HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL. - Since the Chicago Slaughter joined the Continental Indoor Football League in 2007, the team has been building itself to become a champion.

In the Slaughter's third season, it accomplished the goal and brought the city of Chicago a title. With a 58-48 win Saturday at the Sears Centre over the Fort Wayne Freedom, Chicago capped off an undefeated 14-0 season and won the 2009 CIFL Championship.

"I want to thank the true football fans of Chicago," Slaughter coach Steve McMichael said while addressing the crowd during the trophy presentation. "Celebrate the championship of Chicago because it's your team too. Undefeated, the Chicago Slaughter are here to stay. Now let's go party."

It is never easy to win a championship in any sport, and on this particular day, the Freedom (7-6) were a challenging and unyielding opponent. For a team that had outscored opponents by an average of 30 points a game, the Slaughter did not pull away from the Freedom until 7:38 remained in the game.

The Slaughter led 51-42 midway through the final quarter but were searching for its first defensive stop of the second half. After the defense held Fort Wayne to a missed field goal, Donovan Morgan broke the game open with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Russ Michna and Chicago went up 58-42. Fort Wayne could never recover and the Slaughter held on for the win.

Michna was named the game's Most Valuable Player, going 14 for 20 with 182 yards and seven passing touchdowns. Morgan caught three and Bobby Sippio added two.

"I can't thank the Slaughter organization enough," Michna said. "I never thought I would be able to play football again. It's been so much fun to be with such a great group of guys."

Chicago was shut out in the first quarter for the first time all season. Fort Wayne received the opening kickoff and promptly scored on a 38 yard pass from Randy Hutchison to Luther Stroder in 1:40. The Slaughter looked to answer on its first possession, but while running toward the endzone Russ Michna was hit and fumbled the football. Fort Wayne recovered but could not capitalize and was stopped on downs inside the 10-yard line. After the first quarter, Fort Wayne led 7-0.

The teams traded touchdowns for most of the second quarter. Reggie Gray returned a kickoff 46 yards for one score. Russ Michna fired three passing touchdowns in the first half, two to Donovan Morgan and one to Dontrell Jackson.

Tied at 28-28, Chicago made a critical defensive stand by holding Fort Wayne out of the endzone on four straight plays inside the 5-yard line with less than 30 seconds before halftime. The Slaughter took over on downs with just four seconds remaining before intermission and Chris Nednick hit a 52-yard field goal on the final play of the half. It was the longest field goal in CIFL history and beat out the previous record of 51 yards set by Fort Wayne's Brad Selent in the 2008 CIFL Championship when he was playing for the Saginaw Sting. Chicago led 31-28 and set a CIFL record for points in one quarter with all of its 31.

"It was pretty good that (the game) turned out the way it did," said LB DeJuan Alfonzo. "We were ready to try anything, and I definitely wanted to win."

Fort Wayne was led by Randy Hutchinson, who went 27 for 48 with 355 yards and two scored. Luther Stroder caught seven passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns and Nick Body racked up 182 yards on 13 grabs with two scores.

Notes: Chris Nednick's 52-yard field goal to end the first half was the longest in CIFL history! Chicago's 31 point second quarter was the most points in a quarter in CIFL history! Reggie Gray returned the first kickoff for a touchdown in a CIFL Championship! The Slaughter scored the most points in CIFL Championship Game history with 58, beating out the previous record of 41. -Adam Musto 

June 23rd, 2009  Hoffman Estates, IL -- Being a kicker in indoor football might not be the most glamorous job, but it's a necessary one. Fortunately, the Chicago Slaughter has the best kicker in the Continental Indoor Football League with Chris Nendick.
Nendick has put together a record-breaking season for the Slaughter, as he has set records for most point-after attempts made in a game, and most point-after attempts made in a single season. Even after setting those records, Nendick knows he's just one part of the machine that makes it all happen.
"The number one key (to the extra point success) is the blocking up front," Nendick said. "Then I've got an Arena Football League snapper (in C Brandon Eaton), and I've got the best holder that I've ever dealt with (LB DeJuan Alfonzo). It's not necessarily me -- it's just I'm the final piece. The puzzle gets put together when the ball goes through the uprights. There's a lot that goes to it."

However, kicking extra points is not as easy as Nendick might claim it to be. The goal posts in the CIFL are only nine-feet apart as opposed to 18-feet apart in college football and the NFL. Still, Nendick prefers the luxury of kicking indoors.
"When I go outside (at an outdoor football field), sometimes I joke around and say "Wow, those goal posts are pretty wide." Nendick said. "The good thing about indoor football is it's indoors. I played at Northern Illinois University and the wind got pretty brutal at times. It's just nice to kick indoors where things are climate-controlled, let's just say that."
The most unheralded part of Nendick's game is something that most people don't notice, and it's the one thing he says is his favorite part of the game.

"To be honest with you, it's got to be hitting and recovering all of those onside kicks," Nendick said, as the Slaughter has recovered seven of eight onside kicks attempted during the regular season. "Fortunately I've worked hard in the off-season, and when I was working out with the (Chicago) Rush, they told me (onside kickking) was going to be the #1 thing that was going to get me into the league.
"Everyone can kick off, everyone can kick field goals, but onside kicks are the thing that is going to get you in."
Even though sitting on the sidelines might get boring from time to time, Nendick stays positive and knows that his high-powered offense is going to give him lots of opportunities to score out on the field.

"Sometimes it gets a little difficult sitting there on the sidelines just hoping for a couple of field goals here and there," Nendick said. " Every extra point I make, it just keeps pushing us further along in the game. As a team, we're winning games. I just try to do my job. If I can do my job just like everyone else does theirs, this team is going to be very well put for the next two games."

The Slaughter (13-0) has advanced to the CIFL Championship this weekend at the Sear Centre Arena against the Fort Wayne Freedom. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:05PM in Hoffman Estates. For more information on the Chicago Slaughter or the CIFL Playoffs, please call the team office at (847) 310-3190 or visit the team website at www.ChicagoSlaughter.com. -Steve Arch 

June 20th, 2009  HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL.-For the first time in franchise history, the Chicago Slaughter will be playing for the league championship.

Chicago used a 28-0 second quarter run to defeat the Wisconsin Wolfpack in convincing style 63-19 in the Continental Indoor Football League Western Division Championship at the Sears Centre Saturday night.

The Slaughter (13-0) advances to the 2009 CIFL Championship Game and will host the Fort Wayne Freedom Saturday, June 27 at the Sears Centre. Fort Wayne (7-5) defeated the Marion Mayhem 49-40 Saturday night in the Eastern Division Championship. The Slaughter defeated the Freedom 56-41 April 18 during the regular season in its only meeting of the season.

Wisconsin finished its first CIFL season at 7-6.

Chicago scored on nine of its first ten possessions. The only times the Slaughter did not reach the end zone were the final two drives in each half, when the clock expired.

Quarterback Russ Michna went 16 for 24 with six touchdown passes, 264 yards and no interception. Bobby Sippio caught eight passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns. Donovan Morgan added a pair of touchdowns on four receptions for 77 yards.

"These are some of the most talented guys I?ve ever played with, it's great to be around them," Michna said. "We've planned to be in the championship game from day one, it's been the goal since day one, we're right where we expected to be with one more game to go."

After spotting the Slaughter a 7-0 lead off a Bobby Sippio touchdown grab in the corner of the endzone from Russ Michna, the Wolfpack tied the game at 7-7 when Derrick Brown found the endzone on a three yard run.

That was the first, last and only time Wisconsin would score in the first half. The next time the Wolfpack reached the endzone was not until 3:33 remained in the third quarter.

Chicago ripped off 28 unanswered first half points to take a 35-7 lead at halftime. Donovan Morgan and Sippio each caught a pair of scoring strikes from Michna. And a la Pittsburg Steelers linebacker James Harrison in Super Bowl XLIII, with 0:23 left in the first half Brandon Fields ended a Wolfpack scoring opportunity with a interception he returned coast to coast-50 yards-racing past the entire Wisconsin offense. Fields picked off another pass on Wisconsin?s ensuing possession to maintain a 35-7 halftime lead.

The Slaughter suppressed any chance for a Wolfpack rally in the second half. In the game's final 30 minutes, Chicago continued its pressure and outscored Wisconsin 28-12.

Defensively, the Slaughter held Wisconsin to nine first downs and outgained the Wolfpack 282 to 93. Wisconsin quarterback Chris Kudyba completed 12 of 24 passes for 78 yards, one score and two interceptions.

"We had a great game plan going in. We made all the plays we needed to," Slaughter LB DeJuan Alfonzo said. "It seemed early on that the Wolfpack was trying to catch us off guard, but we turned that around pretty fast."

The 2009 CIFL Championship Game between Chicago and Fort Wayne will be Saturday, June 27 at the Sears Centre. Tickets are available starting at $8.00 by calling 847-310-3190 or visiting www.chicagoslaughter.com. -Steve Arch 

June 18th, 2009  HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL. -- Before Tuesday night's practice even started, before the team's weekend playoff game, the Chicago Slaughter players seemed pretty loose and relaxed as they waited for things to kick off that evening.

The tone dramatically shifted once Head Coach Steve McMichael got on the field.

McMichael gathered his players at mid-field and explained the frustration he felt when the 1985 Chicago Bears, a team that McMichael was a member, lost a heartbreaking game to the Miami Dolphins to lose their chance at a perfect season. He wanted to make sure that every player in attendance knew the feeling that followed after that tough defeat.

"It's a shame after you dump a game when really the team that beats you wasn't as good as you are," McMichael said. "All you think is 'There goes history. There goes your sense of accomplishing something that is rare.' And it haunts you for the rest of your life."

After McMichael's pep talk, the team started their preparations as they get ready to face the Wisconsin Wolfpack in the first round of playoffs this weekend. Although the Slaughter has beaten the Wolfpack three times already, the players know that they can't take this team for granted.

"You can never take a team for granted," said LB DeJuan Alfonzo. "We've played this team three times. We struggled with them once, we beat them pretty badly the next time, and the last time we didn't play great on defense and just played ok on offense. We've got to take a good look from the last time we played them and correct the mistakes we made in that game. We don't want to take this game for granted just because we beat them three times."

RB Nick Cosentino, who has competed in several playoff games, didn't see much difference in his preparation for the team's upcoming tilt with Wisconsin.

"Nothing really changes," Cosentino said. "We've got to be focused and come in here today and work hard tonight to get ready for this week. (The team is) focused and pretty much ready to go. The attitude is to finish this thing out one week at a time, so this week is our concern."

Despite being cautious in preparing for the Wolfpack, the team seems to know what it needs to do in order to win on Saturday.

"The guys know that it's the playoffs right now, but it's just another game," said K Chris Nendick. "You've got to take it one game at a time, one step at a time, and if we don't win on Saturday, we're not playing next week (for the championship). You just play one game at a time, keep doing what we've been doing all year, and pieces will fall into place."

The 2009 Chicago Slaughter (12-0) just finished their first undefeated regular season schedule, and will host a Playoff game on June 20th at the Sears Centre against the Wisconsin Wolfpack. Kickoff will be at 7:05p.m. Saturday will be Make-A-Wish night, as the Slaughter joins forces with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Illinois and Jett's Heating & Air to raise funds in order to grant a child's wish. Several Chicago Bears - including Mark Anderson, Marcus Harrison, Eric Peterman and Ervin Baldwin- will be on hand to sign autographs after the game. Jett's will also be selling raffle tickets for the chance to win a new heating and air conditioning system, with proceeds going to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Illinois.

For more information on the playoff game and the Make-A-Wish Night, please call the Slaughter at (847) 310-3190 or visit our website at www.ChicagoSlaughter.com. -Steve Arch 

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL.—The Chicago Slaughter will host “Make-A-Wish” night during the team’s June 20th playoff game against the Wisconsin Wolfpack at the Sears Centre. The Slaughter will join forces with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Illinois and Jett’s Heating & Air to raise funds in order to grant a child’s wish. Kickoff is at 7:05pm.

The Slaughter will raise funds on “Make-A-Wish” night three different ways. The first way is through ticket sales. Chicago Slaughter fans may purchase tickets by calling the Slaughter office at (847) 310-3190. Mention the Make-A-Wish Foundation® and $4 from each ticket purchase will go directly to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Illinois.

The Slaughter will also have three current Chicago Bears players - Mark Anderson, Marcus Harrison, and Eric Peterman - on site to sign autographs on the field after the game. For $5, each fan can get an item signed by each player, with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Illinois.

Jett’s Heating & Air will also sell $10 raffle tickets for the chance to win a new heating and air conditioning system with a retail value of $6,000. All proceeds will directly support the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Illinois.
"We are honored to team up with the Chicago Slaughter for their June 20th playoff game,” said Bridget Gibson, Development Manager for Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Illinois. “We appreciate the opportunity to be a part of their undefeated season and thank both the
team and their fans for helping us to grant the wish of a child with a life-threatening medical condition in Illinois. It is truly a partnership in which everyone wins."

“We're thrilled to be a part of this event,” said Wayne Jett, Owner of Jett’s Heating & Air. “It's nice to give back to such a great cause as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and we're hoping to raise a lot of money in their name on Saturday."

For more information on the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Illinois, please visit their website at www.wishes.org. -Steve Arch 

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL.-- In 2006, wide receiver Bobby Sippio joined the Chicago Rush mid-season while the Rush were struggling at 4-8 and in the middle of a 1-6 stretch. With the addition of Sippio, the Rush finished the regular season winning three of their last four games, ripped off four playoff victories, and won Arena Bowl XX to earn the franchise’s first championship.

The 2009 season resembled a somewhat similar situation for Sippio and the Chicago Slaughter. However, the Slaughter was not in dire straits, like the Rush had been, in jeopardy of missing the playoffs. When he inked a deal with the Slaughter, Chicago was 9-0 and had already clinched a playoff spot. Yet, Sippio was thankful for the opportunity to play indoor football once again in the city of Chicago, even if he wasn’t able to play the full season with the team.

“I had the opportunity to get back into the groove of things and play football,” Sippio said. “I had the opportunity to go back and play for the city of Chicago, and I had a few friends, members of the Rush, that played [for the Slaughter].

“That helped me make my decisions easier, and it was great chance to keep working and get back into football shape.”

In Sippio’s first game with his new team, he grabbed 10 passes for 144 yards with six touchdowns as the Slaughter improved to 10-0. He added two more scores in the regular season finale against the Wisconsin Wolfpack in Madison.

Coming to the Slaughter, Sippio joined many of his former teammates from the Rush, including QB Russ Michna, LB DeJuan Alfonzo, DL Khreem Smith, and DB Dennison Robinson.

“It helped a lot with those guys being on the team,” Sippio said. “We already have that camaraderie and it’s a lot easier to get back together and it’s made things a lot of fun. It’s kind of like a homecoming, to be back together and having fun like we used to.”

Sippio comes with a very impressive football resume. In his inaugural season with the Chicago Rush, Sippio caught 38 passes for 654 yards with 17 touchdowns. In 2007, playing his first full season for the Rush, he amassed 1,742 yards with 53 scores on 125 receptions. Sippio also spent 2007 as a member of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, where he appeared in nine games.

The Western Kentucky alum said that his teammates on the 2006 Rush roster know what it takes to win another indoor football championship in Chicago.

“It makes us play harder and is making it a lot easier,” Sippio said. “We know how hard it is to win a championship, but we know since we already have one under our belt. When we play like a team it just makes it much easier for all of us.”

The 2009 Chicago Slaughter will host a CIFL Playoff game on June 20th at the Sears Centre against the Wisconsin Wolfpack. Kickoff will be at 7:05pm. For more information, please call the Slaughter at (847) 310-3190 or visit our website at www.ChicagoSlaughter.com.  -Steve Arch 

Hoffman Estates, IL -- The Chicago Slaughter, of the Continental Indoor Football League, is teaming up with Jett's Heating & Air in Crystal Lake to host an exclusive 2009 Playoff Tailgate Party on Saturday, June 20th. The party will take place in the Sears Centre Arena parking lot before the Slaughter playoff game against the Wisconsin Wolfpack. Kickoff for the divisional playoff game is 7:05pm.

Tickets for the tailgate party will only be available through Star 105.5, 95.5 WIIL ROCK, and the Chicago Slaughter's Flagship Station, Y103.9. Listen for your chance to win FREE tickets to the Chicago Slaughter Playoff Tailgate Party in the parking lot of Sears Centre on Saturday, June 20th from 4pm - 6pm.

Every weekday, beginning Monday, June 8th - Friday, June 19th, each station will be giving away a pair of tickets to join us for the biggest Chicago Slaughter tailgate party ever. Each winner will get two tickets to the tailgate party that will include parking, food, beverages and more.

Don't win tickets? Get your playoff tickets, bring your own grill and food and take part in the contests, games & festivities. There will be appearances by Head Coach Steve "Mongo" McMichael, Chicago Slaughter Players & The Slaughter Girls. Plus there will be music, games, contests & prizes throughout the tailgating area. Games MAY include games like Dunk The Slaughter Girl, Chicago Slaughter Football Toss, Bags and MORE!!!!!!!

Don't miss out on the party!!! Be sure to listen to Star 105.5, 95.5WIIL ROCK, and the Chicago Slaughter's Flagship Station, Y103.9, between June 8th-June 19th to win exclusive tickets to the event.

Sponsors to the event include: Jett's Heating & Air in Crystal Lake (815-459-4700) & Excalibur Technology (Kent at 847-850-1173).

The Chicago Slaughter (12-0) will host their first 2009 playoff game against the Wisconsin Wolfpack on June 20th at the Sears Centre Arena. Game time is at 7:05 pm. For more information on the Playoff Tailgate Party or to order playoff tickets, please contact the Chicago Slaughter office at 847-310-3190 or go online to www.ChicagoSlaughter.com. 

“Perfection,even the seeking of perfection is a beautiful thing” said Chicago Slaughter head coach Steve McMichael shortly after the team beat the Wisconsin Wolfpack 49-14 in Madison.

An emotional McMichael continued:

“I have played football since I was age 11. I had a championship with the Bears. But never in all that time did I ever enjoy an undefeated season. That is something so rare in professional sports, and its something I think that all of us on this team are going to savor of many years to come. This means so much that its difficult to put the emotion into words.”

The Slaughter’s record for the 2009 regular season now stands at 12-0. The team has two bye weeks coming up, then will face an as yet unnamed opponent in a home game at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates on June 20.

To Defensive Lineman Chris Pisani, the win in Wisconsin was an indication of good things to come.

“It means a lot to come in here and to get it done” Pisani said. “This definitely sends a message to the other players in our league. What we said tonight was that even though we knew for several weeks that we’d be coming into the playoffs, we never let down. We didn’t send out subs, we didn’t let things slide even though winning no longer impacted our playoff chances. We always played hard and we always wanted to win against the best competition in this league.”

Pisani anticipates rigorous practices during the weeks ahead, all a normal part of preparation for the post season.

“But really, the best competition you can find is during an actual game. So this has been a really good experience for us. We are going into the bye weeks confident. Our heads are held high and well definitely look forward to being ready for the next games coming our way.”

The win tonight was a true team effort with Michna connecting to Sippio for 2 touchdowns, Jackson for 1, Gray for 2, and both Boss and Sheldon with 1 touchdown each.

“I felt we came in somewhat sloppy at the start” quarterback Russ Michna said, referring to the early Wisconsin score that brought the game to 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. “We simply can’t afford to let that happen. I was glad we were able to turn things around by the second quarter, but still, there is no excuse for falling behind like that early on.”

A strong defensive effort included a punt block and two interceptions and held the Wolfpack to the 14 points they had accumulated by halftime.

“”Just like Russ said,we started a little too slow” said LB DeJuan Alfonzo. “But then we got things going good enough. To us, winning this game was paramount. You never want to go into a bye week, or especially into the playoffs on a sour note. You want the opportunity to look back at your last game and know that you gave your best and that you came out on top.”

Reggie Gray who said going into tonight’s contest that he felt “90% physically healthy” ended the game feeling strong.

“I got banged up a bit out there but no damage was done” Gray said. “I was pretty much able to do what I wanted to do out there in terms of feeling comfortable. I got into the end zone when I needed to . I’ll look forward to resting up a little during the break but the good news is that I’m no worse physically. I can work fine the way I am now”.”

The only planned activity other than practice for the team between this weekend and the June 20 playoff will be a Meet and Greet with fans at Biggers Chevrolet, 1385 East Chicago in Elgin on June 6,11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  -Steve Arch 

L-R Chicago Bear Jim Osborne, Slaughter President Arney Silvestri, Slaughter Coach Steve McMichael, Slaughter General Manager Alan Perkins, and Chicago Bears Jim McMahon & Gary Fencik at McMichael's College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony after Saturday evening's 67-22 win against the Wisconsin Wolfpack.

Hoffman Estates, IL – The Chicago Slaughter (10-0) kept their undefeated season intact as they defeated the Wisconsin Wolfpack (5-4) 67-22 on Saturday night in front of 5,518 fans. QB Russ Michna continued to break league records, as he set three new records and broke an old one he set earlier this season. The victory allowed the Slaughter to clinch the top spot in the CIFL Western Division, setting up the first playoff game for June 20th at the Sears Centre Arena.

The team scored first in the game and never looked back. Michna hooked up early and often with recently acquired WR, Bobby Sippio, as the two hooked up for six touchdowns including the first score of the game. Sippio finished with ten catches for 144 yards, while Michna finished 22-27 for 342 yards and eight touchdowns. WR Dontrell Jackson added eight receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown to keep the team comfortably in front for the entire game.

"It's just great to be here and I'm thrilled to be playing again," said Sippio. "I would have gone anywhere my former teammates were playing. I just can't say enough about them. We've always and the attitude that we'd do anything to play together. Anywhere, anytime. Name the place and we'll be there-even a sandlot. Now I think this team is unstoppable.

"We've got great chemistry (with his former Rush teammates now on the Slaughter) so I didn't hesitate to say yes. What a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to come back and be able to play with them again."

Michna set records for most touchdowns thrown in a year (63), most passing yards in a season (2453), and most completions in a season (188). Michna’s 342 yards passing also broke his own record for most passing yards in a game.

"I've been saying all season, each time we go out there we need to focus on getting better," said Michna. "If you contrast the first game we played against Madison and this last game, you'll understand what I mean. We were careless that first time, not getting things done. It was better this time around."

Defensively, DB Brandon Fields led the team with six tackles while DB Sidney Lewis broke up a pass and added four tackles.

"The goal tonight was to start out fast and shut them down early," said LB DeJuan Alfonzo. "But even so, they came back on us a few times and did score touchdowns on our defense. But in the end, we finally got thing under control and were able to get the win. It feels very good to be 10-0."  -Steve Arch 

Hoffman Estates, IL -- The Chicago Slaughter, of the Continental Indoor Football League, has signed Bobby Sippio, formerly with the Chicago Rush and the Kansas City Chiefs. His signing helps strengthen the Slaughters' receiving corps in the wake of the injury to WR Donovan Morgan, who was leading the CIFL in most major WR statistical categories. This brings the number of former Rush players to eight, as he joins Morgan, QB Russ Michna, RB Nick Cosentino, WR Reggie Gray, DL Khreem Smith, LB DeJuan Alfonzo, and DB Dennison Robinson.

"We are very proud to have a player of Bobby's caliber on board," said Slaughter General Manager Alan Perkins. "In 2006, Bobby came in and helped the Chicago Rush win an AFL championship and we are hoping for the same result, here in 2009 for the Slaughter."

The 6'3", 215-pound WR from Western Kentucky University was a member of the Rush from 2006-2007, after being picked up from the Tampa Bay Storm. His best season came during the 2007 campaign, as he led the AFL in touchdowns with 53, to go with 125 receptions for 1739 yards. He was also a member of the Kansas City Chiefs organization during the 2007 season.

"I'm very happy to be returning to Chicago,” said Sippio. “Once again, I get to play in front of the great Chicago fans. I hope to help the Slaughter stay on top and win a Championship."

The next home game for the Slaughter is this Saturday, May 16th, against the Wisconsin Wolfpack at the Sears Centre. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:05pm. The team will honor Head Coach Steve McMichael after the game for his induction into the National Football Foundation's College Hall of Fame. It will also be Fan Appreciation Night, as the team will give away a trip to Puerto Vallarta, sponsored by World Wide Traveler, along with many other great prizes.

The Slaughter (9-0) is the lone undefeated team in the CIFL, and has clinched a spot in the playoffs. For more information on the Chicago Slaughter, please call the team office at (847) 310-3190.  -Steve Arch 

The Chicago Slaughter will be featuring Family Four Packs for this Saturday's game, where each family would receive four tickets to the game, and coupons for Gameworks at the Streets of Woodfield, Streamwood Lanes, Moe's Southwest Grill, and the Dairy Queen in Hoffman Estates. The cost of the Family Fun Packs ranges from $16 to $30 depending on the location of the seats.

Saturday will also be Fan Appreciation Night with the Slaughter, as this will be the last regular season home game. The team will be giving away a trip to Puerto Vallarta, sponsored by World Wide Traveler, along with many other prizes.

The Slaughter (9-0) is the lone undefeated team in the CIFL, and has clinched a spot in the playoffs. 

Rockford, IL -- The Chicago Slaughter (9-0), of the Continental Indoor Football League, clinched a playoff spot with a 77-47 win tonight over the Rock River Raptors. QB Russ Michna's nine touchdowns thrown in the game broke a record for most passing touchdowns in a single CIFL game. The nine passing touchdowns also tied a team record for most aerial touchdowns thrown in a single game.

Although the Raptors came out strong initially with a quick first score, the Slaughter tied the game with 8:28 left in the first quarter and never looked back.

“What I liked most about today was that we took care of the ball," said Michna. "We didn't have any turnovers. We scored on every possession. Week after week that's what we've been trying to get to.”

Michna's record setting night surpassed a record shared by Damon Dowdell (Saginaw) and Matt Cottengim (Rochester) who each threw eight touchdowns. The Slaughter tied the Rochester Raiders, who threw for nine touchdowns May 7, 2006.

Strong play was evident on both sides of the ball for the Slaughter with touchdowns by Michna, LB DeJuan Alfonzo, WR Reggie Gray, WR Dontrell Jackson and OL JD Sheldon. Gray suffered a sprained ankle during the second quarter and did not return to the game.

The next home game for the Slaughter will be Saturday, May 16, against the Wisconsin Wolfpack at the Sears Centre Arena at 7:05pm. The Slaughter will honor Head Coach Steve McMichael, who was recently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.  -Steve Arch 

Hoffman Estates, IL – The Chicago Slaughter (8-0) of the Continental Indoor Football League defeated the Wheeling Wildcats (1-6) 61-38 in front of 2,937 fans at the Sears Centre Arena on Saturday night. The victory did come at a heavy price as WR Donovan Morgan, the top receiver in the CIFL, separated his shoulder early in the first half, and was taken to the hospital.

Slaughter WRs Reggie Gray, Dontrell Jackson and Keith Herron picked up the slack to five total touchdowns in Morgan’s absence. Jackson led the team with seven catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns, while Gray added five catches for 60 yards and a score. QB Russ Michna finished his day throwing 21-28 for 249 yards and seven touchdowns.

“When Donovan went out, we all had to step it up and pick up our game,” said Gray after the game. “We miss him but we’ve got a lot of good guys who can play effective football while he’s out.”

“This is a unique team because they work for each other,” Michna said. “I find it interesting that a team such as ours with so little time for practice is able to work so well for each other.

“I personally will miss (Morgan), but we should be able to compensate within the team for his absence, because we’ve got so many players who can step up.”

Defensively, LB DeJuan Alfonzo and DB Jermaine Hampton led the team with five tackles, with Alfonzo also picking up three broken-up passes. DB Brandon Fields added three tackles and an interception, while DL Chris Pisani had two tackles and a sack.

“The defense didn’t look great in the first half but we were making adjustments all along,” said Alfonzo. “At halftime, we came in and looked at ourselves and our individual mistakes. The main problem was we got out of our lanes early and made it easy for their quarterback to scramble. And that’s what we corrected.”

No word was given on Morgan’s status for the rest of the season after his injury.

The next home game for the Slaughter will be Saturday, May 16, against the Wisconsin Wolfpack at the Sears Centre Arena at 7:05pm. The Slaughter will honor Head Coach Steve McMichael, who was recently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.  -Steve Arch 

Hoffman Estates, IL – The Chicago Slaughter of the Continental Indoor Football Legaue, is proud to announce that the team’s head coach, Steve McMichael, was inducted into the National Football Foundation's College Hall of Fame. He becomes the Texas Longhorns' 15th player and 17th overall inductee into the Hall of Fame. McMichael will be honored by the Slaughter before their May 16th home game against the Wisconsin Wolfpack.

"I will never be able to thank The University of Texas enough for what it did for me during that time," McMichael recalled from his home in Chicago, where he was a star in the NFL for the Bears and is now the head coach of the arena league Chicago Slaughter. "My `old man' put me on the road, but if it hadn't have been for Texas, I have no idea where I would be right now."

McMichael joins a class that includes, among others, Tim Brown of Notre Dame, Major Harris of West Virginia, Chris Spielman of Ohio State, Curt Warner of Penn State, Gino Torretta of Miami and Grant Wistrom of Nebraska.

His senior year in 1979, as part of perhaps the best defense in Texas history (it allowed an average of only nine points per game), McMichael personally dominated the 1978 Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims in the Longhorns' 16-7 victory over the Sooners. Sims gained only 73 yards on 20 carries, and McMichael registered 13 tackles--nine against the running game.

McMichael totaled 133 tackles during his senior season, and posted 369 tackles, 30 sacks, 40 tackles behind the line, 99 quarterback pressures and 11 caused fumbles during his career as a Longhorn.

A member of the Longhorn Hall of Honor, the Texas High School Sports Hall of Fame and the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame, McMichael is involved in numerous charities, most notably the Fisher House Foundation and other organizations that support wounded soldiers and their families.

McMichael becomes the second member of his Longhorn era to be inducted into the NFF Hall of Fame, joining safety Johnnie Johnson, who was enshrined in 2007. Upon his induction during the December festivities in New York, Johnson allowed that he would have made a lot more tackles, had McMichael not made them all before they could get into the secondary.

"I can tell you this," McMichael said Wednesday. "I will be wearing orange. There is no way to describe how much this means, or how thankful I am to all of the people who helped me at Texas. All I can say is, `hook `em!'"  -Steve Arch 

Hoffman Estates, IL – The Chicago Slaughter (7-0) of the Continental Indoor Football League defeated the Milwaukee Bonecrushers (2-4) 78-25 in front of 5,538 fans at the Sears Centre Arena on Saturday night. QB Russ Michna put together another strong performance as he went 18-29 for 231 yards passing and six touchdowns. WR Donovan Morgan improved on his CIFL-best WR stats, as he caught seven balls for 122 yards and four touchdowns.

Chicago led from the start, as Michna hooked up with WRs Morgan and Dontrell Jackson for 1st quarter scores to put the team up 14-0. The team built up their lead, as Michna threw three more second-quarter scores to put Chicago up 35-6 at halftime. The Slaughter continued their dominance on both sides of the ball through the rest of the second half.

"We just want to keep getting better," said Michna. "Offensively, it's something we talk about a lot when we are on the bench. That's why we are able to do a great job adjusting on the fly to new situations. It makes a big difference playing at home, having the fans, a familiar field. It helps us keep our heads in the game."

Defensively, DB Ryan Bowers and DB Brandon Fields each had six tackles and an interception, while DL Rob Schroeder recorded three sacks in the game including a safety.

"This is a team with a lot of confidence," said LB DeJuan Alfonzo. "What we do is set team goals for every game. We try to motivate ourselves to play harder, particularly towards the end of the game. It's hard sometimes to stay in there mentally when you are 30 points ahead. But to keep playing the way we do we've had to adjust for that."

The next home game for the Slaughter will be Saturday, May 2, against the Wheeling Wildcats at the Sears Centre Arena at 7:05pm.  -Steve Arch 

Fort Wayne, Ind. – The Chicago Slaughter of the Continental Indoor Football League defeated the Fort Wayne Freedom at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne 56-41 to stay perfect at 6-0 on the season while the Freedom moved to 2-3.

The Freedom scored first, but the Slaughter took the lead with 1:21 left in the second quarter and never relinquished it. Fort Wayne came within eight points with 21 seconds left in the game, but WR Dontrell Jackson returned an onside kick nine yards for a touchdown to put the game out of reach.

QB Russ Michna went 18-24 with 235 yards and six touchdowns. WR Donovan Morgan had eight receptions for 157 yards, breaking the CIFL record 156 receiving yards. Michna threw three interceptions but the 21 yard pass to Morgan with 1:21 left in the second quarter was all it took to lead the team to victory.  -Kristina Wells 

Hoffman Estates, IL -- The Chicago Slaughter (5-0), of the Continental Indoor Football League, is proud to announce that QB Russ Michna won honors as the CIFL Offensive Player of the Week, while WR Reggie Gray won the Special Teams player of the Week after the team's 74-60 victory over the Marion Mayhem last Saturday at the Sears Centre Arena.

Michna finished the day with 305 yards passing, which is a CIFL record, and eight passing touchdowns. However, the league reviewed one of his touchdowns and ruled that one of his passes was a lateral to WR Dontrell Jackson. However, his seven passing touchdowns led the team past a strong Mayhem club to keep the team undefeated. This is Michna's second award as Offensive Player of the week, as he also won the honors in Week 1.

Gray was also a spark plug for the team, as his three on-side kick recoveries in the first half led to two touchdowns which change the game' momentum in the first half. He also returned six kickoffs for 120 yards, including a 42-yard return that set up a Slaughter score. This is Gray's first league award of the year.

The next home game for the Slaughter will be Saturday, April 25 at the Sears Centre Arena. The team’s next league game is Saturday, April 18 on the road against the Fort Wayne (IN) Freedom.  -Steve Arch 

Age is just a number for Slaughter fullback Nick Cosentino, who at 41 is the self proclaimed ‘grandfather’ of the team. Why does he continue to play at a time when most older pros are content to watch the action from their couches instead of from the sidelines?

“That’s easy," Cosentino says. “I love the game.”

On or off the field, Cosentino is a lean, physical specimen and an object lesson for any athlete who might think a career in sports is automatically over once age 35 has come and gone. How does he do it?

“Discipline and desire,” Cosentino says. “I own an independent business so I certainly am not putting my body through this physical punishment for the money. I guess I’d say that a lot of this has to do with pride. There’s something wonderful about knowing you can go out there and perform at a professional level after all this time.”

Never a person to take it easy, Cosentino admits that, if anything, his workout routine is more rigorous than that of players half his age.

“That wasn’t by choice, believe me,” Cosentino laughs. “But it was simply a fact of life. As you age, you tend to lose a step and perhaps some of your strength as well. The obvious way to combat that is to be in peak condition at all times. I take my workouts very seriously. Not to do so at this point in time would be somewhat careless and definitely counterproductive.”

The care that Cosentino takes with his body is apparent. In uniform, he’s virtually indistinguishable from any other player on the Slaughter team. But being in peak physical condition has other unexpected benefits, as the running back has come to realize.

“I have two teenage daughters," said Cosentino. "They are both very active in sports. One is in gymnastics the other loves to play soccer. I think at least some part of their success in athletics has come from seeing me work so hard for my goals. They realize that in sports as in life, noting comes easy. You aren’t going to have anything handed to you. It’s all about being willing to put in the effort.”

Cosentino himself began his successful career lining up at quarterback in high school for Glendale Heights. After a brief college career, he transitioned into the pros.

“I was with just about every area team you can name,” Cosentino says. “I played with the Kane County Eagles and Arena II. I played in Peoria which was great because one of the first games there was in Hawaii. I never thought a trip like that would come my way. I also worked with the team in the Quad Cities. It’s hard now to keep count of all the places I played. I went all around to various teams wherever and whenever I could. “

To Cosentino, his early journeys were like a living lesson in sports history.

“It was sort of like the early days of pro football you read about when guys would go from city to city looking for the opportunity to be a part of a winning team. That’s a mentality I can both understand and relate to.”

Cosentino really hit his stride when he signed with the Arena League’s Chicago Rush in 2008.

“What a blast,” Cosentino says, remembering those early days with the team. “The first thing that struck me was just how good these players were. There was a very high skill level in that team.”

Cosentino thrived at the fullback position and forged strong ties with other team members including quarterback Russ Michna, defensive back Dennison Robinson, linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo, and wide receivers Donovan Morgan and Reggie Gray, all of whom now are with the Slaughter.

“We had such a great time together," Cosentino says. “The team did well, we had fun. It was all good.”

Michna has been very impressed with Cosentino's performance this season, but he's known for a long time what skills this fullback brings to the table.

"From a skill level, from a talent level, he's really impressed me," said Michna. "Nick's been a good friend of mine for quite a few years now. I tell him every day that I can't believe he's walking out there on that field. I don't know if I can dream of doing that when I reach his age. He's done a great job."

Cosentino also grew close to former Rush player and current Rush assistant coach Bob McMillen, a key member of the Arena Bowl XX World Champion Rush squad.

“Bob was 'The Man' in Arena League football," Consentino says. “He was the perfect coach for me. I really enjoyed working with him.”

When the Arena League’s 2009 season was unexpectedly canceled in the spring of 2009, Costentino thought his career in pro football had finally reached its conclusion. But then McMillen called.

“He told me a bunch of Rush players had signed with the Chicago Slaughter and maybe I should consider doing the same," said Cosentino. "It didn’t take me too long to say yes to that opportunity. I’d have the chance to play again with my friends and I’d still be in the pros."

Since joining the team this spring, Cosentino has more than proved McMillen’s faith in him with consistently strong performances and four touchdowns on four carries, all of which were key to the Slaughter’s current 5-0 record. But Cosentino isn’t quite finished yet.

“My goal, and the goal of every player on this team, is to be taking home some serious hardware at the end of our season," said Cosentino. "I know we can do it. Anything less would be a tremendous disappointment."

In a previous interview, Michna had characterized the Slaughter this year as a ‘well oiled machine.' Would Cosentino agree?

“Definitely. The advantage we have is the Rush players who signed here this year. Every single player on this year’s Slaughter team is highly skilled. Its just that we players from the Rush are accustomed to playing together.  Our communication on the field is at a very high level. That helps tremendously in this kind of a fast moving game.”

Any plans for the future beyond football?

“Its way too early to think about that,” Cosentino said.  “We still have the season to finish out. My goal for right now is to work hard and to enjoy these games.  I enjoy being a part of this team, And if they see me as the old man here, well that’s fine.  I’m happy to be their role model.”   -Steve Arch 

Hoffman Estates, IL – The Chicago Slaughter (5-0) of the Continental Indoor Football League defeated the Marion Mayhem (3-2) 74-60 in front of 3,955 fans at the Sears Centre Arena on Saturday night. QB Russ Michna tied a league record with eight touchdown passes in one game, a record held by two other people (Matt Cottengim in 2006 and Damon Dowdell in 2008). WR Reggie Gray recovered three first half onside kicks and caught a touchdown to spark the Slaughter to victory.

The teams jockeyed back and forth for most of the first half, until Gray recovered his third onside kick of the half with 3:10 left in the second quarter. Michna responded immediately with a 34-yard touchdown strike to WR Donovan Morgan for a lead the team would never relinquish.

Michna finished his day going 22-32 for 305 yards and eight touchdowns. Morgan led the Slaughter receivers with two touchdowns and 89 yards receiving on his seven catches. WR Dontrell Jackson added nine catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns.

“We have one or two bad plays by me each week,” Michna said. “It’s frustrating but once I get rid of that, the team will be a well-oiled machine. It’s difficult to get the momentum going at the beginning of the game. That’s the kind of adjustment we are making at the half. My mistake sometimes is to come out and try to do too much.”

Defensively, DB Brandon Fields led the team with eight tackles and an interception. LB DeJuan Alfonzo added four tackles, a sack and a blocked field goal.

“Every game isn’t going to be like our first game when we won 84-24,” said Alfonzo. “You expect high scores in indoor games and if it is a tight game, it’s alright as long as we come out on top. It’s all about the win after all and now we are 5-0. Our overall goal is to just win one game at a time, moving towards winning the championship.”

The next home game for the Slaughter will be Saturday, April 25, at the Sears Centre Arena. The team’s next league game is Saturday, April 18 on the road against the Fort Wayne (IN) Freedom.  -Steve Arch 

Hoffman Estates, IL -- The Chicago Slaughter routed the Milwaukee Bonecrushers, 84-24, in front of 4,798 fans at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. LB DeJuan Alfonzo led the team with four touchdowns, two on offense, one on defense, and one after a blocked field goal on special teams. DB Dennison Robinson led the defense with an interception returned for a touchdwon, as Milwaukee was held to only one touchdown scored in the second half of play. QB Russ Michna paced the offense with 240 yards passing and four touchdowns through the air. "I am having a lot of fun," Michna said. "It's really a great time. I was wondering what the turnout of fans would be, but it was great. And I think that helped us play well. We're confident and we were confident from the first play of the game. We know we have to be good at what we do."

Alfonzo was key to the Slaughter in all facts of the game, as his three touchdowns in the first half kept the game out of reach very early.

"Being with the team is challenging," Alfonzo said. "It's a new experience which makes me feel younger again. I am learning a lot and I am enjoying what I am able to do."

Robinson also commented on the impact of the former Rush players on the Slaughter team.

"It worked out well," Robinson said. "One of us signed first, and then the rest of us got interested in coming. We wanted a chance to stay in this area and to keep playing football. We're leaders of the team, mainly because we have more experience. But we take nothing for granted. We're trying to lead by example."

The Slaughter scored their first touchdown of the year at the 3:17 mark of the first quarter, as FB Nick Cosentino scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns with a one-yard rush. Austin Smith scored a touchdown on the defensive side of the ball, as he recovered a fumble in the Milwaukee endzone.

The Slaughter now enter a bye-week, as they get ready to face the Rock River Raptors on Friday, March 27th at 7:00pm at the Sears Centre Arena.

NOTES:

Tonight's game was delayed a half-hour, as the Milwaukee equipment truck was late arriving to the Sears Centre Arena??..Chicago's point total of 84 was just short of the league record set by the Rochester Raiders, as they scored 90 points in a game during the 2006 season?..Milwaukee Kicker Andy Wernicke was 1-4 on extra point attempts, and had his only field goal attempt blocked then returned for a touchdown.

Hoffman Estates, IL -- The Chicago Slaughter of the Continental Indoor Football League, is proud to announce the signing of Dennison Robinson, the 2008 Arena Football League Defensive Player of the Year. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Robinson, 30, will anchor the Slaughter defense during the 2009 season after playing the past three seasons with the Chicago Rush. Robinson will be reunited with Rush teammate DeJuan Alfonzo, who also signed with the Slaughter this season. "The Slaughter is extremely proud to have signed a player like Dennison Robinson," said Slaughter General Manager, Alan Perkins. "It takes a special player to accomplish the things that Dennison did in the AFL and I am confident he will be an impact player."

The 6'0", 195-pound Robinson led the AFL with 13 interceptions during the 2008 season, returning two of them for touchdowns. He also led the Rush in tackles with 102 during the 2007 season which is an all-time team record. Robinson's AFL career also includes stints with the Las Vegas Gladiators (2002-2004) and the Grand Rapids Rampage (2005). He was named to the AFL all-rookie team in 2002, and was named the Las Vegas team Ironman of the Year twice while with the Gladiators.

Prior to joining the AFL, Robinson played one year in the AFL2, as he played in 16 games for the Quad Cities Steamwheelers in 2001. Robinson played effectively on both sides of the ball while in Quad Cities, scoring 15 touchdowns on offense while picking off 8 passes on defense.

Former Rush QB Finds New Home for 2009

The Chicago Slaughter Professional Football Team and member of the Continental Indoor Football League, announced today that they have signed former Chicago Rush Quarterback, Russ Michna, to a contractual agreement for the 2009 season. Michna, a standout player who played at Western Illinois University from 2000-2003, compiled a record of 20-6, throwing for a total of 6,434 yards which ranks second in Western Illinois history. Michna also set a school record in 2003 in passing yards (3,160) and total offense (3,327). He was named Gateway Player of the Year, First team All-Gateway Conference and Co-SIDA Academic All-District Team in 2002 and 2003. He was also the only player to win back-to-back Offensive Player of the Year awards.

Michna was the Quarterback for the Chicago Rush (Arena Football League) in 2008 after assuming the starting position from starter, Sherdrick Bonner, who suffered an injury in week seven. Michna took advantage of his opportunity. In the 11 weeks he started, he led the Rush by tossing 57 touchdown passes with only 7 picks and compiled an 8-3 record as a starter. He also threw for 2,721 yards with a Quarterback Rating of 122.9, which placed him fourth in the AFL. In addition, he helped his team by rushing for 98 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns on the ground. In all, Michna was responsible for 71 touchdowns and 2,819 yards.

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The Chicago Slaughter of the Continental Indoor Football League, is proud to announce the signing of Reggie "Big Play" Gray, who previously was a member of the Chicago Rush (AFL). A native of Chicago and graduate of Morgan Park High School, Gray, 24, is being counted on to provide some big plays as one of the team's starting wide receivers in the 2009 season. Gray is now reunited with his former college teammate from Western Illinois University, Russ Michna, who signed a contract last week with the Slaughter after a successful 2008 season with the Chicago Rush.

"We are very excited to have Reggie on board," said Alan Perkins, General Manager for the Chicago Slaughter. “He is an incredible athlete and will be a perfect fit for the Slaughter. Reggie's experience with the Chicago Rush in 2008 will help him and should give him some chemistry with some of the other Rush players we have signed or are in the process of signing."

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The Chicago Slaughter Pro Indoor Football will be holding their first ever High School Football Combine. The Combine will be on Sunday, April 19th at the McCook Athletic and Exposition Center in McCook, Illinois.

This revolutionary High School Combine gives Junior and Seniors a chance to show off there talent in front of Chicago Slaughter Head Coach, Steve McMichael along with his entire coaching staff and players.

In addition, the Slaughter/NFL Legend Assistant Coaches will participate as well, and will include former Chicago Bear Linebacker, Mickey Pruitt, former Chicago Bears Tight End, Emery Moorehead, former Bears Wide Receiver, Marcus Robinson, former New York Giant/Arizona Cardinal QB, Kent Graham and other NFL Legends coaches.

Click here for registration and more information

With major football stars recently joining the Slaughter, such as Jim McMahon, Otis Wilson and a long list of others, the Slaughter continued their momentum, by bringing in more local talent, but this time, to the business side of things.  The Slaughter are pleased to announce the addition of Gary Castaldo, or as some may have known him previously, Gary “the bagel guy”.  Gary has been involved in the local media for the past 14 years, with his tenure being with Next Media and more specifically, Star 105.5 radio station.

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