The Madison Mad Dogs 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 & 2000. The Mad Dogs franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office was based in Madison, Wisconsin, 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:
The Madison Mad Dogs tied with their sister team, Green Bay Bombers – 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 finialized 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.
†EXHIBITION GAME
‡Team in the proposed PIFL European Division – set for late '98
†EXHIBITION GAME
PLAYOFF SUMMARY