Historical Moments:
1996: In front of 27,779 fans at the Cotton Bowl on April 14, 1996, the Dallas Burn would
earn a shootout win over the San Jose Clash. The Burn, with their superstar
Jason Kries and coach Dave Dir, would quickly become one of MLS's better teams
as they used a midseason 5-game winning streak to earn their first playoff berth
with a record of 17-15. The playoffs, however, would be short lived for the Burn
as the Kansas City Wiz in three games beat them.
1997: Looking to build on the success of their inaugural season, the Burn started the season
with mediocre results. But again, they used a midsummer 4-game winning streak
to make the playoffs although they also had a midsummer 4- game-losing streak.
They ended the season with a .500 record of 16-16. In the playoffs, the Burn
looked like just that as they swept the Los Angeles Galaxy without conceding
a goal. But in the next round, they would fall victim to the Colorado Rapids in
a sweep. The Burn would find solace as they later beat MLS Cup Champion DC United
to win the US Open Cup.
1998: Going into their third season, the Burn would struggle out of the gate and in the
middle of the season. Despite a poor record of 15-17, the Burn would qualify for
their third straight playoff berth. In the playoffs, the Los Angeles Galaxy
would sweep them in the first round.
1999: At the end of May, the Burn were in the middle of the pack of the Western Conference
with an even record of 5-5. From then on, the Burn, thanks in large part to
Jason Kries' breakout year, would surge to second place by the end of the year
with a record of 19-13. In the playoffs, Burn fans would see their team fly high
as they knocked off the defending champions Chicago Fire. In the West Final,
they would lose to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first game and then beat them
in the next game. In the end, the Galaxy would have the last laugh and would eliminate
the Burn.
2000: After coming within one game of MLS Cup, the Burn hoped to go even further. In the
middle of the spring and into the summer, they went through a slump and made
the playoffs third in the realigned Central Division and the 6th seed on the league
table with a record of 14-14-6. In the playoffs, the Burn wouldn't go anywhere
as the MetroStars swept them in two games. At the end of the year, coach Dave
Dir would be let go and replaced by Mike Jeffries.
2001: In their first full season under Mike Jeffries, the Burn would continue to play mediocre
soccer and finish the season 10-11-5 after the final weekend was cut short
as a result of the September 11 attacks. In the playoffs as the 7th seed, the
Burn wouldn't really put up much of a fight as they lost in three games to the
Chicago Fire.
2002: The Burn would surprise their rivals and have a much better season from start to
finish. Jason Kries would continue to lead the club as they finished with a 12-9-7
record, their best in three years and they earned the 5th seed in the playoffs.
In the playoffs, though, the Colorado Rapids on a series-tiebreaking by Mark
Chung would upset the Burn in game 3.
2003: Unable to maintain the momentum of the previous year, the Burn would suffer through
a bad year. Mike Jeffries was fired in September and replaced by Colin Clarke
as the Burn finished the season with a record of 6-19-5, missing the playoffs
for the first time in club history.
2004: In a one-year return to the Cotton Bowl, and the team's final year being known as
the "Burn," the club would carry over some of their frustrations from the previous
year. By late July, the Burn would creep back into the playoff picture, but
it would not be enough as they missed the playoffs for the second year in a row
with a dismal 10-14-6 season. In August, club owner Lamar Hunt revealed that
the club in 2005 and beyond would be known as "FC Dallas" to be more of a soccer
team and to coincide with their new stadium in Frisco, Texas.
2005: Whether it was the name change, or the acquisition of Carlos Ruiz, FC Dallas would
fly out of the gates, losing only two of their fist 17 games. On August 6, FC
Dallas played their inaugural game at Pizza Hut Park and tied the MetroStars,
2-2. The new stadium seemed to bring a bad spark to Dallas as they went on a six-game
winless streak. Then they went on a three game winning streak. That streak
helped them into the playoffs as the second seed in the West with a record of
13-10-9. Against the Colorado Rapids in the playoffs, the teams would play a
scoreless first game. After playing to a 1-1 tie in regulation, the two teams were
level again, 2-2, after the first overtime period. Carlos Ruiz then had a penalty
kick attempt, but hit the goalpost. In the shootout, the Rapids outscored
and defeated FC Dallas, 5-4 on penalties. After converting his penalty kick,
Ruiz looked skyward as if to say, "Why can't I do that when it matters?"
2006: Regaining the momentum they had from the year before, FC Dallas again took the West
by storm. In their first full season at Pizza Hut Park, Carlos Ruiz led the
way with 13 goals on the way to helping his team to a 16-12-4 record and the top
seed in the West. In the playoffs, though, the Hoops' proud season would come
to a screeching halt as they were again were knocked out in penalties by the Colorado
Rapids. |
