Chicago Slaughter Kicker an Unsung Hero
June 23, 2009 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Chicago Slaughter News Release
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.
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Continental Indoor Football League Stories from June 23, 2009
- Chicago Slaughter Kicker an Unsung Hero - Chicago Slaughter
- Freedom practice June 25th - Fort Wayne Freedom
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