b ...
0-36
*April 9 –
Dayton Skyhawks
The Dayton Skyhawks were a professional indoor American football team based in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Gre ...
at Madison 41-48
*Week 3 bye
*April 23 – Madison at
Lincoln Lightning
The Lincoln Capitols were a professional indoor American football, indoor football team that played their home games at Pershing Center, Pershing Auditorium in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. They originally planned on becoming the Nebraska Kn ...
37-34
*April 30 –
Topeka Knights
Topeka ( ; Kansa: ; iow, Dópikˀe, script=Latn or ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the seat of Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeast Kansas, in the Central Un ...
at Madison 26-38
*May 7 –
Green Bay Bombers
The Green Bay Bombers was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 1999 and 2000. The Bombers franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office w ...
at Madison 33-23
*May 14 – Madison at
Duluth-Superior Lumberjacks
The Duluth-Superior Lumberjacks were a professional indoor American football team based in Duluth, Minnesota. They were members of the original Indoor Football League founded in 1998 and began play in 1999. They competed in the Northern Division ...
55-28
*May 21 –
Steel Valley Smash
The Ohio Valley Greyhounds were a professional indoor football team. They began play in 1999 as the Steel Valley Smash, a charter member of the IFL. After the league folded, they moved to the NIFL, became a charter member, and renamed themse ...
at Madison 47-53
*Week 9 – Madison at
Green Bay Bombers
The Green Bay Bombers was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 1999 and 2000. The Bombers franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office w ...
34-59
*Week 10 – Madison at
Steel Valley Smash
The Ohio Valley Greyhounds were a professional indoor football team. They began play in 1999 as the Steel Valley Smash, a charter member of the IFL. After the league folded, they moved to the NIFL, became a charter member, and renamed themse ...
33-50
*Week 11 –
Peoria Pirates
The Peoria Pirates were a professional arena football team that last played in AF2, the minor league to the Arena Football League (AFL). They played their home games at Carver Arena, part of the Peoria Civic Center in Illinois, and were coached b ...
at Madison 52-22
*Week 12 – Madison at
Dayton Skyhawks
The Dayton Skyhawks were a professional indoor American football team based in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Gre ...
47-51
*Week 13 –
Lincoln Lightning
The Lincoln Capitols were a professional indoor American football, indoor football team that played their home games at Pershing Center, Pershing Auditorium in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. They originally planned on becoming the Nebraska Kn ...
at Madison 41-47
Madison Mad Dogs 2000 IFL schedule
*Week 1 Madison at
Peoria Pirates
The Peoria Pirates were a professional arena football team that last played in AF2, the minor league to the Arena Football League (AFL). They played their home games at Carver Arena, part of the Peoria Civic Center in Illinois, and were coached b ...
20-46
*Week 2 bye
*Week 3 Madison at
Green Bay Bombers
The Green Bay Bombers was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 1999 and 2000. The Bombers franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office w ...
27-53
*Week 4
Minnesota Purple Rage
The Minnesota Purple Rage were a professional indoor American football team based in Mankato, Minnesota. They were members of the original Indoor Football League founded in 1999 and began play in 2000. They competed in the Southern Division of t ...
at Madison 48-32
*Week 5
La Crosse River Rats at Madison 27-56
*Week 6 Madison at
Billings Thunderbolts
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, with a population of 117,116 as of the 2020 census. Located in the south-central portion of the state, it is the seat of Yellowstone County and the principal city of the Billings Metro ...
33-60
*Week 7
Steel Valley Smash
The Ohio Valley Greyhounds were a professional indoor football team. They began play in 1999 as the Steel Valley Smash, a charter member of the IFL. After the league folded, they moved to the NIFL, became a charter member, and renamed themse ...
at Madison 24-49
*Week 8 Madison at
La Crosse River Rats 37-25
*Week 9
Peoria Pirates
The Peoria Pirates were a professional arena football team that last played in AF2, the minor league to the Arena Football League (AFL). They played their home games at Carver Arena, part of the Peoria Civic Center in Illinois, and were coached b ...
at Madison 62-59
*Week 10
Duluth-Superior Lumberjacks
The Duluth-Superior Lumberjacks were a professional indoor American football team based in Duluth, Minnesota. They were members of the original Indoor Football League founded in 1998 and began play in 1999. They competed in the Northern Division ...
at Madison 25-57
*Week 11 Madison at
Duluth-Superior Lumberjacks
The Duluth-Superior Lumberjacks were a professional indoor American football team based in Duluth, Minnesota. They were members of the original Indoor Football League founded in 1998 and began play in 1999. They competed in the Northern Division ...
66-21
*Week 12
Johnstown Jackals
The National Indoor Football League (NIFL) was a professional indoor American football, football league in the United States. For their first six years, the league had teams in markets not covered by either the Arena Football League or its deve ...
at Madison 45-54
*Week 13
Green Bay Bombers
The Green Bay Bombers was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 1999 and 2000. The Bombers franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office w ...
at Madison 44-31
*Week 14
Fargo Freeze
Fargodome is an indoor athletic stadium in the north central United States, located on the campus of North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo, North Dakota. Opened in late 1992, the facility is owned by the City of Fargo and built on unive ...
at Madison 26-37
*Week 15 Madison at
Minnesota Purple Rage
The Minnesota Purple Rage were a professional indoor American football team based in Mankato, Minnesota. They were members of the original Indoor Football League founded in 1999 and began play in 2000. They competed in the Southern Division of t ...
61-45
PLAYOFF SUMMARY
*Week 1 –
Erie Invaders
The Erie Invaders were a professional indoor American football team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. They were members of the original Indoor Football League founded in 1999 and began play in 2000 at Louis J. Tullio Arena in Erie. They competed in t ...
at Madison 22-34
*Week 2 – Madison at
Peoria Pirates
The Peoria Pirates were a professional arena football team that last played in AF2, the minor league to the Arena Football League (AFL). They played their home games at Carver Arena, part of the Peoria Civic Center in Illinois, and were coached b ...
13-25
{{Indoor Professional Football League
Professional Indoor Football League teams
Indoor Football League (1999–2000) teams
American football teams in Wisconsin
Sports in Madison, Wisconsin
1998 establishments in Wisconsin
2000 disestablishments in Wisconsin
American football teams established in 1998
American football teams disestablished in 2000