The Chicago Enforcers

Enforcers Touchdown

The Enforcers were the first XFL franchise, announced on 13 June 2000. The no name team was originally rumoured to be named the Skyscrapers prior to the officially naming in August 2000. When the team name was announced in Aug 2000, members of XFLBoard had already correctly guessed the Enforcers name.

The Enforcer's first head coach was the legendary Dick Butkus. However, shortly before the initial player draft (P.A.S.S., Player Allocation and Selection System) Butkus was appointed to head the XFL's competition committee, and Ron Meyer was named head coach of the Enforcers. Meyer and his staff had less than four weeks to review 1,500 players profiles, resumes, and videos. This was to play havoc with the team over their first few games. Training camp for all Eastern Division teams (Chicago, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, and Birmingham) was in Orlando, Florida. The team was on the road for the first two months of their existence before coming back home. Coach Meyer felt that it would be easier on the team to remain in Orlando, and then travel directly to the host cities in the first three games, instead of flying back and forth from Chicago every week for two months.

Even though the players were competitive and never gave up, the team started out by losing their first four games, capped by a humiliating shutout loss to the then-winless NY/NJ Hitmen, 13-0, in a freezing rain. The XFL was so appreciative of the fans that braved the freezing rain and terrible conditions that they were awarded free admission tickets to the next home game. That game was against the fearsome Las Vegas Outlaws, and featured the debut of quarterback Kevin McDougal. McDougal and running back John Avery took it to the Outlaws and landed the team their first victory, 15-13.

In their second game, the team traveled to Los Angeles to play the Xtreme in a Saturday evening game. The game's first glitch came when an NBC broadcast truck ran out of fuel for its generator, and most of the first half was not even broadcast to television viewers. Not much was missed, however, as most of the action came in the fourth quarter and overtime. Regulation play ended in a tie, sending the game into an amazing double overtime before the Xtreme emerged victorious, 39-32. The game actually pushed back the broadcast time for Saturday Night Live, hosted by singer Jennifer Lopez, about one hour. SNL producer Lorne Michaels was reported to be highly upset, and NBC network executives agreed to make concessions in the future.

The team finished the regular season at 5-5 and qualified for the playoffs. They traveled to Los Angeles to face the Xtreme once again, but were defeated without any overtime 33-16. Coach Ron Meyer and his staff did a tremendous job putting the team together and guiding them through their only season with only a few week's preparation time. The epitome of the team, and indeed the entire XFL, was demonstrated by running back John Avery (voted XFL Offensive Player of the Year) after their shutout loss in Week 4 when he thanked all the fans for their support on national television, and dedicated the entire effort of the team to the fans.

XFLBoard Chicago Enforcers News Archive

27 Aug 00	The XFL Comes to Chicago
16 Sep 00	Out with the old, in with the new
21 Oct 00	All Good Things Must Come to an End... Should It Really?
17 Nov 00	QumarChicago meets "Da Coach"
3 Feb 2001	We Will Miss out on Some Great Football
10 Feb 01	The Eyes of the Nation Watch the Enforcers
18 Feb 01	The Enforcers Last Chance Before Coming Home
21 Feb 01	Enforcers to Make Home Debut
24 Feb 01	FINALLY THE ENFORCERS HAVE COME BACK... HOME
5 Mar 01	Enforcers "Like to Party"
5 Mar 01	A Cinderella Story for Chicago?
7 Mar 01	McDougal or Lester?
10 Mar 01	The Enforcers Climb the East Division Ladder as they Enter the Asylum
12 Mar 01	Offense back in form, but Chicago falls short…again
16 Mar 01	Secondary Costing the Enforcers
19 Mar 01	Raise Your Fists!
20 Mar 01	Can you smell it?
26 Mar 01	Chicago too cold for Thunderbolts
27 Mar 01	Enforcer Fans Raise Your Fists
4 Apr 01	Chicago Fans Enforcers Only Supporters - Local Media has all but Abandoned the Miracle Team

Few cities can match Chicago's long history of strength, toughness, and attitude when it comes to professional sports. The fist of the ENFORCERS logo is the perfect icon for this dominant city.

Announced:
June 13, 2000

General Manager:
Conrad "Connie" Kowal

Head Coach:
Ron Meyer

Team Colors:
Silver, blue and black

Stadium:
Soldier Field
(Grass)

Preseason odds to
win championship:
12-1

Final Record:
5-5
2nd place XFL East

XFLBoard
Chicago Team
Reporters:

QumarChicago
Bob Williams
Troy Pringle

Enforcers's Roster