The Birmingham Thunderbolts

The Bolts Hit the Field

The XFL's seventh charter team, the Birmingham franchise, was announced on 1 Aug 2000. Locally, the team was well received by the city, as Birmingham had been part of many a failed league- the WFL Americans and Vulcans, the USFL Stallions, the WLAF Fire, as well as the CFL's Barracudas. Shortly after, the XFL named Gerry DiNardo, a longtime LSU coach, to be the team's head Coach.

Prior to the Thunderbolts being officially named, it was actually leaked that the team was originally to be named the Blast. The leak originated from posters on this site. As soon as the Birmingham public discovered that the team was to be named "Blast" there was a general outcry, as people thought the name “Blast” could be associated with the 1963 racist church bombings. The name was quickly changed to Thunderbolts, but the uniforms and logos, which were already designed, remained the same

Birmingham suffered the most from player defections and injuries before the season began. The team was hastily assembled, and never really clicked. The Bolts were known for starting off games slowly, only to come back late. They showed promise after a comeback came up just short in Week 1, and then jumped out to a 2-1 record, as the Hitmen and Enforcers stood 2 games behind the Bolts at 0-3 each. The Bolts fell apart and never won another game, they came close to beating the Rage in week 9, but were the first team eliminated.

Optimism ran high for a better season in 2002. The Birmingham head office staff, when interviewed by staff of this web site seemed optimistic. They were completely blind-sided by the closure of the league when it was announced in May 2001.

XFLBoard Thunderbolts News Archive

27 Aug 00	XFL or EX-FL For Birmingham? Generation X gets its own Team
1 Sep 00	Fire in the Sky
21 Sep 00	Familiar Names Tryout for the Bolts
23 Sep 00	Southern Fried Football
30 Oct 00	Report Card Day
31 Oct 00	Bolts Draft Review
22 Nov 00	Photos from the Bolts Mini-Camp
14 Dec 00	T - 7 weeks and counting
20 Dec 00	Will There Be a "Rick & Bubba" Section in Birmingham?
1 Jan 01	Imported Cheerleaders?
6 Jan 01	Across the Rio Grande
9 Jan 01	Home Town Hero Comes Home
10 Jan 01	News and Notes From Thunderbolts Training Camp
12 Jan 01	Bolts Make the Right Move
12 Jan 01	Bolts Run up Yardage in Scrimmage, Defense Allows One Score
13 Jan 01	Correcting Mistakes
15 Jan 01	Training Camp Cuts, Bolts Roster Trimmed to 62
16 Jan 01	Reality 101
16 Jan 01	XFL Films Shoots Special Teams
17 Jan 01	Fire Alarm Marks a Tough Day for the Thunderbolts
17 Jan 01	Inside the Bolts - A Day at the Thunderbolts Office
18 Jan 01	Miracle Workers Play to Full House
19 Jan 01	Bolts are Giving Blood
22 Jan 01	Bolts Make Eight Player Moves
23 Jan 01	Excitement Builds as Legion Field Changes Take Place
24 Jan 01	Exclusive: Interview with Tim Berryman, GM for the Birmingham Thunderbolts
24 Jan 01	Bolts End Camp by Scrimmaging Chicago
30 Jan 01	Birmingham is Hungry for Football
31 Jan 01	Football game day is about to change
5 Feb 01	Birmingham Succeeds in the Stands
5 Feb 01	Memphis Runs Past Birmingham in League Debut
7 Feb 01	Bolt's Notes
8 Feb 01	Bolts Face Critical Road Game
14 Feb 01	Coach Dinardo Speaks at Bolts Press Conference
16 Feb 01	The Bolts Face a Challenge
19 Feb 01	Lightning Does Strike Twice
19 Feb 01	Bolt's Attendance Stunted by NASCAR and Nature
23 Feb 01	Dinardo's Combat Tactics for XFL Sideline Reporters
25 Feb 01	Bolts Miss the Flight
27 Feb 01	No Bags Being Packed at Legion Field
2 Mar 01	Bennett in a Bolts Uniform?
5 Mar 01	Bolts DOA?
12 Mar 01	Bolts Fall Short in Shootout with LA
13 Mar 01	The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
18 Mar 01	Situation Desperate in Birmingham
26 Mar 01	Bolt's Woes
30 Mar 01	Butkus Visits The Steel City
1 Apr 01	David Could not Beat Goliath
9 Apr 01	Bolt's Finish Inaugural Season
12 Apr 01	Will the Bolt's Make Off-season Changes?
15 May 01	Broken Hearts and Broken Promises in Birmingham

While some cities can boast about professional sports teams and championships, few can match Birmingham's love for football. The purple, gold and silver team colors and logo captures the BOLTS electrifying spirit.

General Manager:
Tim Berryman

Head Coach:
Jerry Dinardo

Team Colors:
Purple, gold and silver

Stadium:
Legion Field

Preseason odds to win championship:
8-1

Final Record:
2-8, 4th place XFL East

XFLBoard Birmingham Team Reporters:

Bamaslammer **
Sonny Sanders **

** Two of the best reporters this site ever had

Check out a special gallery of
Bolt's Cheerleader Photos

Bolt's Roster